Plants for a 15 gallon orchidarium

[Roberta]

Vanilla even gets large for a full-sized greenhouse... and won't bloom until that happens (don't even think about it at under 6 feet, and even that is probably not adequate) So that one certainly not. (I suspect you'll, hear from Andy next week... he's personally at the Seattle garden show and most of the rest of the staff at the Newport Harbor OS show in Westminster, CA... nobody minding the store at home this weekend)

[estación seca]

Vanilla gets too large for a greenhouse.

[Paul]

Yet another voice advising you to nix the vanilla idea. As has been pointed out, short of a good sized greenhouse, it will never get big enough to bloom for you and will simply be way too big for a terr ... particularly for something as small as a 15gal.

Honestly, for such a small terr, I would strongly advise you pare down that list. It is too many plants, IMO. I know it looks like a lot of room, but -- especially if you are thinking of making it a more "landscaped" terr as opposed to a strictly utilitarian one -- once you start putting media and other items in there, the space will disappear fast.

Macodes is a major prima donna -- if conditions aren't right it will die quickly. However, in a terr it should do quite well provided you do not allow it to dry out. That said, in a terr that provides conditions to its liking, it can get big and will try to take over the tank. So plan on allotting it a good portion of the tank for it to grow into.

Personally, I think the Till. juncifolia will get too tall for your tank. I would hold off on that one. E. polybulbon has been pretty bullet proof for me. Keep it up very near the light(s). Till. bulbosa is another that I think will get too large for a 15 gal once eveything else is in there. If you have your heart set on one and can't wait until you do a larger terr upgrade (and you probably will ), get the Guatemala variety as it stays a bit smaller.

[estación seca]

If you can provide strong light, consider some of the dwarf Dyckia bromeliad species or hybrids for your terrarium. They are terrestrials. They like to be warm and wet. People in California grow them standing in dishes of water. They offset when happy. Flower stalks will be taller than your terrarium, though. Dyckia choristaminea is an excellent small species.

[Thyroyalgeek]

I saw dyckias a little while back and thought they were a cute little plant, I particularly like D. Keswick, with its black and white, slow growth rate, and small(ish) size. But even when it does get big, it will take quite a while.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by estación seca

If you can provide strong light, consider some of the dwarf Dyckia bromeliad species or hybrids for your terrarium. They are terrestrials. They like to be warm and wet. .

Really? Thought I had read that they are drought tolerant which implies not wanting to be kept wet (Keswick being one of those). Are there particular varieties that like it dry but others wet?

[estación seca]

They all like to be wet during warm weather. They come from areas that get rain almost every day in the summer. They are able to tolerate a long, warm, completely dry winter, because they get that in habitat. Some get substantial winter frost, but nothing like the northern US.

They will grow all year if kept warm to hot, and watered heavily. If they are warm and well lit, and not watered heavily, they decline and will dwindle away.

Most succulentists struggle with them because they treat them as succulents. It is common for people to grow them in pumice, and let them get dry between summer waterings. Under this treatment they don't grow at all; they hold in place for many years. When watered adequately they offset and flower well. I am not certain what triggers best flowering, but I think very bright winter sun may be important.

[Thyroyalgeek]

Okay, completely random thought here? But I might make this a vivarium with dart frogs too, thought it was just a cool little idea

[MiniatureOrchids]

If you're looking for terrarium plant ideas, this article has some good suggestions. Lots of orchids, but also ferns etc. Planting List for Terrariums and Bottle Gardens - Pumpkin Beth

You mentioned earlier in the thread about misting at night - you should avoid that where possible. Orchids (particularly) don't like sitting wet in the dark - they prefer to get misted as early in the day as possible and then dru out through the daytime.

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[Thyroyalgeek]

Good to know, so thanks. I'll keep y'all updated.