Looking for very high light Micro Miniature Vandaceous species/hybrids?
 

Hi All,

I have a tiny exo-terra terrarium that has humidity levels between 75%-100%, usually towards 100%. Average temperature is around 75 degrees. I have an empty spot in my terrarium that I'm looking to fill. The only problem is that the light levels are very high and the space is small. I'm looking for an orchid that would take up no more than 3 inches tall/wide in the space. It gets 3000-4000 FC of light, as it is right underneath the LED lightbulb. There is a fan right near the light to help control temps. I get that this is very bright for orchids, but I figured I'd reach out here just in case anyone has ideas! I tried my luck on a dendrobium cuthbertsonii but the light levels were too high.

Also, I posted in the vanda section as I know MOST vandas like high light. If you know of a plant that is not vandaceous, please let me know!
Thanks!

How about Ascocentrum miniatum (Vanda miniata) or Ascocentrum ampullaceum (Vanda ampullacea)? Possibly also Schoenorchis fragrans or Schoenorchis tixieri? Trichoglottis pusilla? Light might be a little on the high side for these, but they might be able to tolerate it.

Also, some of the Sophronitis might be able to handle the light - like S. cernua or S. mantiqueirae (I grow these pretty bright)

Those are all excellent suggestions, but I still don't think that they'd fare well with the conditions I have. According to the IOSPE, all of those orchids favor similar light conditions, in fact the same conditions as my dendrobium cuthertsonii (which started to get burned leaves). All of those orchids show a half sun, or some shade (which I find surprising).

I found Epidendrum longirepens, not necessarily my favorite flower, but according to the encyclopedia it needs full sun, does well with warm conditions, and it is small enough to top it off. Perhaps I'll post to the epidendrum section to see what the folks over there have to say.

I'll gladly take any other suggestions as the epi isn't my favorite flower.

I have grown ascocentrums in full sun (in PA) along side full-sized vandas, so would put them high on my list of recommendations.

I'm not surprised you saw burning with D. cuthbertsonii, as it's not really a high-light plant. If anything, I'd put it near-, to slightly below cattleyas in their requirements. The might tolerate higher, but must be kept quite cool to tolerate that.

As far as the schoenorchis are concerned, I'd put them closer to paphs levels.

They're not micro minis, being a little bit larger than the Ascocentrum that were mentioned, but Cleisocentron gokusingii and C. merrillianum are both cool to intermediate growing vandaceous orchids that will take all the light you can give them.

Interesting that those grow with such high light for you. Mine are in bright shade and do really well. I suspect that they are too big for the space at hand at any rate (my C. gokusingii is about 10 inches tall, a more recently-acquired C. merrillanum is close, longer leaves and more rangy.) Those true-blue flowers are really special...

i don't know if you can call them but Banjong Orchids in the Redlands down south has a nice variety of mini vanda types and they are sitting in the grow house right next to the full size vandas- if you still are looking next time i head down i will write down the plants so you can look into those

I grew my gokusingii in extremely bright LED light when I first obtained it during the winter and then put it out into as much sun as I could give it here in PA starting in late April and it was in bloom almost constantly until the first week of 90°F temps, at which point it crashed and burned in short order. I definitely intend to get another.

Guess it can take a lot of light... heat not so much. I have taken my cue from Andy's Orchids... Andy grows them moderately shady (a little dappled sun in the middle of the day) and outside - so they don't mind getting cool (low 40's F routine, sometimes down to mid 30's for a few hours) but summer days rarely as high as 90 F and if so not for long. C. merrillianum he's growing much shadier, but I don't know if that is by plan or whether that's where he found the space... gokusingii he has had, and grown where he has them, for years but merrillianum (with long, terete leaves) is a relatively new acquisition.

Ray, that's interesting. I have an ascocentrum pumilum at home in bright conditions. I love the plant. Do you have this ascocentrum in full sun?

---------- Post added at 07:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:25 PM ----------

That orchid is stunning, I almost purchased that before. How I wish I had room for that in my collection. I have 4 tanks right now, and I'm thinking of getting a 5th one to put my "regular" sized orchids in (all my tanks have minis and micro-minis). I think I'm going to put that orchid in there once that tank is able to afford itself lol.

---------- Post added at 07:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:26 PM ----------


Coconuts, thank you. I will see if I can reach them. If not, I would immensely appreciate your help.

---------- Post added at 07:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:27 PM ----------

I love ascocentrums. I have three right now. I think I'll have to do some more research on this genus. Thanks for your help!