DIY Mini Plexiglass orchidadirum questions
 

Hi!
I’m fairly new to orchids, I’ve been taking care of my two Phal’s for a year and a half and recently bought a mini phal and a phal.Bellina.red apple.
I wanted an orchid with a scente but not one that’s dramaticly different from the phals I have.. however I’ve realized she likes it a bit warmer then my other phals.. 25-30c with 80% humidity and seeing as to how I live in Quebec and it gets very cold in the winter and I don’t have a room I can control the temperature in I wanted to build a mini plexiglass case for her to better control heat, humidity and light.. I’m just wondering a few things
For reference it’s very small and I haven’t planned on putting anything inside the case other then the orchid and a clay leca layer at the bottom for humidity. The case will be 12”Lx5.5”Wx9”H
1. Should I do an open top, will an open top converse enough heat? Or should I do a top that I can remove with ventilation wholes
2. Will the plexiglass amplify the light if it’s on the outside of the case? Or should I work on putting a light inside the case or on top with an open top?
3. Do you think if I drill holes through both sides of the case and put a fan on the outside will that be enough air flow?

I was thinking of getting a heating Matt to put underneath in order to keep the heat.
I honestly don’t have the space for a fish tank size in the room, which is why I need to build a custom one with the plexiglass.. I already have LED full spectrum lights and a small fan as well.

i have one question before i answer the others - why have you chosen this tiny size? is this by need, space, cost?

i just wonder bc it is more challenging if it is micro i see you cant do a fish tank but if you can do 12x9 you can do a 10 gallon on the side vertical

So im growing in my bedroom and i currently grow on a shelf with lights and the shelf isnt too big.. when i got it i was going to just grow it on the shelf like the rest with a light but then i realized about the heat and humidity im open to changing the size of the tank but it cant be wider then 5.5" but the shelf is 3ft long and 5.5" wide..

it all can work, i just feel like the small the plant and the smaller the tank the smaller the margin for error.

i would probably close it (an open box that size will not hold much humidity and any heat) and use a cooler light (led) on the top.

drill holes for ventilation and i would think a small (5cm) fan that runs on a periodic schedule will be fine for ventiliation but remember you need air movement in the tank to prevent stagnation and rot but the more you have the less it will be doing to retain humidity and heat.

the balance is, of course, achievable, but expect that you will need to do a lot of tinkering to get it dialed in for the plant-

the nice thing is that with only one plant, you know what you want to create pretty exactly

Thats a good way to think of it.. i didnt consider that the smaller the tank the smaller the error for margin... hmm.. i wonder what the smallest fan size could be to put in.. i could put a mini fan into the side of it. im just scared itll be far to much wind for the orchid .. or if putting a fan on the outside but close to the holes is a good idea or bad?

Many people use computer CPU fans inside small terrariums.

i have two 5 cm fans mounted on the outsde of my tank and they blow into a close piece of plexi with 4-5 .25" holes in it...a lot of air moves but it is very diffused by the plexi and the holes.


a very easy but unattractive solution. I'll grab a pic

I have no experience in growing inside mini terraria, but having several bellina I can tell you that it's going to be too small really fast.

My Phal grow in a very low humidity (around 30%), and it's not much of an issue as they send their roots deeper in the pot to get moisture.
Regarding lighting, they're roughly a meter away from a north oriented window, and they show no lack of light.

IMO just potting your Phal in coarse bark with some Sphagnum and putting them on the heating mat will save you a lot of trouble.

Hmm that’s true.. I didn’t think of it out growing the tank.. you’d suggest just a heating pad and a humidifier for the BELLINA?

I have done several mini-terraria in my day. I am currently using a cylindrical glass vase - 8" diameter by 12" tall.

There is an inch of LECA on the bottom, with mounted Phalaenopsis parishii and Schoenorchis fragrans hanging from the top lip.

I cover the top with a piece of plexiglass that covers about 90% of the opening.

It is illuminated from directly overhead with an LED spot light. No fan.

I spray them daily in the morning, and they are dry within hours.