Glass globe terrarium
 

So I recently got some mini orchids from Andy's, and since the humidity is so low in my house, I'm starting a little terrarium! Everyone here is such an inspiration.

I've had this 10" glass globe vase for years, and finally found a use for it. I put a layer of PrimeAgra in the bottom, topped by a layer of live sphagnum.

I took my new Lepanthopsis astrophora off its wood mount from Andy and re-mounted it on a piece of lava rock, which fortuitously had a little divot that just fit the plant.

I haven't decided if I want to take my new Haraella retrocalla of its stick yet, so I just nestled the bottom of the stick into the sphagnum next to the rock. The plant seems pretty firmly attached to the stick, anyway.

Then I gave it a good spray with distilled water. Since there's a layer of PrimeAgra in the bottom, it has good drainage below the moss. My thought is to leave some water in the bottom so the PrimeAgra can wick it up, and the moss will stay moist and keep the humidity high. I have a piece of flat glass from a picture frame that I'm using for a lid, but never completely covering the entire opening.

I put this together yesterday, and I swear I can already see new root growth on the Haraella roots that are in contact with the live sphagnum.

That's really beautiful. It's amazing how similar your style is to the way a lot of us naturalist florascapers set up our freshwater aquariums. Seems that "look" works really well with orchids, moss, rocks and wood!

That looks really great!

Thank you!

Looks really good. I think I need to try something like this for a couple of mine.

good luck! careful about air circulation.

You've inspired me...a little world of its own!

What a lovely setup, it's just perfect!

Looks really nice

Keep us posted on how your plants like this.

An update: I have three mushrooms growing in the terrarium! I think this is cool, but if it looks like they are taking over I'll have to do... something... LOL, I don't know what. Less water? Fungicide?

The Lepanthopsis and Haraella are growing fine, though the Haraella lost one of its spikes and may lose the other. Maybe it's too wet? It is growing new roots, though. The Lepanthopsis isn't doing anything that I can see, but hasn't lost any leaves or anything so that's good.

Oh,how grand! Maybe a bit more air circulation? I'm lovin' it!

An update! Exciting things are happening! Everything is growing well, even the sphagnum, and although the Haraella lost both spikes that it came with, it has pushed a new leaf and several roots.

But most exciting, the Lepanthopsis is spiking! Two spikes! I can't wait to see this in bloom.

Congratulations! So exciting!

Congratulations. That is such a cute set up.

The first Lepanthopsis astrophora flower opened today!

Yay! So glad it's happy and has spiked! I love your terrarium setup. :)

OK, now I have to get one :)

Ooo, maybe I should do this with mine. I really like the look of the live sphagnum. Left min eon the slab, but the rock looks really nice...

beautiful. I might like to try something like that. Let us know how it works out into the future.

Me too, me too. Does this one not need to much air flow? I have a big brandy glass that I keep thinking about putting something in but have been worried that it would'nt get to much air flow.

I would also be concerned about air. I have a Den Microchip that was really dried out so I put it in a tall vase with lava rock and a little water in the bottom. (Pot not touching water) It almost immediately sprouted fluffy white mold growing on the Pbs. I wiped it off with a little alcohol, but I do worry about air flow now more than before that happened.

Your terrarium is really a success! Congratulations! :)

I have a piece of glass that I use as a partial lid, but it's never completely closed. There's always about a 2"x5" opening, minimum.

The terrarium has been set up since November, and no sign of mold at all, even on the Haraella stick mount. I did get a couple little mushrooms pop up in the sphagnum after a couple weeks, but I haven't seen any more for at least a month.

So far so good.

Looks great so far. Congrats

Wow it's so beautiful, can you tell us how often you have to water or mist? And where do you put this terrarium its is close to the window,

Again very good job👍

Its so pretty !!! Can I know how you often are watering it or misting it :))

I mist the Lepanthopsis about once a week, just to keep the sphagnum around the roots from going crispy-dry. The Lepanthopsis and its pad of (dead) sphagnum doesn't touch the live spagnum around the rock.

There is a layer of PrimeAgra in the bottom of the globe, and I keep some water in that all the time. The water never is deep enough to touch the live spahgnum directly, but the PrimeAgra wicks it up and the moss is constantly damp. I have to add more water about every week or 10 days.

The stick that the Haraella is mounted on sits nestled into the live sphagnum, and wicks up its own moisture. I don't think I've EVER had to mist the Harella and it always seems to be just moist enough. It's growing great, with new leaves and roots.

The terrarium sits about 8 inches back from an east window that gets direct morning sun for a couple hours, then bright light the rest of the day.

I'm really quite pleased with this terrarium.

Your globe is really nice, growing well. I have a setup very similar tho I only have spag moss on the bottom so I mist daily or every other day. I may try your way. I have a Lepanthopsis astrophora and a new Lepanthes calodictyon in mine. I've had the astrophora for quite awhile growing in here and recently added the calodictyon. My astrophora is potted in a clay pot, the calodictyon is mounted.

I grow in a east facing window, in my kitchen. I don't have issues with air circulation, my globe is open on the side rather than the top. How are your plants doing now? I love these little terrariums.

Gee,I like those side-opened globes.Looks like it may be easier to work in.But don't recall ever seeing any to buy.Could be a new project for me!

Where, oh where, did you get your lava rock? I have been looking everywhere to find a decent piece to mount on. I've tried garden stores (two inch size only), pet stores (only ones with arches that the fish can swim through), landscaping supplies…nothing!

Your little terrarium is absolutely adorable.

DeaC, I found my side open globe at Home Goods. I find quite a bit of interesting glass decor that would be great for plants there.

Second-hand shops carry all sorts of stuff. Gallon / 3.8 liter pickle jars can be turned on their sides. Do you have a Michael's store near you? They have all sorts of glass flower stuff.

Oh ya, Michael's has a huge selection. I didn't think about them. Our little town has limited shopping besides Walmart so when TJ Max/Homegoods opened a few years ago I was thrilled. A trip to Michael's sounds like a plan.

Thanks! I found the rock in the woods when I was hiking. It had the perfect divot for a small orchid and I couldn't leave it there. There are lots of lava rocks around the area I live, so I'm just lucky.

You could use aquarium-safe silicone to glue smaller pieces from the garden center together and make a larger mount to go in a terrarium. Plus, that would let you build the shape you want with just the right crannies!

Another update- the Haraella retrocalla has put out a spike and there are two buds showing! Plus another new leaf!

I was going to take it out of the terrarium to get a better picture, but... nope. It has grown roots down past the end of its stick, through the sphagnum, and into the hydroton layer at the bottom. It has chosen its spot and will be staying there. It is very, very happy!

Yeah! Haraella smell so nice, yours must be happy. I have two spikes on mine now too.

Ingenious solution! Thanks!

The Haraella is blooming! Two flowers open on the first spike, and I noticed today that there's another spike starting!

Very pretty.