How far would you go?

[dudleyleroux]

I live in a sub-tropical climate. I can't even think about growing some Cypripediums or other cold growing orchids.

Then I had a thought, What if i build a Terrarium with serious climate control. But not just normal climate control.

I want to grow Cypripedium Guttatum (which i have seed for already), why not build a smart system that downloads the temperature data for Tibet or Siberia daily and have the temperature adjust accordingly.

Is this going too far?

[navyderek]

No way! That sounds perfectly sane.

Weird though because I was thinking of the exact same thing last year for some Cloud Forest orchids which are tough to grow where I am at.... Automated systems that downloaded temp AND sunlight exposure data from the locations the orchids were native to....

To be honest though, I hear the Guttatum isn't as tough to grow as people make it out to be....if you pot it in the proper soil and can make space in a deep freeze or your freezer to ultra-chill it over the winter. I am getting into several different Cyps right now, and this is one I plan on freezing inside cause it doesn't get cold enough here, then placing next to an AC vent during its growing season.

[orchidlady]

Sounds like a really cool idea . Just to throw out another thought, how do you thing global warming/climate change would potentially affect this idea (assumining you are talking about real time data)?

Susan

[Lambert]

I think this is a brilliant idea.
Hope you will go through with it and create a thread in the forum to document the process.
(Cypripedium Guttatum are definitely worth the high tech set-up )

[catttan]

I agree with all of you but lately I've noticed that friends and relatives have been looking at me strangely. I wonder why.

[cindiras]

Catttan, It can't possibly have anything to do with orchids, right? It's perfectly natural to want the best placement for a favorite plant or two...or three...hundred.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

cheers,
BD

[dudleyleroux]

ok, that's settled then. I will do it.
I'll start a thread shortly with all the planning and, well, i still have to flask the seeds too.
Glad to see i'm not as nuts as my wife thinks i am.

[dudleyleroux]

Sounds like a really cool idea . Just to throw out another thought, how do you thing global warming/climate change would potentially affect this idea (assumining you are talking about real time data)?

Susan

What I may do is use historical data and not include global warming into the equation. I have some lovely 10 year min/max temp information for Tibet. Just need to find daylight info.

[delphiguy]

i'd be interested with this, please do keep us posted on your progress... I am especially
interested on how the terrarium can be cooled down.