Coming close to a natural environment

[Optimist]

This is not perfect, but I am trying to emulate "cloud forest" type orchids as much as possible. This is my little cloud forest vacation in my living room.

I am putting this in the beginners area to model what can be done with a lot of reading, and a small amount of money. This is an old fish tank, a mister I bought at the Habitat for humanity store, aquarium rocks, frog moss, and the mini orchids I got on sale, none over 10$, many 7$ to 5$. Other than making sure the substrate is kept moist, they are only being watered with the mister. This is natural window light, and the room will keep them warm, though I may need to add a heater in a month or two.

Yes, I had to wait to pounce on sales!

I still want a few mini/species phaphiopetalums and phalenopsis.

So, what does a rain forest environment look like? What is the correct light? (for low light, any way). This is still a bit cramped. My final product will be bigger.

Seems to me...

[estación seca]

That looks great! Cloud forests do look like that a lot of the time.

[DeaC]

Geez...my hair would be so frizzy with all that humidity but to get well grown chids is worth it! Like your set-up and you're definitely on to something. Keep posting.

[Leafmite]

Now all you need is a little coffee tree....
Very nice!
I am just growing the high humidity plants in jars or miniature greenhouses. It doesn't look nearly as nice as your set up.

[estación seca]

And another thing... Tree Frog.

[Optimist]

Oh the cat would love to eat a poisonous 30 dollar frog. Maybe later.

[estación seca]

No top? Would cut down on mist requirement and keep out cats. Native tree frogs are widely available and a heck of a lot cheaper. I get glass cut at the local Ace Hardware for aquarium tops. Just epoxy on some kind of handle. They can cut to whatever size you want, and your mist pipe can go into the small gap you leave at the top.

[bil]

Very nice. I hope it does well.

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by estación seca

No top? Would cut down on mist requirement and keep out cats. Native tree frogs are widely available and a heck of a lot cheaper. I get glass cut at the local Ace Hardware for aquarium tops. Just epoxy on some kind of handle. They can cut to whatever size you want, and your mist pipe can go into the small gap you leave at the top.

It has a top, and I am thinking of one of those large exo terras in the near future. I certainly would like the whole mist and waterfall experience. I have these orchids in here, this way to make sure that I understand their requirements. At the moment (a year or two) I am not going to get any more animals. I have 2 dogs, 1 cat, 2 rats, a bunch of orchids, and 30 fish. Next year I will also have 20 students and a whole new job to get used to that will run me about 12 hours a day.