Small terrarium for Restrepia, Stellis, Masdevallia and Dracula - Orchid Board

Longroots · #1 06-09-2021, 09:41 AM

I've been thinking a terrarium setup would be best for these species I have at the moment. The Dracula Lotax seems to be doing really well at the moment in semi hydro, and my Masdevallia Measuresiana seems to be recovering really well in a moss and leca planting. However, my Stelis Stevensonii has had what I think were flower spikes dry up, however it's had plenty of new leaf growth in moss and bark.

The Restrepia funnily enough was probably doing the best to start with but it's now had 3 growths dry up on me. I can't afford a crazy misting set up, and I've had experience with non orchid terrariums (closed). Obviously this has to be open in some way or have air flow, however these plants are small and I'm wondering if there's some way I can bypass fans and misters.

I was thinking about using a false bottom and reservoir using ceramic/porous inorganic mounts to wick water and minimise organic media within the terrarium, instead encouraging more rock based mosses to grow in there. I may also use microfiber to wick water and grow moss on the fiber.

If the setup was small enough for these 4 plants, could I ignore air circulation installation and instead open a door for 15 minutes say?

I'm thinking a 30cm X 30cm X 30cm should be big enough for them all if I landscape it properly.

Jmbaum · #2 06-09-2021, 02:44 PM

Terrarium will be great, you don’t need mister for sure. I’ve never had an issue with low humidity in my 20 gallon, opposite. You will do so much better with a waterproof computer fan to move air around. I keep a couple inches of distilled water in the bottom of mine that serves as a heat sink, stabilizing temperature and humidity. Air movement is vital, and getting the right balance of light.

I have fond rockwool to be one of the better mediums if you want to do a grow wall, mosses love it. The capillary action depends on the height, but it is very easy to water the wall by hand every few days if the water isn’t coming to the top.

Depending on your reasoning for a smaller terrarium, I’d recommend against it. When they are happy they grow very quickly, and it can look and be crowded very fast. There are so many second hand options for aquariums and reptile tank, people practically giving them away.

Longroots · #3 06-09-2021, 03:15 PM

Thanks for your reply. I was considering using leca as I can get 10 litres of it for something like £10 and it works well in my pots, I'll keep rock wool in mind for walls though. I was looking at an aquarium or two on second hand shops but many didn't have lids to keep humidity up.

I could go slightly bigger but space is a problem so I'm working with the space in my home. Would I need to cut a slot out of the glass to install the fan or just simply have an opening at the top and have it pointing into the setup?

Jmbaum · #4 06-09-2021, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longroots

Thanks for your reply. I was considering using leca as I can get 10 litres of it for something like £10 and it works well in my pots, I'll keep rock wool in mind for walls though. I was looking at an aquarium or two on second hand shops but many didn't have lids to keep humidity up.

I could go slightly bigger but space is a problem so I'm working with the space in my home. Would I need to cut a slot out of the glass to install the fan or just simply have an opening at the top and have it pointing into the setup?

So I have a LEXAN sheet that fit perfectly as bought, you can also get them cut or do yourself, patiently with a fresh box cutter blade and straight edge. Just clean smooth almost no pressure strokes assure the cleanest lines. Just over and over does the trick.

Also if it will sit at angle that you don’t need to see through the lid completely, you can do double wall polycarbonate, it is more rigid and the slight cut on the transparency softens the light coming through the top a bit more, which I feel like doesn’t better for the plants.

LECA on bottom sounds good, and will expose more surface area of water to air, which is great. I think that the top LECA should still be touching the water surface. You cam aim a fairly strong fan across the surface and create amazing flow, humidity and cooling. Distilled water only

---------- Post added at 01:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:29 PM ----------

Also check, Craigslist, and Facebook market

---------- Post added at 01:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:30 PM ----------

Facebook market search UK aquariums

Longroots · #5 06-09-2021, 03:47 PM

I always forget Facebook market! I need to remember that exists!

If I can get away with 1 fan then this setup sounds far more feesable for me to do. I planned on using fresh rainwater, I've recently sorted my water butt out so I've been using that for all my orchids.

I may go slightly bigger but I enjoy a landscaped piece that grows more wild and fills the tank.

Thanks for the advice and any more you have please tell me!

Jmbaum · #6 06-09-2021, 04:00 PM

There are a few images of my 20 gallon on my profile… in process of a 120 gallon build ☺️. You won’t actually need all very much DI water. I was only needing about a gallon a month. Much of the moister is providing by humidity that was scarcely below 95% and running a cheap ultrasonic fogger for an hour or two every other day. I only sprayed the plants without pseudobulbs ever other day with DI water. I used 1/4 to 1/2 strength dyna grow every two weeks. It depends on which species you pick. I’d avoid mixing different culture needs too much. Really think about where they’ll be in the space. Even in the small tanks there will be a temperature and moisture gradient vertically. Use it to your advantage.

Longroots · #7 06-09-2021, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmbaum

There are a few images of my 20 gallon on my profile… in process of a 120 gallon build ☺️. You won’t actually need all very much DI water. I was only needing about a gallon a month. Much of the moister is providing by humidity that was scarcely below 95% and running a cheap ultrasonic fogger for an hour or two every other day. I only sprayed the plants without pseudobulbs ever other day with DI water. I used 1/4 to 1/2 strength dyna grow every two weeks. It depends on which species you pick. I’d avoid mixing different culture needs too much. Really think about where they’ll be in the space. Even in the small tanks there will be a temperature and moisture gradient vertically. Use it to your advantage.

I found these 3 tanks I could make a make-shift lid for. If I made it of some kind of plastic or polycarbonate then creating a slot for a small fan would be very easy. Which one of the attached ones would you recommend? I use rainmix for my fertalizer and I planned to use that occasionally. I'd place my Masdevallia and Dracula up higher, with the Masdevallia recieving more light, with the Stelis and Restrepia lower down.

Jmbaum · #8 06-09-2021, 05:53 PM

I’d opt for the first or last one. I like having more vertical space. It really depends on your preference and comfort with making
modifications… you can the tanks vertically. Silicon a bit of glass to the bottom section and make a door, relatively easy.

Longroots · #9 06-09-2021, 06:24 PM

I think I like the height of the last one though... My concern would be creating a stable enough structure to support plantings and if I say, picked it up and moved it, it wouldn't fall apart. I suppose silicon would be most useful in constructing a middle pillars, but what rock would I use if I was to avoid organic material?

SADE2020 · #10 06-09-2021, 06:56 PM

The tall will give you better setup for Draculas, cuz you'll need a few inches up and down.