My Orchid Vase Vivarium

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Brand new to this type of growing orchids. All my babies are outside at the balcony, however I have this tall big vase that was just taking space in my apartment and I decided to do something with it. I did get many useful information in this group from someone else's post - thank you BUNCH epiphyte_neophyte! So, here we go, starting this thread, and will keep posted how it goes. I did order 2 Haraella's, on the way from Andy's orchids, meanwhile I did choose a piece of driftwood fitting the vase, and started the process. So far, on the top there are 3 air plants glued with silicon, and than I did separate piece of my big Scaphyglottis Prolifera, which looks pretty good there and I think will do fine in this vase vivarium. The only other 2 babies are going to be Haraella'ss. I still wish to add more GREEN somehow, so thinking about some life moss maybe??? I am totally brand new to growing orchids indoors, I hope that Haraella will do just fine without any fan inside, I read other threads and it seems like they should be pretty good grown like this. The wood can be taken out so I can mist and water properly every day. Please, whoever has some advise, tip, it will be greatly appreciated. Should I keep water on the bottom up to the stone level to keep it humid inside? I think so, but not sure Attaching few first pics, the first picture was my inspiration, other pics are my own vase vivarium in progress:-)

[TOMMYMIAMI]

I found live sphagnum moss on ebay, not sure if that would be good in this type of environment to make it nice and green?

[WhiteRabbit]

Sphagnum might be a nice touch! Just remember pure water and no fert for it!

[AussieVanda]

Is that a CPU fan hanging over the side?

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Thanks Rabbit, yes, I did ask seller, she said pure water so I will use RO water, it should sit right over that water as well, and than I got live lichen moss - reindeer moss - which has that amazing different color, which can be actually mounter on the wood and misted. I think these 2 will make it truly pop out.

---------- Post added at 09:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:54 PM ----------

Hi Vanda
the first picture was pretty much just my inspiration I found on google, so I do not know what is on the vase however I think it is just humidity meter maybe??? but it is not my vase, only all other pics show my new habitat:-)

[Leafmite]

I think this is a great idea! I was looking at vases today and thought about setting something up and then I look here and see someone else has had the same idea! Very cool! Good luck!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Thanks leafmite, I had this vase for quite some time, for a months it had only one dry branch with air plants but I got tired of that one and thought about this vivarium for quite some time, however I was thinking without fan and any other technical stuff it won't do so go. But when going through some threads here and than seeing pics online I did find out it is maybe possible. My orchids except are going to be 2 haraella retrocalla that are on the way, and IslandGirl just made me to buy later also Lepanthopsis astrophora which she introduced to me and I love so much, that I must have it:-) And I have already piece of my Scaphyglottis Prolifera there. Will keep you guys posted and update pics when all done:-)

---------- Post added at 10:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:14 PM ----------

and just ordered from TOF Lepanthopsis, could not wait, inpatient me!!! PLUS of course more, there will be also Bulbophyllum sp. 'Rosary Beads that I will lay on the bottom of the vase where live sphagnum moss will be, as I read thread here on the forum that someone is growing this baby like that in big success:-))))

[Island Girl]

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

[.....] But when going through some threads here and than seeing pics online I did find out it is maybe possible. My orchids except are going to be 2 haraella retrocalla that are on the way, and IslandGirl just made me to buy later also Lepanthopsis astrophora which she introduced to me and I love so much, that I must have it:-) [.....]

Yea sure, blame it on me....

[Sharry]

This is inspiring! With all the thrift stores around here maybe I could find a big glass vase and get a couple of cute little things on drift wood.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Sharry, great idea. If you would actually google for some reason Lepanthopsis astrophora, there will be tons of great pictures of this orchid and many many different tiny vivariums, that you can use. Some people have these tiny orchid in mason jars, some uses these cute glass orbs, some vases, some small aquariums, there is like dozens of ideas, and it is just little cute project. Some tips, I got all my huge vases in Ikea, very cheap, this one was probably around $20, and I have really really huge tall one, which is probably cca 60" tall, which was only like $30 there! Regarding glass orbs, you will get them in many shapes and very cheap from CB2.com, or if you have their store close than direct in store - really great selection, glass orbs are running around $5 only! Thrift stores are very good idea though, and I think that to mount them on drift wood, with some mosses, it will make just very cute indoor piece that even guests will adore! Right now waiting for all the plants and mosses to arrive next week, so I can finish the project:-)

---------- Post added at 01:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:17 PM ----------

No blaming what so ever, opposite, thanks so so much for inspiration, I would never ever actually probably find this orchid if you would not mention it in the other thread. And If I would not join this forum, I would probably never read other threads = I would never go for these tiny little mini orchid babies:-) But now I am extremely excited about them:-) So, THANK YOU ISLAND GIRL!!!