Which orchids don't like being misted?

[chris_todd]

I'm thinking about building a wardian case to house orchids, carnivorous plants (primarily Nepenthes), and perhaps some other tropical plants like aroids and bromeliads. I've been really inspired by Akenhaten's setup (http://www.orchidboard.com/community...n-tropics.html), in which he uses a misting system to water all his plants, and I'd like to do something similar, so maintenance is as simple as possible (if I have to manually water numerous plants in a terrarium, they're doomed ).

I'm fairly new to orchids, and so I'm still learning about the requirements of the various genera and species, but I've seen some references to some species not liking their crowns being wet (Phals in particular).

So my question is this: are there particular orchid species that will not like being in a terrarium/wardian case and being sprayed with mist regularly?

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[harrywitmore]

The issue with misting is when and how quickly the plant can dry out. If the case is very humid and never really dries out many types of orchids would eventually rot if they stay wet. Tolumnia are a good example in orchids and Tillandsia are a good example in bromeliads. Temperature will have an affect also as will air flow. So, as you can see this is a complex question with no simple answer. Once you decide what you would like to grow then it may be easier to specify the requirements.

Originally Posted by chris_todd

I'm thinking about building a wardian case to house orchids, carnivorous plants (primarily Nepenthes), and perhaps some other tropical plants like aroids and bromeliads. I've been really inspired by Akenhaten's setup (http://www.orchidboard.com/community...n-tropics.html), in which he uses a misting system to water all his plants, and I'd like to do something similar, so maintenance is as simple as possible (if I have to manually water numerous plants in a terrarium, they're doomed ).

I'm fairly new to orchids, and so I'm still learning about the requirements of the various genera and species, but I've seen some references to some species not liking their crowns being wet (Phals in particular).

So my question is this: are there particular orchid species that will not like being in a terrarium/wardian case and being sprayed with mist regularly?

	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

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The problem with Phals is that when people grow these upright, and they mist them, water dribbles into their crowns. Unless the water is removed from the crown, it'll sit there and rot the plant out.

Phals don't grow upright in nature. I've posted links to pictures of them in the wild to verify to people that what I'm saying isn't bs. They grow horizontally or pendulously. This is so that when it rains, water dribbles away from the crown to avoid crown rot.

Plus, I agree with what Harry had said. Your question is difficult to answer with a simple response.

1. You're growing different genera of plants from different families.

2. We don't know what your setup is.

3. There are too many factors involved.

Tillandsias in my experience are not the best subjects for terrariums, vivariums, etc. For the most part, they like good air circulation and don't like to have water sitting on their leaves for too long. They have a tendency to rot very quickly in such setups.

Tillandsias are also very varied in habitat depending on the species. Species with enlarged trichomes that make them look hairy or fuzzy are from arid (xeric) areas. As in they may grow where cacti or succulents grow. Sometimes they're found on rock cliffs exposed to full sun. Not all Tillandsias are tropical rainforest inhabitants.

Species such as Tillandsia cyanea are tropical rainforest dwellers.

You're better off with bromeliads from the following genera for what you want to do:

Aechmea
Billbergia
Guzmania
Neoregelia

Okay, back to orchids...

If you're going to do a cloud forest type setup with mist and the whole bit, look into cloud forest type orchids such as Masdevallias, Pleurothallis, Lepanthes, Lepanthopsis, etc.

Ferns will love your setup too.

If you want to do an Asian rainforest and work around the Nepenthes, look into Asiatic tropical plants.

[chris_todd]

Harry, thanks for the feedback!

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

The problem with Phals is that when people grow these upright, and they mist them, water dribbles into their crowns. Unless the water is removed from the crown, it'll sit there and rot the plant out.

Phals don't grow upright in nature. I've posted links to pictures of them in the wild to verify to people that what I'm saying isn't bs. They grow horizontally or pendulously. This is so that when it rains, water dribbles away from the crown to avoid crown rot.

Excellent, that was exactly the kind of information I was looking for.

Originally Posted by harrywhitmore

So, as you can see this is a complex question with no simple answer. Once you decide what you would like to grow then it may be easier to specify the requirements.

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Plus, I agree with what Harry had said. Your question is difficult to answer with a simple response.

Sorry about that, I really was trying to write a fairly specific question - which species of orchids don't like being misted? Perhaps I should not have mentioned the other plants, since they're irrelevant to the question I asked, and perhaps just confused the issue.

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

2. We don't know what your setup is.

That's because I don't have one yet. I'm in the research phase, thus my question.

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

You're better off with bromeliads from the following genera for what you want to do:

Aechmea
Billbergia
Guzmania
Neoregelia

Good suggestions; noted...

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Okay, back to orchids...

If you're going to do a cloud forest type setup with mist and the whole bit, look into cloud forest type orchids such as Masdevallias, Pleurothallis, Lepanthes, Lepanthopsis, etc.

Ferns will love your setup too.

If you want to do an Asian rainforest and work around the Nepenthes, look into Asiatic tropical plants.

Yeah, perhaps I should have been more specific in my original post. I'm mainly interested in orchid species of the Phillipines, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, etc. (basically, the same areas as most Nepenthes). Obviously, there are big differences in lowland v. highland habitats, but generally warm and humid (with plenty of fans for good air circulation), with little annual variability would be what I am shooting for.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Which plant is the theme centered around? The Nepenthes or the Phals? Basically what's the main attraction?

There is a pic on Flickr that shows you the habitat of a Phal. I also posted links here on the OB of those pics.

Nepenthes is not something that I collect. Although I'm aware of "highland" versus "lowland" species. I can't help in this department.

Bromeliads are native to the southern parts of North America, the Caribbean islands, Central America, and South America. If they're found in the wilds of Asia, they were naturalized there and therefore are non-native species.

[Akhenaten]

I think so, grow everything, something will die, something will bloom. In you terrarium always will be places with more dry substrates, for more dry plants.

[chris_todd]

Originally Posted by Akhenaten

I think so, grow everything, something will die, something will bloom. In you terrarium always will be places with more dry substrates, for more dry plants.

I love it! The old "you won't know until you try" answer, which is probably the best answer of all.

That's definitely the approach I take with the aquatic plants in my fish tanks, but then again, those plants are rarely more than $10US, LOL, not $50+ paphs!

[Akhenaten]

"you won't know until you try" it is my credo
Dream have not price

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Try jewel orchids.

Macodes
Anoetochilus
Dossinia
Ludisia
Goodyera
Cheirostylis
Zuexine
Nephelaphyllum

They're small. They all like high humidity. They like to be consistently moist. They grow in shade. They're terrestrial. And this is most important...they don't go dormant.

Many jewel orchids originate from Asia.

If you like larger plants. Spathoglottis are good choices. Be forewarned that these get large! Spathoglottis plicata can get to be about 2 ft tall with spike. Each leaf is 1' in length.

Spathoglottis likes humidity and are found in wet places. They're lithophytic and terrestrial. Shade to bright shade. Originates in Asia. Spathoglottis plicata is a pan-tropic weed (as in they're all over the tropics including places like the Caribbean islands and parts of Florida).

Even certain species of Liparis are terrestrial, come from wet humid places, and don't go dormant. Many species are also from Asia.

Mischobulbon spp is from Asia, is terrestrial, likes humid and wet places and doesn't go dormant.

Look...

There are plenty of plants out there that fit your needs. I don't encourage buying a bunch of rare and expensive plants that don't grow in the habitat you propose to setup and see what sticks.

You'll make plenty of mistakes just trying to get the species that do grow in the environment you want to set up to begin with.

While there are quite a few common varieties of bromeliads. There are some that are rare and expensive.

Same goes for orchids.

I'm sure Nepenthes follows suit.

I've given you quite a few examples already. There may be some epiphytes that may suit the environment you're planning on building, but at the moment I'm not sure what they are because you're not sure what direction you want to go in.

It sounded like you wanted to go for a natural type of biotope. Aside from the choices of orchids and Nepenthes that are suited to what you're dreaming of, there are just as staggering an amount of species of other tropical plants from Asia that fit the bill.

Ferns are just an example of what I'm talking about. There are plenty of rare and exotic ferns from Asia.

Then there're Lycopods. These are even harder to find than some of the orchids I've listed. They're related to ferns. Some species are native to Asia.

Of course there're plants such as the Spikemosses (again, fern relatives, not a true moss) from the genus Selaginella. Selaginella are found all over the world. Some can be found in the tropics of Asia, I'm sure. But these plants are hella rare.

Then you've got Medinilla spp.

Here's one that not a lot of people think about, ...certain species of Begonia from tropical Asia...

Alocasia spp...

The list goes on!

[swords]

My general rule with Nepenthes and Orchids is anything that occurs naturally above 1000 meters (or 3300 feet) in altitude I grow as a cool temp "highland" or montane plant and anything from below this gets the warm temps. If it occurs in both climates I try it wherever I have the space but leaning towards cooler as the cool fresh air seems to make for sturdier plants. Cool temps for me is days 70-80*F and nights 40-60*F depending upon time of year.

I grow both kinds of plants pretty much the same. Neps do very well with gentle orchid fertilizers like Gro More. Just be sure to feed the active Nepenthes pitchers some crickets so the plants don't decide to rely just on the fertilizers at the roots or from foliar overspray as you mist the orchids cos they will sometimes not bother making the pitchers if you quit feeding them and are fertilizing regularly.