Looking for tips on orchids to grow in a modified freezer

[JustLikeAPill]

Hello! Let me start off by saying I've got very limited orchid experience. Think home-depot plants. That being said, I'm looking for miniature orchids (ideally no larger than three inches in length, but smaller is of course better) that I can grow in a small chest freezer (2.2 cubit feet). The night time temps will be 40 degrees, the day temps will be (ideally) no higher than 67. I'm putting together a small chamber for Nepenthes Villosa (my real area of expertise is Nepenthes). N. villosa is from mount Kinabalu and grows around 3240 meters up the mountain, so It requires very cold temperatures.This chamber will go in a dorm room, and the interior will be 11 inches wide, 17 inches long, and 18 inches high. If my dorm is larger than anticipated, or I have a room mate who doesn't care what I do as long as I stay on my half, I may get a 3.6 or a max of 5 cubit foot freezer instead. I'd like to cover the inside walls of the chamber with tree fern bark (or coconut fiber that comes in sheets. It would be easier to install) and mount the orchids directly to it, in order to utilize the vertical space. Which media should I use, or do you recommend something else? I'm worried about rot. Would Epiweb work in my situation? I'm really scared of rot. Water will probably condense on it every night. There will be two PC fans in this chamber (keep in mind, this chamber is the equivalent of 14.6 gallons, so I think two is more than enough, but what do I know?) and the humidity will stay high. Lighting will be an LGM5 LED growbar, which has 190 LED's. I chose this because of the low heat output. If It turns out I'm not satisfied, I may add a 65 (or 96, it depends) watt power compact to supplement.


I'd like something very small, I don't care about flowers (I like orchids for their architecture, and any flowers I may get are just an added bonus). I can mist every day, or twice a day, or really just whenever I need to in order to water it. I may not even need to water them, because I expect water to condense on the sides of the freezer at night. I'd also like something that, given these conditions, is not ridiculously difficult to cultivate for someone with my limited experience with orchids. I know these are pretty specific conditions, but I hope you guys can think of something I can grow Any information about any species I could grow in these cold conditions, including size and the speed of growth,fertilizing regime, etc. would be greatly appreciated! After four years, when I get my first starter home, I'll have the space for a 25 cubit foot chest freezer (the largest available), and then I can have more room, but for now I'd like to stick to miniatures. By the way, this freezer will be closed. No fresh air coming in or going out unless I open it for maintenance.

Mods: If this should go an a more appropriate area, please move it! I want as many people to see this and provide input as possible.


Clint

[Dorothy]

I'm going to leave it here but you can post a hello in the Introduction forum .. so we can all greet you to the board

[Magnus A]

Welcome

Epiweb would in my opinion suite you perfect! A material that do not degrade whatever you do with it. And Alot of very sensitive orchid just love epiweb.

I understand that you are not an experienced orchid grower but with the condition you describe, I must recommend one of the absolute gems in the orchid world, Dendrobium cuthbertsonii.
They can handle temperatures down to 0 degree centigrade but are consider to be somewhat tricky.

Actually the hole section of Oxyglossum should be considered but again, They are considered to be quite difficult. But again, with your condition it should work just fine!

/Magnus

PS pictures?????

[Magnus A]

For a list of some dendrobium from the section Oxyglossum look at Equatorial Plant Company

Magnus

[JustLikeAPill]

Wow! Very nice! I love the leaves! But is this one that will drop it's leaves in winter? I'd like something that looks nice all year round.

Speaking of which, I guess I forgot to mention that the above conditions won't ever change. There will be no seasonal variation.

[Magnus A]

Clint
No the Oxyglossum should not drop their leaves. And they are from New guinea and grow all year, no seasons what I now of. And the best! Under good condition the flower could hold for up to 9 month, due to some reports. The important thing should be to have the root moist and have a substantial temperature difference between day and night, what I have heard.

Anyway, even if you hesitate due to the fact that they are considered tricky I would recomend to try. At least one or two. Think of the possibly award if you get them to flower! I have friends that grows these on Epiweb with some live moss (not spagnum) for moisture.

/Magnus
/Magnus

[epiphyte78]

Deja vu how do you do...

Here's a few epiphytic species orchids with average high temperatures less than 70F and average low temps less than 45F.

Arpophyllum giganteum subsp. alpinum
Bulbophyllum gamblei
Coelogyne cristata
Coelogyne nitida
Cyrtochilum ramosissimum
Earina mucronata
Masdevallia amabilis
Masdevallia wubbenii
Oncidium falcipetalum
Sophronitis acuensis
Ticoglossum oerstedii

Source: Orchid Culture

Don't keep track of their sizes but I'm sure others can chime in regarding which ones are small enough to be considered miniatures. Or you could get them as flasklings and sell them when they get too big.

Also might want to do some research on Dendrobiums from the mountains of Papua New Guinea (one was already mentioned). I ran across around a dozen or so in Mr. Baker's Dendrobium book but didn't add them to my list-o-matic because their average high temperatures were way too low for my growing conditions (for the right quantity or quality of orchids I can be motivated to scan through the book again).

[Magnus A]

More or less everything on this list is WAY to big! So big that you need a greenhouse to accomodate the full grown plants!
The ones to consider is Masdevallia wubbenii and Sophronitis acuensis for your space!

/Magnus

[JustLikeAPill]

I'm just really confused on the minimum temps lol. Everything I see seems like it will tolerate 40 degrees, as if it gets that low by accident, but not something that will actively grow in the temp. range i've described. Even the plants listed above (thank you so much, by the way!) seem to TOLERATE low temperatures, but not enjoy or require them. You'd think there would be plenty of orchids on the peak of Mt. kinabalu! I've even googled growing orchids in a freezer (and every combination of genera and the word freezer you would expect), and it seems i'm all that I can find that's relevent! I can't believe the obscure CP-growing hobby would have more on freezer-growing (not that there's a lot) than the HUGE and popular orchid hobby. C'est la vie.

I have heard of a genus called Telipogon that likes it cold, but I can find nothing about the specifics, or anyone who grows it. I just can't believe I can't find anything that requires it ultra-cool with 40 degree nights.

Also on the issue of light, would the light I described above be considered high, low, intermediate, or what?
I have been told by the person who pioneered freezer-culture of N. villosa to stick to fluorescent since the LED won't heat up the chamber enough during the day, so I guess I'll be using 2 65 watt PC's or one 96 watt PC.

I'm just so confused I'd just hate to shell out a few hundred, only to find out the plants reccomended only "tolerate" my conditions (at best) and don't actively grow in them.

[Magnus A]

Hi Clint

As a europeen I am not so familiar with F so I had to convert it to degree Celsius. 40 F IS very low but the cold growing oxyglossum could survive 30 F under short periods. The cuthbertsonii needs temperature around 55 F to flower I been told. To go down to 40 F on regular basis may not be so good but who knows. Orchids are supposed not to grow in wet media but is happily growing in semihydro with their roots IN water! If you already have the case try!

Telipogon is notorious hard to cultivate. Some sources say that Telipogon don't survive temperatures over 68 F for longer times.

About the LED light there is some debate about the light spectra and that they are not suited for orchids. I have no opinion but think they are heavely downtalked by some.

/Magnus