1st Terrarium Questions.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by RandomGemini

... a piece or two of mopani wood for a support structure for plants. I'm not planning on having many because the terrarium is small.

SNORT! Ya wanna bet how long THAT resolution will last?

Originally Posted by RandomGemini

I've seen several different ways to do the substrate. Any suggestions on a good substrate for orchid growing? I was thinking I would start with a base of clay pellets for drainage, then a layer of sphagnum moss and then maybe coco fiber?

That will depend somewhat on what plants you are considering having in there. A drainage layer isn't terribly necessary unless you are planning on a water feature -- particularly one in which it is desired for water to flow through the substrate. Having a drainage layer won't hurt though if you do put one in. Clay pellets would be fine. You can also use lava rock. I find that straight sphag works fine as a media for many plants.

Originally Posted by RandomGemini

So, would it be worth my money and time to invest in a misting system, or would a fogger do the job for me?

Honestly, I don't think it would be worth the expense. If you do have a fogger on hand, that should do the job. Otherwise a moist substrate like sphag or lots of leafy low growing plants should suffice. (As the plants transpire they will put water vapor into the air.)

Originally Posted by RandomGemini

If that's the case, would a water feature be a good idea, instead of a mister? I really wanted to do one, but with all of the other equipment my husband has been throwing at me, I thought it might be over the top.

Even a small water feature will wipe out a surprisingly large amount of space in your tank. Not saying don't do it but it is something to keep in mind. If you do decide on a water feature, be VERY SURE to design it in such a way that any an all parts for which maintenance access (hoses, connections, pump, et cetera) may be required are easily accessible. If you fail to do so, you will regret it.


On a related but different note, I would strongly recommend that you get yourself a pump sprayer for watering any hanging/mounted plants. The hand held spray bottles simply cannot handle all the wear and tear for long. Personally, I like the pump sprayers with the watering wands, such as those sold for the spraying of herbicides and pesticides. They work quite nicely for reaching back into tight areas even as plants fill in.