Need advice for small orchidarium - little space, little cash - Orchid Board

plantaholic · #1 03-22-2011, 01:50 PM

I have two masdies and a scaphosepalum micro... that are currently surviving in front of a humidifier in a larger indoor greenhouse. Summer is coming and I'm no longer going to be able to depend on opening the back door of the house to cool things down. I want to be able to have a small container for these three orchids but don't have a lot of cash or space. Any ideas? I know I need air circulation but I suppose just venting the top wouldn't do it for these babies of mine. I can keep it in my front north bay window which should be enough light. African violets do beautifully there as well as my miltonidium. I have a ten gallon aquarium tank that might do....

Paul Mc · #2 03-22-2011, 03:32 PM

Too funny, I have the same plants and 2 others I will need to keep in a similar environment. I'd like to know as well.

Tindomul · #3 03-22-2011, 03:40 PM

Keep them in the coolest spot in the house, that is also the brightest (don't suddenly expose them to direct sun!). I use fish tanks to just hang my Masdies over the inside edge (top), fill the bottom with 3-4 inches of water, and use an ultrasonic fogger to humidify. The plants are usually hung low enough that most of the plant is beneath the top of the tank, but also positioned so that the fogger doesn't splash water directly on the plant (causing rot). Use a regular fan to keep them cool/help them dry out.

Also you can use the double clay pot method that RocieC likes to suggest. Basically put your orchid in a clay pot and put it in a slightly larger clay pot with sphagnum in between the two. The sphag should be moist and the evaporation should cause the roots of your plant to stay much cooler.

Louis_W · #4 03-22-2011, 04:50 PM

The plants are small so I would just get a ten gallon aquarium. I can get them used for ten bucks in New Mexico, yard sales would be good for that but local pet stores sometimes sell their older ones.

Then you can fill the bottom with pebbles or LECA to make a humidity tray. Then you are set. you just have to find a way to keep it cool.

Brotherly Monkey · #5 03-22-2011, 06:20 PM

you can usually find tanks on craigslist for cheap

Becky15349 · #6 03-22-2011, 06:27 PM

Also sometimes used aquariums can be found at thrift stores, you can always call ahead to see it they have them and they can set it aside for you if you go pick it up same day.

plantaholic · #7 03-22-2011, 07:05 PM

I have a ten gallon tank.

Pebbles on the bottom with water wouldn't be enough humidity would it - I don't imagine that in my house with 15 to 25% humidity that even inside a tank with pebbles/water would be anywhere near the required 70%.

Ultrasonic fogger? Is this something that actually sits in the water at the bottom of the tank? Where would I find something like that?

Where would the regular fan go?

Paul Mc · #8 03-22-2011, 07:41 PM

I think ultrasonic foggers actually come with a metal stand. You sit the actual fogger on the top and the fogger itself must be submersed by about 1 to 2 inches of water. I might be wrong as I have an atomizer (?) one. I think this might be the same thing. Mine creates a mist over the body of water.

plantaholic · #9 03-22-2011, 07:56 PM

Where would you find something like that?

Paul Mc · #10 03-22-2011, 07:58 PM

I found it at a locally owned garden store. They had it with their fountains showing how the atomizer made the mist and flowed off over the edge of their outdoor fountains.

You might be able to find them on Amazon. I think I've seen them there before. Home Depot and Lowes will not carry them, I believe they are a bit more of a speciality item than that. I have never seen them anywhere else but this one particular store in St. Louis, MO.