Thinking of converting to terrarium growing?

[stever_sl]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I have three low-tech terraria right now. One is a 20-gallon aquarium with CFLs suspended over it, for Vanda seedlings sitting in glass jars. I have a piece of glass over the top. Next to that is a very large vase for three mounted plants: Lepanthes manabina, Masdevallia floribunda and Octomeria sp. In bright shade in my sunroom is a 30-gallon aquarium, also with a glass top, for high-humidity seedlings and other plants. None of these are objects of art, but the plants seem to like them.

Can a newcomer jump in here with a follow-up question? I have a couple of low-tech former aquariums myself, now housing orchids, but I've deliberately avoided adding the glass top because so many people have warned me about the need to maintain air flow around the plants. I have a ceiling fan in that room and it provides a gentle flow all day and all night, at the expense, I'm sure, of some humidity in the tanks. When you say "glass top" do you mean one that more or less seals the container, or is there a gap or something to allow airflow?