SADE Tank Attack (orchid terrarium)

[SADE2020]

I am unpacking my order ...I am so happy I can handle it!!! Most of them for this terrarium project.

[Draikan]

Ooooh this part is always so exciting. Some of those plants are pretty big too!

[SADE2020]

Updating progress:

Right now, I'm not doing anything, just observing and making sure the roots systems are getting well set.


Bulbophyllum Emily Siegerist
New flower bud or bulb growth in the ... I am pretty sure is a bulb.




Oncidium Cheirophorum
I came out with this spag hygrolon cover skirt for a few plants because mounting on a fix cork was a challenge and too many roots where loose and was getting dry even if the humidity level was fine. This Oncidium lost a full bulb leafs, but now is all fixed and it has a few new growth..



Aerangis Rhodosticta
In regard to this Aeranguis Rod., I am not very happy with how the roots are progressing, it came just like that with some rots roots and hasn't get much better. I think is not establishing as good as the rest.. any advice?

[harpspiel]

Tiny flying bugs that look kind of like mosquitoes sound like fungus gnats, and the white worm could be a fungus gnat larva, although they are more clear. Some people say they eat plant roots, but I haven't noticed them harming anything in my tanks. There are ways to get rid of them, but there also tends to be a boom right after setting up a new tank and then once the fungus is under control they die off.

A lot of the plants in your pics look a little wet. If you took them immediately after watering, no worries, but if not then you might want to make sure the sphagnum is moist but not dripping wet.

I'm not great at Angraecoids (getting better slowly) but every one I've met wants its roots to dry off daily; they should be white a lot of the time. The one you're holding in the pic looks like it was kept very wet for a long time, and the root tips rotted - I only see one or two good, healthy growing tips on the roots. Hope this helps.

[SADE2020]

Originally Posted by harpspiel

Tiny flying bugs that look kind of like mosquitoes sound like fungus gnats, and the white worm could be a fungus gnat larva.

Oh thank you
!
That made total sense. The gnat larva I saw ... yay. The problem is that they are predator for the springtails.

In regard to the wetness, yes the pics were taking just after the misting. However, the sphagnum moss don't get dry ever, I used to have the fan on all the time and went from wet to dry easy, but plants weren't developed that well. So now is set 5 min. every hour and misting 1 x 30 second every day + 2 x 1 minute every week.

The aerangui had a black crown since arrival. It is true, I never let it dry completely since I've always understood they want it moist all the time. I don't think it can get better ..I'll try.

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[SADE2020]

Update !! June'21

The tank apparently was too humid and that caused the drop of a few buds of the Dorits Bracenea or Doritis taenialis, which still have 3-4 more buds, one of them almost blooming. I connected an other fan and opened a bit the door ( it has slider doors) and all fix, it's back to 85-90% Humidity.

The Restropia Vino Tinto doesn't stop flowering, it is very rewarding!

As for the bugs that I mentioned in my past Post, I had no choice but to set a trap, because they were bugging me, I can't stand them.. and I was afraid of the larvae damaging the new roots; At the moment I do not see larvae and I have not been able to catch them, but the gnat are falling very fast!

I have decided to remove the moss that I collected and place as decoration, I prefer that there is only organic material that adds value to the orchids.

[SADE2020]

More individual flowers from the doritis braceana. Could be cool to see a few at a time, but no.. she keep dropping one by one.

I can complain, I wasn't expecting any flowers at all since the tank is Cool 2 Warm / intermediate, and now is hot.

[SADE2020]

Hi Draikan,

Here is the entire tank. However right now I have 2 mini hybrid phals and the Sigmatostalix Radicans in bloom

The temp average is 26 with 75-90% humidity. Lighting is low, since during the noon hours I don't turn the led on since is 40° outside. I do water heavy everymorning since a month ago. I have 1 fan on the left side On 27/7, as your suggestion (Thks).
The only one suffering a lot is the Dracula Janetiae.


This is the tank



These are the blooms: look carefully, there is a Samurai in the below pic

[Tonio]

Looks great!

maybe I missed it but what kind of lightning do you use?

[SADE2020]

Originally Posted by Tonio

Looks great!

maybe I missed it but what kind of lightning do you use?

Hi Tonio,

I use this … SanLight 10W

FLEX10 - Compact Linear Horticultural Led Lighting - 10W - GrowLED

I could put some extra lighting but so far with this seams enough, the more demanding plants in terms of lights have bloomed