Need some help with setting up a terrarium for B. Nodosa

[ColoradoBirddog]

Hey all, been some time since I've been to the site.

After more than 15 years, I just can't get my B. Nodosa to bloom. I've tried almost everything. But, I think I have a plan, but looking to make it proper.

I'm going to use an aquarium, with 2 inches of ro m and water, for humidity. I'm thinking a 400w light will make it happy. But, I need to provide airflow, as well.

My concern is how to keep humidity high, as well as balancing airflow. Would a small fan inside the container be enough?

Any and all recommendations are very welcome. This is the last shot before I give up on this specimen and sell it off.

[Ray]

Most of the time, a failure to get a brassavola to bloom is simply insufficient light.

I don't know that 400 watts worth is necessary, but that certainly will give you some distance to play with.

[Kruger]

I grow under T5HO lamps and I am able to get purple pigmentation and freckles on the surface of my B. nodosa's when I run my lights long enough.

I have reade B. nodosa's are not as picky with humidity.

[Shadowmagic]

hi Birddog,
a terrarium is definitely the way to go to keep in humidity and temperature. If you heat the terrarium you don't need much ventilation at all. The point of a terrarium is to keep in heat and humidity - if you start ventilating you will just blow all your heat and humidity out the window.

Mine stays over 70% at all times and the only way to achieve that is minimal ventilation. As long as there is nothing damp and soggy in the terrarium you will not have any rot issues as long as humidity does not go over 90%. I know I am in Europe and we have to replicate tropical conditions here - the only way is with terrariums but my advice should still be valid in a tropical environment.

Hope you have better luck whatever you do.

400w is complete overkill. That would first of all use $200-400 to run per year for 1 plant?!?

Go with an LED light, you do not need much wattage at all, they can be placed much closer than a 400watt and can achieve more lumens without burning than a 400watt. Go with the technology and save some money.

one more ps about humidity. If you heat you plant directly there is even less need for ventilation but if you place a heatmat under the terrarium (instead of inside) then you will most likely find that the terrarium fogs up on the glass - again this is not an issue as long as humidity stays below 90% but a small computer fan circulating air inside the terrarium would clear any condensation buildup.