Orchids for Small Terrarium on Windowsill

[WhiteRabbit]

Looks great!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Hi guys
very interesting thread. Ok, I am thinking for a weeks about having SOME orchids in my apartment actually. I have tall 16" vase 6" diameter. I really really want to use it like a terrarium kind of. I have very nice long drift wood piece, and I just want to put some stones on the bottom, and than insert that drift wood with some 3 or 3 small orchids mounted on it, that's it. The way it should work - it will be inside the apartment, no fans, and I will be able to take that drift wood out every time I need to water or mist. This is absolutely new territory for me, I did read this thread and I think I have my 3 absolute favorites. Island Girl, you Lepanthopsis astrophora is JUST AMAZING, must have!, thank I like very much haraella retrocalla and also maybe ornithophora radicans. First 2 are my TOP PICKS. Now, PLEASE PLEASE, if anyone can, I need help. First of all, can I grow these orchids in the environment I am describing???meaning inside of the air conditioned apartment, temperature between 72-76, no air fan? and second and most important, WHERE CAN I BUY them. I did search my regular sellers, Seattle orchids are sold out on all of these, or don;t carry them, none on ebay (or I could not find any), and I do not see any online also. Pl.ease, if you can give me advise and also tips where to buy, if it will work in the vase, I would greatly appreciate. Thank you all. BTW EPIPHYTE, amazing terrarium!

[Ferns Daddy]

Thats a really cool looking terrarium

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Epiphyte, it seems like you wrote you order your orchids online, may I bother you for the seller's info?

---------- Post added at 10:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:11 PM ----------

BTW I found picture that is pretty much what I am trying to create, minus wires and whatever is on the top:-)

[epiphyte_neophyte]

Thanks Ferns Daddy & TOMMYMIAMI. You can get haraella retrocalla from Andy's Orchids. I got mine there and it came in perfect condition. It grew a flower spike within the first 2 weeks, which is now forming a fat bud. I don't use a fan in my warm terrarium and everything in there is growing. Not every plant will work in those conditions, but haraella retrocalla will. Check out a close up of the plant and flower spike. There is a small hitchhiker plant on there too- I'll post what it grows up to be once it shows more leaves.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

HARAELLA IS AMAZING, GOING TO THAT PAGE NOW
i REALLY LIKE ALSO THE ONE ISLAND GIRL RECOMMENDED, BUT CAN'T FIND THAT ONE. WHAT OTHER ORCHID WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FOR THIS TYPE OF TERRARIUM I WANT, JUST VASE NO FAN? ANY IDEA?

[epiphyte_neophyte]

For such a small space, I would suggest you buy one haraella retrocalla for now and then build from there. Lepanthes are a little more difficult overall. I would keep it simple and only pick very mini miniatures that can handle little air movement and warmer temps. Good luck!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Thank you very much. I love haraella, so that is one of my favorites anyway. Meanwhile, when I have it in shopping cart on Andy's website,I did find another 2 I like and seems to have the same requirements, low light, moist, and should be small, what do you think, it is Sedirea and Trichosalpinx / chamaelepanthes

[epiphyte_neophyte]

Sedirea gets big for a miniature. The leaf span can get over 7'' before you know it. The second plant you mentioned is great, but I think it requires intermediate to cool temps, meaning a decent drop in temps at night (10-15 degrees F). I would suggest looking for warm growers that are low-med light, very mini, and are easy to care for without much air movement. I would start a thread with a picture of your vase and a description of the growing conditions. I bet some members will have amazing suggestions to add. Good luck!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

I eliminated sedirea because it likes cool tempes more, regaridng trichosalpinx, it says actually this: Shade; 500-1500 Footcandles (indirect low light,slight shadowing) Intermediate to Cool; 52°F min. to 80°F max. Which I think is fine, so I will get only those 2

---------- Post added at 12:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 AM ----------

Actually, you were probably right, the second one likes more cool also than worm, plus it can get very long, I think it would look cool but I will go only with 2 haraella's:-) many thanks for tips:-) will post pics when it is done

---------- Post added at 01:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:52 AM ----------

One more question, I have quite a big Scaphyglottis prolifera growing outside, do you think I can put some into this vase as well? you think it would grow good inside with haraella's?