Can I grow Haraella retrocalla?

[caseydoll]

I know that many of you have this one but mostly in terrariums. Is it able to grow without being in one or is it not humid enough to grow in the house? Just wondering if I should try one now or wait until I someday get a terrarium. Right now the humidity in my house is staying naturally at about 70% and it's probably slightly higher around my orchids. During winter I run humidifiers but am unsure at what the humidity will be. I have hot water heat so it doesn't dry out the house in the winter. I thought a little more info was in order. Thanks so much!

[Ross]

My humidity is right where yours would be and I'd say - no! I had dismal results with mine till I moved them to a terrarium and higb humidity. Since then they bloom constantly.

[caseydoll]

Thank you Ross! I have too many orchids anyway so I didn't want to get one just to watch it die! I will wait until I someday can afford a terrarium.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by caseydoll

Thank you Ross! I have too many orchids anyway so I didn't want to get one just to watch it die! I will wait until I someday can afford a terrarium.

Don't wait! Go to the dark side

[shakkai]

There will be no looking back - take the plunge!! Its so much fun!

[Dorothy]

:iagree: Take the plunge .. it's maaaaavaaaaalous!

[cb977]

Hi Sarah

Mine's not in the terrarium. I do have it in the orchid room so it is quite humid and it's hanging about 10 inches outside of the Cattleya area. Loves it

[Ross]

Originally Posted by cb977

Hi Sarah

Mine's not in the terrarium. I do have it in the orchid room so it is quite humid and it's hanging about 10 inches outside of the Cattleya area. Loves it

Susanne, keep in mind, Sarah lives right near me and we have really dry humidity and really bad temps compared to you. My Dad lives in Tampa and I know really nice temps (from his) and these ain't!

[caseydoll]

I know, I want one! I really want an Exo-terra to start with since everyone seems to be having so much fun with it. I will have to take a trip to petsmart (an hour away ) to see if they carry the one I want (the biggest). Otherwise I will have to order one online which looks like it would be costly. I'm so jealous at the price Dorothy got hers for! Now I will feel cheated if I have to pay $179 for it because that's the price I've been seeing it for online. And that is obviously just the tank so I will have to get everything else for it including the stand! I want the stand because my living room furniture is black so it will go perfectly. I may have to wait until Christmas and start dropping hints to the OH about it. But can I wait that long???

[tuvoc]

Here is a picture or my Haraella odorata that I bought in July. It is hanging from a wire with my Phals. Humidity is 50 to 60%. I spritz it once or twice a day with a VERY dilute solution of 19-8-16 fertilizer. Just enough to soak the moss. As you can see, one bud is about to pop, and there are two more spikes, and several new roots. In other words, go for it if it isn't too expensive. After all, why do we grow orchids other than to meet the challenge?

Kim