Using a terrarium to grow seedlings

[Tabbyblack13]

I'm looking at using a terrarium to grow seedling from a flask. I want to use this to get Neos but since I haven't growing seedlings fresh from a flask before I was thinking about trying everything out on Phalaenopsis or Cattleyas.

Right now it's too cold here to get any plant shipped to me without it freezing to death so it's time to get all of the supplies. Craigslist Las Vegas has a lot of fish tanks that could be used. The tank setup would be a hydroton base, with coco chips and moss substrate. The orchids would be planted in the substrate. I will have a misting system and lights as well. I don't want to mount anything because if these plant survive I would be giving them away as gifts to friends and family.

For an average flask would a 20 gallon tank work or should I try to find something bigger/smaller? Does anyone have any other ideas or suggestions before I work on this?

	Mistking Looking for a misting system? Look no further. Automated misting systems from MistKing are used by multitude of plant enthusiasts and are perfect for Orchids. Systems feature run dry pumps, ZipDrip valve, adjustable black nozzles, per second control! Automatically mist one growing shelf or a greenhouse full of Orchids. See MistKing testimonials

[PaphMadMan]

A 20 gallon tank (assuming a long tank rather than a high one) is larger than you need for an average flask of seedlings, anywhere from 15 to 50 seedlings in my experience, but too small is a much bigger problem than having extra space. It depends on the size of the plants and how long you plan to grow them, but if the ultimate goal is Neos you can put 50 near blooming size plants in a 20 long tank.

As for other suggestions, the biggest problems in any terrarium usually end up being inadequate drainage and too much heat - and don't forget an internal fan for air circulation.

[Fairorchids]

A terrarium can be used. I use plastic storage containers, which help reduce the light (seedlings need LOW light initially).

When you first deflask, you want to put the seedlings into compots (community pots), ideally the entire flask into a single pot. After 8-15 months, you can break up the compot, and put the larger seedlings into individual pots, but the smaller ones 2-3 together in mini compots.

I wrote on article on this subject for the local OS newsletter a couple of months ago. If you send me an e-mail address in a PM, I will forward you a copy.

[estación seca]

I would definitely not plant them into medium on the bottom of the terrarium unless you plan on leaving them in there permanently. The terrarium should be as easy to clean as possible, so skip the organic material and hydroton. Put a piece of plastic grid on the bottom that is cut to fit. Set seedling pots on top of the grid. You can have a thin layer of water on the bottom, and the grid holds the seedling pots out of the water.

The grid is sold with lighting fixtures; it is used to cover recessed lighting fixtures. This way everything is easy to remove, clean and sanitize with bleach.

Lithonia Lighting, White Eggcrate T12 Troffer Replacement Diffuser, L2GT PLTS R5 at The Home Depot - Mobile

[Fairorchids]

Here is a link:

Fair Orchids

On the bottom of the page, open 'Growing Seedlings from Flask.PDF'.

[samfish]

Another idea I have used, is buy a simple/cheap "seedling propogation tray with humidity dome" that are sold at hardware stores, hydroponics stores, etc. for starting vegetables and other plants from seed.

It is plenty big for for initial deflasking and hardening off.

You can use vents in the humidity dome to adjust humidity as necessary.

Make sure to completely remove the humidity dome every few days and allow for complete air exchange to prevent any mold/fungus.


Your goal should be to get the seedlings established and actively growing in this chamber, then adjust them to room-humidity outside the chamber...

[Fairorchids]

You need to keep them in high humidity/low light chamber for a while - min 6 months, but I usually do anywhere from 10-16 monhs.