Vivarium Experiment

[kaitala]

In a few short days, I've come to love the options available with the orchids! Thanks everyone!

I have two dart frog vivariums up and running, and anticipate several more in the near future. Lighting is great as is humidity in their viv, and many other froggers keep orchids in their vivs. I'd like to try with the cheapo Lowes ones. Since the phals and dens are cheap and readily available, I am going to try an experiment.

The ones I have potted up now, they will remain potted and cultured as "houseplants". I have to go to Lowe's tomorrow, so I will rescue some more, and will put them in one of the vivs.

I have cork tubes available to mount them to, to honor their epiphytic nature. I have questions about this, though.

1. What is the best method of attaching them to the tube without damaging the roots? Pieces of wire over the roots like staples? Fishing line? Wrap it and balance it as best as possible and leave it alone, regardless of what the frogs do to it?

2. If I mount them on the tube, then lay the tube down, how much will it stress them to later (months later) turn the tube vertical?

I'll keep you all posted if you're interested in the differences I experience.

Thanks in advance for your replies!



Happy New Year to you ALL!!!!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I use fishing line to tie my orchids onto mounts.

I've also used twisty wire.

Since you're doing a frog viv, I'd go with fishing line so it's not going to take away from the frogs and ambiance of the environment.

There are also orchids that are available to hobbyists that come from the same kinds of wet and humid cloud forests that dart frogs inhabit. They're more specialty species though.

Some of them are not that hard to grow.

Look up Pleurothallis.

Or...

Masdevallia

If you're up to the challenge, look up Lepanthes, and Lepanthopsis.

Many species are miniatures. Most come from the mid to high elevation cloud forests dart frogs come from.

It's a suggestion...

If you'd like to use the Lowe's orchids, then go ahead.

[vmax3000]

I would agree with King in this case. You can find a "cheapo" orchid from a vendor that might better suit the growing space you have to offer in your viv. Some of those dens can get HUGE! Unless you have a most awesome viv I wanna see some pics!

[wgama]

I'm not from the U.S. and we don't have Lowes her but don't they usually have cheap mini catts. at Lowe's? Those would do great if the vivarium is lit well enough. I also think phals. would od good.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by wgama

I'm not from the U.S. and we don't have Lowes her but don't they usually have cheap mini catts. at Lowe's? Those would do great if the vivarium is lit well enough. I also think phals. would od good.

Be careful with what kinds of Cattleyas you end up picking. Some of them don't grow in cloud forests. It may be too wet for them.

[wgama]

I was thinking Blc. or Slc. sor t of thing or a potinara.

[kaitala]

Here's one viv:

[kaitala]

I looked, but don't have good pics of the other.

I've researched on Andy's orchids, he does a great job as he gives the country of origin. There are some gorgeous minis from panama, which is where my D. auratus are from. However, they are very expensive, in comparison.

That's why I'm trying with the lowes NOID chids, $1.75 vs. $35 each!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Pleurothallis allenii is from Panama. This plant only tops out at 3". It's only $18 at Andy's. I bet you can find this species elsewhere for a bit less. This one will bloom whenever it feels like it, so you can essentially see flowers all year round sporadically. It grows in cloud forests and can be mounted. These grow much, much faster than a Phal or a Catt. Don't be surprised if within a year of being grown properly that this species will double in size.

Plths segoviensis is another great mini, I've grown these before. Tops off at no more than 3". Can put out sprays of flowers. Originates from Panama, according to Andy. It's sold for $16.

None of the ones listed as being from Panama are $35.

Catts are high light orchids. They will not grow well in your conditions. By Cattleyas, I mean the actual genus as well as all the intergenerics (i.e. Blc, C, Epc, Lc, Slc, etc). They also get too large for your viv.

Laelias will not work either. In fact, most of the epiphytical Laelias are enormous, many can get to be a foot tall to 5 feet tall depending on the species. The only miniature epiphytical Laelia I know of is Laelia alaorii, but your conditions are not bright enough and might be too wet.

While the genus Sophronitis consists of miniature species, they're not suited to your vivarium as well because they grow in bright light and it may be too wet for them in your tank.

Phals on the other hand can grow in your conditions better, but the larger ones get much too large for your tank. Although they grow relatively slower than, say, some of the ferns in your viv, you'll be surprised by how fast they can potentially grow. More often than not, it's only 1 to 2 leaves per year, but sometimes they can be very vigorous growers putting out 3 to 4 leaves in one growing season. Then there's the spike. Not to mention the roots (the roots grow much, much faster than the leaves do), some of these Phals have fairly large root systems.

There are mini Phals, if you're going to try. But if the NOID hybrid mini Phals spike, all bets are off, as I don't know how large it'll get and if they grow upright or pendulously, or whatever. There are just too many hybrids out there for me to keep into account. Maybe other members can give you suggestions as to what kinds of hybrid mini Phals fit in your viv. NOID mini Phals are sold in places like Lowe's as well.

Maybe something like Phal 'Mini Mark' would work (since it's a named variety it may cost you a pretty penny).

Or if you like species, something like Phal gibbosa, Phal lobbii, or Phal parishii would work for you. There are more mini Phal species but these should be the easier ones to grow that have short spikes. These are not terribly expensive, but they won't be $2 to $5.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Nice Dendrobates azureus btw.

I used to own a couple of Dendrobates ventrimaculatus.

And quite a few Oophaga (Dendrobates) pumilio "Blue Jeans".

One day I'd like to restart the hobby.