10 gallon orchid ideas

LadyBug · #1 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 05:55 PM

I'd like to do a ten gallon terrarium with orchids, but I have no idea where to start or what I need. Can y'all help? Thanks so much!

Green Ghost · #2 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 05:59 PM

I grow some orchids in my frogtank setups and they do very well. Mine are all planted epiphitically, though.

Did you need help with the terrarium setup or with orchid care?

LadyBug · #3 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 06:01 PM

both, LOL!

Green Ghost · #4 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyBug

both, LOL!

I see

I'm not too strong on acutal orchid care, but you could ask in the sister site "Orchid Board"

What kind of setup were you thinking about? Did you only want orchids in there or did you want to set up a terrarium to eventually keep animals in there too?

I have orchids as plants with both fish and frogs.

Would be possible to have a terrarium with a false bottom?

LadyBug · #5 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 06:17 PM

no animals(mom dissed my dart frog idea). I'd like to keep it nice and simple. other easy care plants are fine. some sort of ground cover plant maybe?

Green Ghost · #6 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 06:33 PM

Keep in mind there's lots of ways to do it but basically you have a drainage layer in the bottom of the tank then that gets covered with a layer of weed barrier then the soil mixture on top. Some people also like to have a layer of sphagnum moss between the weed barrier and the soil layer.

Like I said there's many different recipies here. The idea is to provide a way for the water to drain down to the bottom of the tank so that the soil doesn't get too wet and rot the roots of the plants.

I also know that orchids can't be planted in soil because they will die. The roots need to breathe so they need to be planted in sphagnum moss only. You should ask on Orchid board for that because the people there are more informed about that than I am.

As far as terrariums go:

The drainage layer can be gravel or LECA.

The weed barrier keeps the soil layer from compressing down into the drainage layer.

The soil layer can be a mix of many things depending on what you're doing and also what you prefer. I guess if there's no animals in there then soil and sphagnum moss might be ok.

LadyBug · #7 (**permalink**) 07-12-2008, 12:17 AM

ok, that sounds simple enough. would coconut husk(like you get at pet stores )work for the soil layer? and then wrap the roots in sphagnum moss? and are there any plants that could be used as a nice ground cover(like a nice lawn

)? i registered on the orchid forum like you suggested. i'm ~Nature Girl~(i wanted to mix it up a bit

)
thanks for your help, i really appreciate it!

anotherred · #8 (**permalink**) 07-12-2008, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyBug

Would coconut husk(like you get at pet stores )work for the soil layer? and then wrap the roots in sphagnum moss?

Wondering the same as thats how I'm setting up my paludarium. Look into Neo. wee willy and Neo. ampullacea if your also looking for bromelaids. Both are decent looking and stay small. Found some good looking smaller orchids at Andy's Orchids - Orchids Species - Orchid list of miniature orchid plants . Haven't dealt with them yet, but seem to have good feedback so I'll be trying them soon.

Green Ghost · #9 (**permalink**) 07-12-2008, 03:44 AM

For the substrate mix, yeah some people do mix coconut husk with soil. I've seen a lot of different recipies because of the way it drains. I've heard of a little sand in the mix also.

From my limited knowledge of orchids each type tends to have specific temperature ranges and humidity requirements. I think the roots can't be in soil. They need to have a drying period after being sprayed or soaked. So I'm pretty sure it would have to be sphagnum moss only. A solution would be to have an area where there is only sphagnum moss all the way down to the weed barrier. Maybe a small pot with the bottom cut out? (to keep the soil away but let the water drain easily)
You might try looking at baby's tears as ground (lawn) cover. If anyone else can help maybe they can give some info here also.

For the substrate mix, yeah some people do mix coconut husk with soil. I've seen a lot of different recipies because of the way it drains. I've heard of a little sand in the mix also.

Green Ghost · #10 (**permalink**) 07-12-2008, 03:55 AM

Anotherred: There's an alternative to planting, it's having branches in the tank and mounting the orchids on the branches with the roots in the air. (epiphitically) That way you can mist the roots and then let them dry a little until the next time you mist them. This gives you more control on how much moisture they're exposed to, I guess.