My first thread here, Counting on alot of help!!! Thank you!

[orchid lover]

Looking forward to the discussions here. Have been growing orchid for about 10 years. mostly Phals. HAve masc, dend, cymb, brassovola. the only ones that seem to bloom are the phals. All my orchids are under a fluorsescent stand, 2 tube lights for plants. Thinking of switching to a terraium for the smaller dend. Any suggestions that can go in with in. Does the terraium have be be huge or can it be like an old aquarium. What other small orchids ca go in it. I know alot of questions on my first thread, hope that's okay.. Orchid lover

[Ross]

Firstly, welcome to the board. I am sure you will find lots of useful info here.

As for your questions. I think the reason you have had success with the Phals but not bloomed the others is lack of sufficient light. Most of us growing under lights use either HID "hot" lights or t5 florescent "cool" lights. 2 tubes are just not enough to bloom many of those types - even if they are high intensity t5's. I use a 4-tube t5 48" long which puts out approx 20,000 lux. This gives me approx 1800 foot-candles at 10" from the tubes. But the orchids I am growing don't need full sun. Full sunlight can easily approach 7000 foot candles.

As for terrarium, there are lots of folks here growing in converted fish aquariums (that what they have.) In fact I started that way. The following article describes my testing and trials http://www.orchidboard.com/Setting-u...om-Orchidarium Lots of orchids are good candidates. In fact, the only restriction is size. The more humidity you can provide, the more exotic the species you can consider. I grow mostly Angraecoids which are found in Africa and Madagascar and want really high humidity. So my tank is set up to provide 90+ % humidity. This would be wrong for certain other species. Get the idea? Hope this helps. Check out the Growing Under Lights forum and the Terrarium Gardening forum for more information.

[Chubidubi]

Welcome Orchid Lover. Nice to have you here.

[orchid lover]

Thank you soo much! I'm going to enjoy it hear.

[kiki-do]

Welcome!!!!! Glad you found us. I'm not familiar with growing in a terrarium, but wanted to say hello!

[orchid lover]

Thanks to everyone who has said welcome so far. Thank you Ross for your information. My problem is space. What i would like to do is use a 10 gallon aquarium with the light fixture that comes with it. But, what i would like to kow is what type of light tubes would i use for that purpose and alot names of different orchids i could grow in it. None in pots. More like a little forest appeal. I have some mini dends. Please offer all suggestions you can give me. Thank you very much. I am trying to get to know this site, where every different type of thread is, so i hope you don't mind i asked one of my many questions here. I am "orchid lover", but if you like my name is Sherry. Take care.

[orchid lover]

Hi! It's Orchid lover.Having trouble finding what zone i live in. i tired the map, but i kept getting pop ups. I live in Vancover, B.C Canada, think it's 8. Does anyone agree/disagree? Please let me know. ALso is their someone who has a old aquarium growing orchids and if so, what orchids do you have in it. min 10 gallon tank or most 20 gal. My space is limited as mentioned before. look forward to hearing from you. Thanks!

[CoolPhrog]

Orchid Lover, Vancouver and Vancouver Island are roughly zone 7-9 using the USDA Hardiness Zones

As for orchids that will work in terrariums...you really need to consider the lights that come with the 10 gallon tank you're thinking about using. Most lights that COME with fish tanks are specifically designed for fish, not necessarily plants not in water...

Orchids that do well in terrariums.

[orchid lover]

Thanks for your latest response and all the earlier ones as well. Well i bought the 20 gal high tank today. No lid with it. I need ideas of where to go from here. I've grown orchids for about the past 10 or so yrs. Only my phals have bloomed under a 2 tube fluorescent stand. I also have a mastavala, brassovola, cymbidium(outside)does fine. mini dends, larger dend, Laiela cattleya(MINI),, i think thats it, had more but they went to the big Orchid place in the sky! I'll see them on the otherside I want to grow only orchids in the aquarium. I want just orchids to go in it. will get a fan. But can i just put a sheet of glass as a cover over the aquarium or what type of lighting would fit it if necessary. Could i just use a aquarium lid that fits the 20 gal high tank, of course i would use plant lights that fit the lid, but there are so many different pant lights. I know some like it cool or warm, intermediate, . please give me your suggestions. I would love to see my masd bloom. also my brassovola. I don't think they can go together though, right . As i have said before i love this site, there is so much information, i can get lost in it easily and become confused I want to create a mini forest. I anxiuosly await all your ideas . I want to get started ASAP!!! thank you so much. Sherry (orchid lover)