First Mini Unboxing!

[Optimist]

I wanted to get my 75 gallon plaudarium going with some small orchids, but I had no idea how micro mini they actually were! I am sure you mini people have seen these all, but I am totally amazed! I think I have become so "In love" with minis that I may start to only look at them. They are so crazy cute, and it is amazing that I could get an entire orchid collection in a small space. There are also a lot of 'firsts" for me here. First species orchids, first bulbos, first vanda-ish orchids.

I got these 4 new orchids from Andys Orchids. I chose them on the fact that they were low light orchids from 500 to 1500 foot candles. I also wanted moisture loving plants.

The plants were really heathy. There were a few bings and bent stems. One bulbo tuber was snapped in two. The same bulbo came with a colony of weird insects like little beetles. I have been crushing them. That's the only complaint! Andy's Orchid's service is great!

This is Cadetia. From what I read (not a lot) it was once a Dendrobium. This is called glaucous leaved because it has a strange grayish covering on the leaves. At first the plant did not appeal to me, but now I am glad I got it. The leaves are very Masdevalia like. The flowers are so miniature. The flowers are no bigger than maybe under a half an inch. White with fuzzy yellow lip,


Complete plant:


Next is Bulbophylum catenulatum. Looks like it sprawls a bit. No flowers.

What looked like a flower spike now seems like a runner.


next is Dendrobium aberrans. Nice plump pseudobulbs. I had no idea how tiny this was!



Lastly Haraella oderata (Alba). the tinyest of them all! This is a kind of vanda. The flowers are supposed to be quite large for the size of the plant.


I have another wierd mini coming from black jungle terrarium supply. It is called a Grosourdia Appendiculata. It is also a vanda type and has flowers that last only one day.

[Cntry]

Originally Posted by Optimist

I wanted to get my 75 gallon plaudarium going with some small orchids, but I had no idea how micro mini they actually were! I am sure you mini people have seen these all, but I am totally amazed! I think I have become so "In love" with minis that I may start to only look at them. They are so crazy cute, and it is amazing that I could get an entire orchid collection in a small space. There are also a lot of 'firsts" for me here. First species orchids, first bulbos, first vanda-ish orchids.

I got these 4 new orchids from Andys Orchids. I chose them on the fact that they were low light orchids from 500 to 1500 foot candles. I also wanted moisture loving plants.

The plants were really heathy. There were a few bings and bent stems. One bulbo tuber was snapped in two. The same bulbo came with a colony of weird insects like little beetles. I have been crushing them. That's the only complaint! Andy's Orchid's service is great!

This is Cadetia. From what I read (not a lot) it was once a Dendrobium. This is called glaucous leaved because it has a strange grayish covering on the leaves. At first the plant did not appeal to me, but now I am glad I got it. The leaves are very Masdevalia like. The flowers are so miniature. The flowers are no bigger than maybe under a half an inch. White with fuzzy yellow lip,


Complete plant:


Next is Bulbophylum catenulatum. Looks like it sprawls a bit. No flowers.

What looked like a flower spike now seems like a runner.


next is Dendrobium aberrans. Nice plump pseudobulbs. I had no idea how tiny this was!



Lastly Haraella oderata (Alba). the tinyest of them all! This is a kind of vanda. The flowers are supposed to be quite large for the size of the plant.


I have another wierd mini coming from black jungle terrarium supply. It is called a Grosourdia Appendiculata. It is also a vanda type and has flowers that last only one day.

Wow only one day... How many times a year do they all bloom do you have any idea? They are cool looking also.

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by Cntry

Wow only one day... How many times a year do they all bloom do you have any idea? They are cool looking also.

Well. I ordered 4 to save on the shipping. The box costs the same with one in it or four. I do know about the blooming or some of the blooming. The Cadedia is "free flowering" so it will flower all year long. I am beginning to like it more and more.

The Dendrobium aberrans is near blooming size and blooms winter to spring. Maybe next year?

The Bulbophylum is summer to fall blooming so it will happen soon. These will be very tiny little red and yellow flors.


The Haraella are free flowering through the year. The flowers are 1 inch which is about 1/2 of the size of the plant. They look like insects to other insects. This is one of those orchids who tries to set up mock copulation to get its pollen spread.

[Cntry]

I cant wait till they bloom for you so we can see more pictures of them all. I like that they will bloom for you through out the year. It makes it sound like you will see blooms at anytime on them once they start. Keep us updated on your plaudarium as you build it.

[Optimist]

Well I am just waiting for blooming signs. One of these was near blooming size, I think the dendrobium so it will take a year for that one. I have a lot of work to do on the plaudarium. I wanted to start collecting the plants because nurseries usually send you really young plants, and I wanted them to grow some. I am also getting 2 jewel orchids, a very nice velvety gray one and a nearly black one, and also some spike moss. I will be only using low light terrarium plants.

[Leafmite]

It will be great to see your set up when it is finished!

[Optimist]

Thanks. I'll be posting again.