Can I get feedback and advice on my terrarium plan?
 

Hi guys

Though my parents have been growing orchids for years around the house, I am pretty new to them and would like to grow mini orchids in an enclosure.

So far I have a wardian case that is about 9" x 12" x 16". It sort of looks like a mini greenhouse. It is one by H Potter I believe.

I plan on a drainage layer of some stones/pebbles (probably half the size of my thumb). For the substrate, can I use orchid bark or sphagnum moss or both? Above that, I want a layer of some sort of moss on any space I don't have orchids growing on.

For lighting I am probably using an desk lamp and screwing in an LED light that is 5000k like this , would this be sufficient? There is also a north facing window a foot away from the terrarium.


I'd also like to ask, given the space I have, how many mini orchids can I fit in? I mostly want to plant them as if they were growing on the ground but I will probably have a piece of driftwood/cork bark or two to mount two or three mini orchids on. I think I might stick to phals for now like Phal. parishii.

What do you guys think? Is this viable?

Hi mate,
congrats on getting a wardian case. I was looking at some and they aren't cheap.

They keep in humidity and temperatures nicely so depending on the varieties you want to grow heating it with a heat mat is a good way to replicate a warmer region.

Do not use spagnum moss with a wardian case - both aim to increase humidity but if you start using spagnum moss in a stagnant environment around your roots you will need to use fans then also.

Depending on the size of your plants you might benefit from a small computer fan circulating air inside the case - depends how much humidity rises - how many plants will be in the case - how big they will be and ultimately how much they will be transpiring but a fan is not a definite necessity for our climate.

I raise humidity with a bowl of water - simple and effective. Live moss raises humidity the most as it transpires and has a high surface area if you need to raise it more but a bowl usually does fine.

That lamp you have shown is fine but I am suspecting highly overpriced.
This one is the same and a bit cheaper VAXER LED bulb for cultivation PAR30 E27 - IKEA

As to how many plants? Very hard to say - really depends on the species and the size but I woud say you can fit 4 medium miniatures with 2 miniatures on the sides. Your case in orchid terms is the smallest size I have for mine.

Gl

As you are looking at miniatures with small pots, you're probably better off keeping them in the pots, the "hiding" them with the surrounding moss. I'll still look like their growing naturally, and that way, if one gets a disease, it won't be as easily shared with the others, and when it comes time to repot, you won't have to tear down the entire thing.

That is an excellent idea! Thanks Ray.

What kind of moss do you think might be good for the top layer? Scotch moss? Sheet moss?

---------- Post added at 02:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:21 PM ----------

Thanks so much for your advice. A heating mat is an interesting idea I will look into. Might be necessary since I have my wardian case near a window and I live in Canada.