Setting up a mini-terrarium for lepanthes/haraella - Orchid Board

jess_hawk · #1 (**permalink**) 03-05-2009, 08:32 PM

I just ordered a Lepanthes ovalis and a Haraella odorata from Andy's orchids, with the intention of creating a mini-terrarium. Both of these species should do well at cooler temperatures, high humidity, and lower light. I have a perfect place for a terrarium that needs shady conditions, right beside my aquarium. Since I'm a newbie (and yes, I know the Lepanthes is going to be difficult and finicky), I thought I would stop in here and run my thoughts past you all.

I'm going to get a small humidity monitor - the kind used for reptiles, so that I can be sure that I am keeping the humidity high... 85-95% I am thinking?
I haven't decided exactly what size of container I am going to use - I'm trying to decide if I should get it and set things up now to be sure they are stable before I get the plants, but that would mean risking getting something too small.

I plan to put rock - either those glass stones or lava rock - as the bottom two inches or so. This way, if there is standing water in the bottom, nothing alive is down there to start rotting. The rock will be covered by a layer of spagnum moss. Both plants will be arriving mounted on cork, and for the time being I don't plan to change that.

Within such a small space, air movement may be hard to create at moderate levels, but I plan to jury-rig a small motor (or maybe even some clockworks) to provide it. Experimentation may be necessary to get things perfect.

Does this sound do-able? Am I missing something important? Or something minor?

Thanks in advance!

10010100102 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-05-2009, 09:16 PM

Certainly sounds doable to me. Personally, instead of using lava rock or beads as a false bottom, I'd use eggcrate or something similar to raise the floor. That way you have much easier access to the bottom of the tank for cleanup, and you can see exactly what's going on down there. Plus, if you have some water in the bottom and a fan blowing over it, you'll get the high humidity you need really easily, even with a few vents to allow for air exchange.

As for air circulation, don't risk not having any, even if things seem fine at first. High humidity, stagnant air, and low light are ideal conditions for all kinds of fungus, but just having a little computer fan in the corner circulating the air can make a world of difference. You can get little 12V fans at surplus stores sometimes pretty cheap, and all you have to do to get them to run is plug the wires into a 12V adaptor (but they'll run on as little as 3 or 4V) and away you go.

Are you planning on covering the top of this terrarium? That'll make it a lot easier to get more stable conditions if you do.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

whygreenberg · #3 (**permalink**) 03-05-2009, 10:32 PM

Ditto on what Joseph says about air circulation. Here's a cheap fan that Ross just posted in another similar thread: Coralife Aqualight 3 1/8 Cooling Fan Kit

Other thread:Terrarium Circulation w/ Fan Q's???

jess_hawk · #4 (**permalink**) 03-05-2009, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10010100102

Plus, if you have some water in the bottom and a fan blowing over it, you'll get the high humidity you need really easily, even with a few vents to allow for air exchange.

Are you planning on covering the top of this terrarium? That'll make it a lot easier to get more stable conditions if you do.

I do plan to cover the top - I know from experience that it is nearly impossible to keep humidity above 65% inside my house without a good cover.

I'm actually wondering, if the humidity is sufficiently high, whether rigging the terrarium with a piece of (aquarium) airline with some tiny holes (like pinholes, and excess air directed elsewhere so it isn't drying things out too much) might work alright to keep the air circulating. I'm not willing to try it with my orchids, but I might experiment without the orchids. I only have something like 5 unused air pumps... However, I will be sure to use some sort of fan. I am definitely not going to be tempted to go fan-less with my lepanthes: I want it to survive!

Thanks for the links to the fan and the other thread!

Tim · #5 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 03:46 PM

I would personally suggest buying a small exo terra terrarium, they look much easier to access than an aquarium. I'm actually planning on doing something very similar

greenbean · #6 (**permalink**) 03-07-2009, 01:53 AM

Sounds do-able to me and I'll be looking forward to seeing how your project develops.

jess_hawk · #7 (**permalink**) 03-07-2009, 02:01 AM

Thanks! I'll keep you all informed.

jess_hawk · #8 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 03:10 AM

Hello again!
OK, well, my orchids have not yet arrived... stupid weather... but I'm being patient because I'd rather have them arrive safely than early.
In the meantime, I think I'm going to actually buy glass and assemble a terrarium. That way I get a custom size and I can make it open on the back for easy access. I'm wondering if anyone can give me an idea of what size I might require. According to Andy's, the Haraella has 3" leaves, and the Lepanthes has 1" leaves. I'm also considering seeing if I can modify my order to add a second Lepanthes species, Lepanthes manabina, while they are on sale today, if I can just have it sent with the others and not add extra shipping charges. Anyway, if I do that, googling the species led me to a site that told me the leaves get up to 6" and hang down. I'm actually currently thinking of doing something tall and relatively skinny (though not so much that it will be unstable, obviously), since I'll have access through the back panel... this will conserve space.
Other than these 3 plants, nothing will go into this terrarium: if I get more plants in the future, I will build or buy a bigger, better terrarium. Could I make something as small as a 12x12" base? How tall would it need to be?

pandakitti · #9 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 02:44 PM

Have you thought of buying the small exo-terra terrarium? I have the large one and love it! I put a false bottom in and a small fountain. The humidity usually stays about 80%. The fountain and running water also helps with air circulation. I have lepanthes and harrella and madevallias in this tank for the last 4 years and everything is doing great.

jess_hawk · #10 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 04:21 PM

I have considered buying a terrarium like that but I tend to be a psychotic do-it-yourselfer when possible... For one thing, I love making/building/creating (so if I make the things I use, it saves me money over buying things to use and making things I won't).

I did end up buying the other lepanthes, tonight. What can I say, I'm in love with the genus and it was on sale!

Anyway, the smallest Exo-Terra terrarium is 12x12x12... is that big enough? I'm thinking maybe 12x12x15 might be an OK size?