Looking for suggestions
 

I just picked up this unglazed terra cotta vase, and a quick test shows that it wicks moisture like crazy. I filled it two days ago and it's half empty today. The whole outside surface is moist. I'm looking to get an orchid with tiny leaves that will closely hug the container as it covers the surface. Looking for an intermediate grower that will be happy with light levels at the low end of suitability for Cattleya. Any suggestions are welcome.

Epidendrum porpax comes to mind.

A few to look at... Bulbophyllum alagense (I'm sure there are other small mat forming Bulbos too), Mediocalcar decoratum (maybe a bit bushy if you want it tight to the container), Dinema polybulbon, Epidendrum schlecterianum (definitely more mat forming Epis too), Dendrobium toressae.

The constant evaporation will form a cooler microclimate at the surface of the vase, enough to let a cool intermediate like Mediocalcar be happy.

Really cool vase! I agree with the mentioned orchids and I think Epidendrum longirepens would be another good one. Schoenorchis scolopendria or fragrans, in multiples would be awesome. Maybe a Trias intermedia or Dendrobium lichenastrum, or cucumerinum. I recently bought a Dendrobium jenkinsii that has very tiny pbulbs and leaves, it would be awesome crawling over that vase.

Whatever you decide to use it will be beautiful covered on orchids.

When you grow on the outside of a terra cotta vessel like that, how do you control the salt build-up from fertilizer? Will it eventually harm the roots of your crawling plant?

How about Den. lodegesii?

I'd add Pleurothallis teres, Epidendrum centropetalum & Comparettia falcata to the lineup as well (and on further contemplation, I bet Sophronitis cernua would look stellar on it as well...)
Just my $0.02,
Adam

I think that is a wine cooler. That would explain the water wicking property.

Dresslerella caesariata would be very cool covering the exterior.

ETA: I selective didn't see "tiny leaves".

i think it depends on where you're going to put this as to what plants you'd grow on it... some of those suggested would definitely need high ambient humidity. also plants that would prefer regular even moisture, which not all of the suggested do well with that... (unless you plan to let it go empty sometimes)

epi porpax would definitely be an easy breezy fast all around adaptable grower, and the roots grasp fairly tightly to it's mount.

Haha, depending on whether it leaches minerals or not, I'd say use it for Utricularia (sorry, not an orchid)
Fill with di and put some sphagnum on it, when the sphagnum has absorbed enough water put that water into a container and test it.
If it's not too high that thing might work for the epiphytic utricularia species, it would be cool in any case 😊