My Little slice of Orchid Heaven

Hi All, I thought I would share my newest Orchid set up. I don't have much growing space so I needed something that would function well and look good as it is set up in my guest bedroom. I currently hand mist but have plans for a larger tank on the top as I have already out grown the two lower tanks . I have egg crate sitting on top off 3 inch tall containers that hold water and the humidity stays up around 60-70% in summer. This will be my first winter with the new set up, so I will have to monitor it a bit more to see how the temps/humidity runs.

I am looking forward to trolling other set ups for ideas as I do plan to install a mist king system in the upcoming months.

Here is a my current Orchid list (although I do have 5 other terrariums in my living room, so they are not all in these two tanks.

Current Orchid Listing as of 10.22.14

Leptotes harryphillipsi
Bulb. Sheryl Kurizaki
Cirrhopetalum (Bulbophyllum) species red (Vietnam)
Pleurothallis minuthallis
Phalaenopsis Philishii
Platystele


Family Orchidaceae
Ascocentrum / pumilum (10.22.14)
Ascocentrum / ampullaceum var. aurantiacum (10.22.14)

Genus Brassavola
Brassavola gardneri

Genus Bulbophyllum
Bulbophyllum alagense
Bulbophyllum campanulatum
Bulbophyllum catenulatum
Bulbophyllum frostii
Bulbophyllum intersitum
Bulbophyllum mirum
Bulbophyllum odontopelatum
Bulbophyllum purpurascens
Bulbophyllum sikkimense
Bulbophyllum thaiorum

Capanemia / micromera (10.22.14)

Genus Cattleya
Cattleya violacea

Genus Dendrobium
Dendrobium bracteosum
Dendrobium carronii
Dendrobium dichaeoides
Dendrobium jenkinsii
Dendrobium lamyaiae

Dendrobium / lichenastrum (10.22.14)
Dendrobium / gregulus (10.22.14)


Genus Dendrochilum
Dendrochilum smithianum

Genus Domingoa
Domingoa kienastii

Genus Dracula
Dracula benedictii

Genus Dryadella
Dryadella zebrina

Genus Encyclia
Encyclia polybulbon
Encyclia pseudopygmaea

Genus Epidendrum
Epidendrum longirepens

Genus Haraella
Haraella odorata

Genus Hexisea
Hexisea imbricata

Genus Lepanthopsis
Lepanthopsis astrophora 'Stalky'

Genus Lepanthes
Lepanthes telipogoniflora **

Genus Leptotes
Leptotes bohnkiana

Genus Masdevallia
Masdevallia auropurpurea
Masdevallia bucculenta
Masdevallia herradurae
Masdevallia schroederiana

Genus Maxillaria
Maxillaria tenuifolia

Genus Meiracyllium
Meiracyllium wendlandii

Genus Pleurothallis
Phalaenopsis / finleyi (minus) (10.22.14)

Pleurothallis breviscapa
Pleurothallis brighamii
Pleurothallis corniculata
Pleurothallis mathildae
Pleurothallis minuta
Pleurothallis ornata
Pleurothallis prolifera
Pleurothallis recurva
Pleurothallis rodrigoi
Pleurothallis sigmoidea

Genus Porroglossum
Porroglossum hirtzii
Porroglossum teaguei

Genus Restrepia
Restrepia angustilabia
Restrepia brachypus
Restrepia cuprea
Restrepia dodsonii
Restrepia lansbergii
Restrepia muscifera
Restrepia trichoglossa
Restrepia xanthophthalma

Genus Scaphosepalum
Scaphosepalum anchoriferum
Scaphosepalum cimex
Scaphosepalum ovulare

Genus Schoenorchis
Schoenorchis fragrans

Genus Stelis
Stelis argentata

Genus Trichosalpinx
Trichosalpinx chamaelepanthes

Genus Zootrophion
Zootrophion serpentinum

Zygostates / alleniana (10.22.14)

Thanks for looking!

 

@ ryan - wow that is a pretty penny for a frostii ! Is it just certain Orchids that are hard to get there or is that more of an average price? At $80, I'd be hesitant as well!

@KellyW, Thank you!

@ Tom-DE, Alexey, Sam, You've all lost me a bit in your banter (or my inability to read today). That said, these are more for growing and new orchids as my other tanks are more for show. I do agree that the sides need to be painted/covered and it's on my list of things to do soon. I thought through the stand build, put the terrariums in place and realized the same thing after taking the pictures! I've only been caring for orchids for the last three years and still have loads to learn. But have learned that the dry air and heat of Texas make for good terrarium growing! Although it would be lovely to use natural light and have a green house, someday!

 

And a good topic for discussion! Thanks Alexey, my 1st six orchids were mid sized and perfect for my windowsill, but then the addiction really started. I do love growing in terrariums very much but the size is sooo limiting! I long to have more room for larger species.

That said, it's been quite a learning experience but I have found that my collection is large enough that I need to spend more time and thought on separating it out between tanks as I do have some orchids that would appreciate cooler nights. Although the biggest thing I have learned in the past three years is water less. I've managed to flat out kill only 3 orchids so far and with several of the obviously happy Orchids was able to do divisions this year. Super exciting for a novice Orchid grower like me!

 

Sam, no need to apologize! I was not sure the context of that discussion but thought they were good observations and wanted to comment on them. Being a novice, I don't always know what might be best and appreciate any feed back!

 

@ Peter, Thank you so much!
@ Dillon - a problem I sure wish I had!!

@ John, Hi John, The fan is an 80mm computer fan. I used 5/8" plumbing elbows with threads on one end (2) and then a coupling to hold it onto the glass (drilled a hole on the glass to pass through the elbow thread) if that all makes sense?. I then cut a notch in the last elbow thread and used JB weld to glue the fan to the elbow and run the wires through the elbows. This allows me to angle the fan in any direction. There are no other holes in the glass top of the terrarium and I do have it pointed up towards the glass. The terrarium glass on the top where it meets the plastic has a small 1/8" gap that allows good air exchange but the 80mm fan creates quite a breeze! I am thinking of moving to a 50mm fan as the 80mm keeps the tank quite dry (never above 65% Humidity. the 5/8" elbows area bit bulky but holds the fan steady in an direction (with the help of a few wraps of plumbing tape to add extra grip). In this room (bedroom) I added weather stripping to the door to the hallway and on cool nights I crack 2 windows that allow the room to go down to the 55 or so.

Here are pictures of a 1 elbow fan set up with a 50mm fan, this allow the fan to move from side to side and up and down. The one elbow keeps it close to the top of the tank. Probably more info then you need