Porroglossum teaguei - new digs!

[Salixx]

I wanted to post my little experiment. Not sure it quite qualifies as a terrarium... but I am going to call it an open top terrarium and leave it at that.

I went to Walmart today and bought one of those square vases that are maybe 5-6'' square. I then created a 'mount' by gluing a bunch of lava rock I had lying around (bought it before the s/h revelation!). I made a bit of a cup/pot-like hole in the middle and also made a little bit of a stand. I put it in to the vase, filled the bottom with Zoo med hydroballs (just small leca, really), added some live sphagnum moss around the edges and then planted the little Porroglossum into the cup with live sphagnum. I then filled it up with RO water, just enough to completely cover the hydroballs and get the sphag's feet wet.

Here's the result, I think it looks... well, very green. Hope my little mini likes it!

[Pattywack]

That is really a cute topless terrarium! I like your idea, hope your Porroglossum will be happy in there. I've not tried this plant, it likes cooler temps I believe and high humidity. Not sure about the light tho, intermediate?

Good luck with it! Looks very nice.

[Salixx]

It does like its humidity and cooler temps, though from what I have read, it can be kept at intermediate temps. I'm keeping it in my former bedroom becoming Masdi/pleuro room (I still sleep in there though ) , which I try to keep fairly cool... maybe high cool temps/low intermediate temps... depends on whose ranges you go by. I am hoping that the moss and hydroballs will provide a little humidity bubble around the plant.

My research has suggested that it likes low light / full shade. I am going to try to see how it does in the cast off light of my fully enclosed terrarium. It's still a fair bit of light. I have a spare goose-neck lamp that I can put a daylight LED bulb in if it needs more.

If it doesn't seem to like it long term, I'll try out something else. I just liked the idea and have been playing with it for a few weeks

[No-Pro-mwa]

It looks great.

[Salixx]

Super weird and kind of a bummer...

I woke up this morning to find water all over the bureau where I placed this yesterday. Upon closer inspection, the glass cracked to the point where I am not sure how one corner is hanging on. When I went to bed last night, it was perfectly fine.

That's what I get for buying from Wallyworld! I'm ordering a replacement one, made from acrylic, on Amazon. I hope that one will hold up better.

[Pattywack]

Oh what a shame. I hope your bureau isn't ruined! Something I've used, also picked up at Walmart, is a round glass cookie jar with a lid. It is about 8" tall x 8" across and works well, they have a larger one too. I like small enclosures with or without a lid/top.

[Salixx]

My bureau is okay. It's one I have had from when I was a little kid and is made amazingly well.... not even a hint of a water stain! I hope the glass holds together a few more days until my order comes in. Thank goodness for Prime, or I and my little Porroglossum would be in trouble.

I have actually been eyeballing those cookie jars... I am thinking of eventually ordering a Masdi. oscitans from Andy's or other warm loving Masdi and using one of those in my living room area which can get quite warm in both summer and winter... the woodstove can put out a lot of heat! My nearest Walmart is a half an hour away though, so I don't get to one very often. This is a good thing- I tend to buy more than I should or need.

Orchid ordering has been put on hold though, (I've tried many times to stop but have failed...). I am after a very specific plant that has proved to be a bit elusive- a Laelia alaori. I saw it on SBOE's website and fell in love but they were out of stock! I found one, and bought it, but it has been treated to try to produce tetraploidy and I want one or two that are not treated and thus hopefully fertile. SBOE is suppose to be getting back to me this week- they might have some divisions coming up! /tangent

[No-Pro-mwa]

Sorry about the glass that's too bad. Gold Country Orchids had the alaori last time I looked.

[Salixx]

Originally Posted by No-Pro-mwa

Sorry about the glass that's too bad. Gold Country Orchids had the alaori last time I looked.

Thanks.

Gold Country is where I got my current alaorii, but they unfortunately have treated them with colchicine, which may make them sterile, at least from what I have read. Maybe that's not the case or I read it wrong?

I have some interest in breeding the alaorii and sending seeds off to a flasking lab, so I would at least like to find another source for them so I don't have a self or sibling cross (though I will do it if I have to!)

[u bada]

I've been experimenting with open glass vessels for a few years now, can't say I've had great success... at the end of the day, outfitted tanks with a fan and lighting really works the best... I think Pattywack has done well with glass cases? or was it leafmite? can't remember... but I've killed quite a few things with this method... the most success I've had is when I use them outside where there's a fair amount of air flow... I think air flow ends up being too important, and ultimately things like pleuros need fairly good light to do well as well...

I've grown quite a few porroglossums when I lived on east coast and temps weren't as high... I believe I grew teaguei but can't remember... anyway, porros in generally needed fairly good airflow for me, as do masdies, so I'd shy away from growing them in enclosed containers... imho... there's a a thread on here that discusses orchids that someone here has grown well in totally enclosed no air flower jars, I'll try to find link. I tried a few of them on list to no luck.

your bedroom temps seem pretty good to me. maybe you can get a desk LED lamp for the square glass container for porro and a small computer fan if all else fails?

With catts I don't believe tetraploidy causes sterility... but others can say for sure. I mean they breed with tetraploids all the time to improve future hybrids with catts...

I just killed my aloarii from sboe in spring... think i watered it too much... or something... it rotted... but besides that it wasn't the strongest grower. Gold country has really good stock of that plant, and that one flowers a few times a year. other people with alaorii's only blooom 1/x a year... so for enjoyment purposes I'd go with Gold country's... planning to get one eventually myself.... would not suggest it for a glass enclosure without high light and air flow...