Possible terrarium containers?? Suggestions?
 

Hello!!
I have a few beautiful containers that need flowers....and I'd like to get into some miniatures!
BUT...I have a few concerns:
The domed containers won't have much, if any air circulation....problem? They would when I take the top of to water I guess....on that note, how often would you water a totally enclosed set up?
None of these will have any gadgets of course (misters, etc)....just plants.

Any thoughts?
Suggestions on minis?
The dome is about a foot tall and six inches wide.
The glass "thing" is about a foot diameter.
The hanging globe has about 6-8 inches inside height and about 4 wide....plus the hole is only wide enough for my fist so that limits my planting ability.
(None of these are my pics....just pics I found of them....haven't had the chance to dig them out of storage)Attachment 101914Attachment 101915Attachment 101916

What you are referring to is often referred-to as a "nano-viv". I use square and cylindrical vases for such, with them usually (for me) containing a single, cork slab-mounted plant. I put sphagnum moss on the bottom to be a moisture source for humidity, and don't close them at all. There is plenty of air, and the container walls hold the localized humidity quite well.

I mist the plants at least once a day with water containing a very small amount of fertilizer.

The two I currently have contain Schoenorchis siedenfadeneia and Bulbophyllum kubahense, and I am awaiting another container to house my Phalaenopsis deliciosa, but there are plenty of pleurothallids that would be great.

If you don't close them then the domed one probably won't work? Or maybe I could set the dome on some sort of spacers so it can still get air?

A Haraella retrocalla would also do nicely.

I really encourage you to check out the miniatures show and tell section for inspiration.
For high humidity, low airflow minis.... I suggest these three as I'm having enormous amounts of success with them. Literally the easiest orchids I have.
Lepanthes telipogoniflora, lepanthopsis astrophora, and haraella retrocalla.

Any paphs or phrags I could grow in the tall one? That's what I was originally invisioning for the dome and I have about a foot of clearance for the spike.

What about a few of these I have favorited at Seattle Orchids....
Ancistrochilus rothschildianus
Pleione formosana
Porroglossum meridionale
Dracula subundoyensis
Dracula tsubotae
(or any Draculas)
Platystele orectoglossa
Pleurothallis quadricaudata
Pleurothallis schudelii

Not that I know anything about these, they are just on my "look really cool" wish list.

These would be my first terrariums so I want "cool" and unique but want to make informed decisions and not just pick by looks...though it's really hard!!!!!!

Most Draculas are quite large and their spikes will exceed well over one foot in length. The ones you listed are not small plants. They also need cooler environments too. You'd have to find a way to keep the temperature below 80 degrees inside in order for a Dracula to thrive. So I think the draculas are probably out for these sorts of growing situations.

Haraella retrocalla would do well in one of the smaller ones, as suggested, also some of the Lepanthes species are small enough, but really the best thing to do is call up Seattle Orchid and talk to them. Alan is really awesome and has gotten very into terrarium gardening recently. He helped me choose plants for my terrarium and I have been very pleased with them.

He could help you choose some plants for your containers and tell you where to place them and how to care for them and get you on the path for success. It would take a lot of the guess work out of this for you.

Paphs and phrags are not going to work. Not only do they become large plants when they are putting out new growth but the spikes can go upwards of 2 feet. They also like plenty of air movement.
Joann

Hi Joann!! So I did a bit more searching and found a way old post that you had commented on....you said you had two growing in a bell jar type set up:
Haraella odorata
Trichoglottis pusilla
How did these two work out?

Hi Jenilee,
The Haraella odorata was a project plant a few years ago and I had a hell of a time with it. My humidity is pretty low. I finally mounted it on a rock and stuck it in the bell jar. It grew wonderfully but was a pain to take care of so I gave it away last year. I had to take the bell off at least once a day for a couple of hours or the humidity/moisture caused fungal problems. I did the same thing with the little Trichoglottis pusilla, it also got re-homed last year.

I imagine if I would have played around with the water level in the jar, I could have come to a happy medium but I don't think I really liked either plant well enough to spend more time on them. Some plants you're crazy about and others are a pain:rofl:
Joann

Haraella odorato/retrocalla....what's the difference? When I google them I think the same pictures show up....small yellow flowers with purple inside...

Same plant I believe...

Same plant, it's changed name at some point. I bought mine as odorato but I believe the current accepted name is retrocalla.

Well months later one is done!!!!Attachment 104270Attachment 104271

I ended up with two shortish raisin pie slippers and some succulents.....been happy for about a week now. Just thought you might care to see :) I mist it daily.

One of those stinkin filler plants brought gnats though!!! So I have a pitcher plant in order....hopefully that'll clean that little annoyance up.

I just got the Harrell's retrocalla this week for a smaller terrarium project yet to be started :)

Try Restrepia brachypus.

It blooms readily, stays small and is not a "drama queen" in terms of care. Phalaenopsis temperature and light. They do like humidity, and don't like to dry out, so a terrarium would work quite well I think.