Need help selecting very warm growing miniatures

[JustLikeAPill]

Hey! I'm looking for miniatures that don't mind the heat one bit. No less than 70 at high, but looking for something that could handle 70 degree nights just fine. Mid to high 80's during the day. I'm looking for something I can grow on tree fern panels on the back and sides of a terrarium. During winter, it would probably be five degrees cooler at night and at day.

The term warm-growing seems a big cool compared to this. Am I right? I guess I'd be looking for hot growers. Something easy would be a plus. I don't care if they flower or not, but of course it would be a plus. Preferably nothing over 5 inches including the pseudobulb.

Here is a list of things I think might work. Can anyone Tcorrect me on this and make recommendations?


Angraecula didieri
Bulbophyllum laxiflorum
Nanodes/Epidendrum discolor
Nanodes/Epidendrum porpax
Gastrochilus somai
Masdevallia floribunda
Maxillaria uncata
Tolumnia bahamensis
Tolumnia prionochilum
Tolumnia tetrapetalum
Tolumnia variegatum
Pleurothallis corniculata
Pteroceras semiteretifolium
Schoenorchis fragrans
Schoenorchis gemmata
Tuberolabium/Saccolabium quisumbingii
Dendrobium quadrangulare
Dendrobium lichenastrum
Dendrobium capituliflorum
Dendrobium bellatulum

I wanted to double check. Do these Dendrobium lose their leaves? I got these plants by searching Andy's Orchids for "Miniature" and "Warm Growing" but just because something can tolerate heat doesn't mean it'll like it. I was just wanting some help with selecting plants that would do well. The humidity will be high, I can add a small PC fan on a timer (if I have to. I'd rather not because of space) and the terrarium will be 24 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 24 inches high. Lighting will be a minimum of 130 watts PC, or I may decide to use four T5's instead. Choosing plants that all had the same watering requirements would be a plus. I wasn't planning on putting sphagnum on the tree fern bark. I wanted to mount them directly. Thoroughly misting everything once or twice a day if needed wouldn't be a problem if their watering requirements called for it.I'm particularly attracted to Bulbophyllum.

[Ross]

My tank meets your growing conditions and I have lots of Angraecoides (Angraecum and Aerangis) that do very well under these conditions. Also Dyakia hendersonianium wants really warn shady, moist conditions. It grows down near the forest floor in Borneo jungles. I have one thriving at 80 degrees, 99% humidity and 700-800 foot candles. Also most of the Jewell orchids would fit your needs. I wouldn't select any of the Dendros unless you are certain they will take all the conditions. Even the moisture loving ones like D. aberrans will pout if not kept on the cool side. I have Pleurothallis tribuloides which does extremely well at these temps but hasn't flowered under the higher temps. Hope these observations help.

[Orchidophile]

Looks like a good list to me, I think I only have one of them you have listed. The Dendrobium lichenastrum does not lose its leaves but not sure about the others. If you want a good hot/warm growing Den. then I suggest a Den. rigidum and it needs bright light and is also fragrent.

[JustLikeAPill]

Well, another thing that's getting me is the light issue. Would a "low light plant" complain in higher light? What would two 65 watt power compacts on a 24 inch high terrarium be considered? To me, I'd consider that medium, but I didn't know if a plant normally growing in low light would suffer or be stunted by higher light.

I was looking at some stuff on Andy's Orchids the other day, and "Warm" is (Minimum 58 to maximum of 95 for one plant) lmao. What does that even mean? Does that mean it has to get cold at night, or does that just mean what it will tolerate yet still do well in, or worse, just survive if it dips too low or too high? That's a huge range and not very specific at all lmao.

[irphrog]

I only have one on your list too. The Maxillaria uncata. These are intermidiate to warm growers but mine seems to do well in my vivarium, here's a link to the thread I posted this afternoon about it.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ia-uncata.html

[Ross]

Originally Posted by JustLikeAPill

Well, another thing that's getting me is the light issue. Would a "low light plant" complain in higher light? What would two 65 watt power compacts on a 24 inch high terrarium be considered? To me, I'd consider that medium, but I didn't know if a plant normally growing in low light would suffer or be stunted by higher light.

I was looking at some stuff on Andy's Orchids the other day, and "Warm" is (Minimum 58 to maximum of 95 for one plant) lmao. What does that even mean? Does that mean it has to get cold at night, or does that just mean what it will tolerate yet still do well in, or worse, just survive if it dips too low or too high? That's a huge range and not very specific at all lmao.

That's one of the few things I dislike about Andy's classifications. I have better luck getting them on the phone and discussing. FWIW, I grow my "warm growing" and "intermediate" minis in the same tank under same conditions. Winter: 70s day and 60s night. Summer: low 80s day and 70s night. They all do just fine.