terrarium

[Optimist]

If I were to make a terrarium with miniatures that grew under the same condition as masdevallia, what are the plants I should choose?

[nikkik]

A couple I can name off the top of my head are: Porroglossums, Dryadellas and Trisetellas.

At Andy's Orchids you can search plants under specific requirements (light, humidity and temps.). Ecuagenera also has a lot of plants on their website that they list the general requirements for to help you get some more ideas for your specific growing conditions.

I hope this helps a little. Good luck!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Are you planning a terrarium full of cool - intermediate growing miniature orchids?

Or were you more interested in the intermediate growers?

Maybe the cold growers that come from 2,200 m and up?

Perhaps the intermediate to warm growers?

You gotta specify which ones you're talking about.

Madevallias are just as varied in culture as a lot of the other orchids are. They are not all cool growing.

[NeofinetiaCanada2014]

Hey Optimist, here's my cool tank with pleurothallis, Lepanthes, porroglossums, scaposepalums, sophronitis, mini dendrobiums, stelis, dresselerias, bulbophyllum a and sigmastelis. Lower part of tank is cool and low light while higher up is slightly warmer and high light. It's a lizard tank with open netted sides and an ultrasonic mister on timer for 50% humidity setting.


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[NeofinetiaCanada2014]

I use only reverse osmosis water and spray daily. The growth of the moss will tell how pure the water is. I use two 40 watt aquarium lights (one cool blue, other warm red) plus one two foot T5 light to supplement in spring to encourage new growths and flowers. Lights on timers 10 hours in winter and 14 hours in summer


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[Optimist]

Hi again. I am basing my growth requirements on a hybrid Copper Angel Highland, which is actually doing well in my conditions but will need some cooling in the summer.

Thanks for letting me see your tank neofinetacanada. That is somewhat what I am going for. The idea of mesh sides had not arrived in my mind, and the mist would not need to be over 50%.

I have gotten two nice panes of thick glass for a sliding door front.

---------- Post added at 08:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:10 AM ----------

Oh, I plan to make the tank before I buy any more plants. It probably will not be as big as yours.

[NeofinetiaCanada2014]

No problem! Good luck and update this thread with your project!


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[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Like it was mentioned, many Scaphosepalums are either cool to intermediate growing or intermediate growing. So these would be really nice additions. In general, most Scaphs are not really finicky. They're mostly pretty straightforward to grow, imo.

Many Porroglossums are also cool to intermediate growers. They are really, really cool because they have hinged lips. They have a "snapping" feature so that when the pollinating insect lands on the lip, it flips up and forces the pollinator against the column. Some of these are easier to grow than others, so if you want to get specific, I can probably throw you a couple suggestions as good starters.

Most species in the super genus Pleurothallis, (it has been recently been split into several smaller genera), are cool to intermediate growers as well. Many of the small to large sized Pleuros are not difficult to grow either.

Dryadella are not terribly difficult to grow either, but I'd probably wait it out a bit until you get a good feel for how you're doing with your project.

You could also try out some cool to intermediate Masdevallias. Try Masdevallia tovarensis or Masdevallia vietchiana, and see how they do.

Orchids in the following genera are to be avoided for the time being because they can be very difficult to figure out and many of them are not terribly forgiving of mistakes.

Lepanthes
Lepanthopsis
the smaller Trichosalpinx, larger ones are ok but still not really all that great for beginners, imo.
Trisetella

[NeofinetiaCanada2014]

Great advice! Grow based on the conditions you can provide. Any luck yet with your tank setup?


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[Optimist]

Originally Posted by NeofinetiaCanada2014

Great advice! Grow based on the conditions you can provide. Any luck yet with your tank setup?


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I am creating a background out of waterproof cement patch and wire. The wole thing will be built from the ground up and is an orchid bio environment, not a fish tank. Most likely it will take a few years to get going. I am a graduate school student and am not spending a lot of money and time at the moment. This summer I will work on the background and just keep my plants alive.

---------- Post added at 07:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:12 PM ----------

Oh, I am writing all of these replys down and saving them. Please keep contributing!

---------- Post added at 07:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:15 PM ----------

Oh, I am writing all of these replys down and saving them. Please keep contributing! I really need a good list.

---------- Post added at 07:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:18 PM ----------

Oh, neofinitacanada, I love your enclosure, and I am using it in as far as keeping the two sides open to real wind. I do not know that I would have as much amazing flora as yoyrs at first. That will take some years to acquire. Love your set up.

Catherine