Good dwarfs?

[cbuchman]

You many also want to look at the Jewel orchids. tho' their flowers usually aren't showy, the foliage more than makes up for it, and you get to enjoy it all the time. Might be a way to provide some visual interest in your terrarium.

[Bud]

Dichaea hystricina=my latest acquisition from Ecuagenera .... this is three inches tall plants that grows into clumps and have tiny fragrant flowers that come out from in between the leaves.

* I like Jeff Tucker's terminology 'miniature or compact' orchids....the term: 'dwarf' might offend some of the members who happen to be below five feet in height....

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I find species like Dichaea hystricina to be more for advanced hobbyists. It took me a very long time to figure out how to grow these. And now that I don't have a lot of time to take care of them, my Dichaea pendula is suffering quite a bit.

Something to consider when thinking about getting these kinds of Dichaea. I think the sturdiest Dichaea by far would have to be Dichaea glauca (which is a giant amongst a species of mostly miniature to small sized plants).

If the tiny ones are the ones you like, then you might like Sophronitis spp.

I recommend something sturdy, certain minis can be tricky to get going.

If you want a challenge, Constantia cipoensis is there on Andy's list. They are very particular. These don't grow like most other epiphytical orchids. Instead of growing on trees, they grow on a shrub where the stem is fibrous. The roots on these fair better when they tunnel through something fibrous like a coconut husk mount or a piece of tree fern fiber mount. They kinda flounder on wood mounts, with their roots growing and slowly dying off regularly (which doesn't allow the plant to establish - not so good in the long run). Once mounted on the correct mount and left undisturbed, they do very well.

Cleisostoma spp. are considered miniature to small sized plants. These don't like to be grown too wet.

Another one that is a sure fire easy miniature is Maxillaria schunkeana. They get no taller than 2" - 3". Flowers look like Darth Vader helmets.

If you think you can manage orchids that have a dormancy and go deciduous, Dendrobium loddigesii, Den gregulus, Den delacourii, Den peguanum, or Den unicum may work.

If you like Pleurothallis, Pleurothallis decipiens may work very well for you. Platystele stenostachya could work as well. Pleurothallis ornata (aka Pleurothallis scheidei), Pleurothallis grobyi, Pleurothallis tribuloides or Pleurothallis hypnicola would make interesting minis.

Scaphosepalum swertifolium might also be a good beginner's Pleurothallid.

Understand that Pleurothallids are not the sturdiest of the minis, so they may take a little more skill to get going.

Lots of people also have success with Epidendrum porpax, you could try that.

Like I said, Stenoglottis are fairly small plants. Each growth usually doesn't grow larger than 3" - 4". They are really cute and have small, charming, roughly 1/4" flowers. I got Stenoglottis woodii at an orchid show and it was $10. These also don't need to be grown in a terrarium, they come from a semi-arid desert region.

[jreidsma]

Thanks a bunch!

I am pretty adept with plants, but new to orchids. So I am up to a bit of a challenge as long as there isn't too much money risked

I love all of them, but I tend to like the ones that have smaller leafs and shaped a bit like phals or the ones with the little fat bases The grassy leaf like ones turn me off a bit, but they are still great plants

I am guessing that pretty much all minis like more than 50% humidity?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Humidity depends on the plant and where they come from.

The only other tiny Phalaenopsis type of orchid I can think of is Phal appendiculata which has been a massive challenge to get going in the long run. They struggle for about a year, and then they give up and crash. I haven't found out why that is yet. Beautiful, but they are a true heartbreaker.

The Dens (except for Den lodiggesii and Den unicum), Sophronitis, Constantia cipoensis, Max schunkeana I mentioned have pseudobulbs; what I imagine you mean by "little, fat, bases".

[jreidsma]

Ya the pseudobulbs are what I was talking about I collect caudiciforms and so I am in the habit of calling the plants "fat in the base"

I will keep the humid loving orchids in the tank I am setting up, and if they are more forgiving and don't require more humidity they can go by my phals and stuff by the lamps.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I guess you can try Phal lindenii, these stay pretty small and are tougher than many of the green leafed Phal species. They have beautiful mottled leaves. I've not had a difficult time with these even with my ridiculously busy schedule nowadays.

Maybe Phal parishii, Phal lobbii, and Phal gibbosa (Andy used to sell Phal gibbosa - he may still have some hidden away somewhere at his nursery). All mini Phals, not as small as Phal appendiculata though.

[jreidsma]

Do you keep yours in any sort of humid environment or just out in the open?

From the looks and sounds of it online it seems like this would be a perfect candidate for the humidity tank set up Time to go orchid hunting!

It will be a while before I can order anything though, I am getting some wood roaches and giant prickly stick insects so I used my spare money lol

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

My Phal lindenii I just grow on a windowsill in my room, and it does fine. I grow these potted.

The Phal appendiculata I had to grow in a very humid environment like my bathroom, but like I said, it struggles to stay alive for longer than 1 year. The longest I've had a Phal appendiculata for was about 2 years (definitely not over this time frame). These were always mounted, never potted (they don't do well in a traditional pot).

I haven't grown Phal parishii, Phal lobbii, or Phal gibbosa yet, but I imagine you could grow them with the rest of your Phals. You may be able to get away with growing Phal parishii and Phal lobbii in a small pot, but Phal gibbosa is far too small for that and may need to be grown mounted.

[jreidsma]

I will still be on the look out for them, but they won't be for the terrarium then if they don't need more humidity

I haven't found any of the phals you mentioned at oak hills or Andy's yet.