What orchid would like these growing conditions?

[waldo]

I'd like to grow a orchid or two in a dart frog tank. The conditions would be very high humidity 70%-90%, temps 65*-80*, very little air ventilation and needs to stay relatively small. Thanks for any ideas

[smartie2000]

Masdevallias come to mind first thing. Choose the not as cool growing ones like masd. infracta and its hybrids.

[Ron-NY]

most orchids and other plants need air circulation. You might need to add a muffin fan to your tank. There are some small sized Bulbophyllums that would fit your need such as lasiochillum. What your post failed to mention though is the light level in the vivarium.

[smartie2000]

I agree lighting is most important if you want them to bloom. Also air movement is also important to prevent fungul attacks and it aids growth.
I will have to install a muffin fan for my masdevallias, but they have been very tolerant for me.

Some other small plants I have:
Pleurothallis tribuloides is my tiniest one. It's supposed to bloom red and it lives with my masdevallias. The species seems to be tolerant of many different temps since my university has them growing hot and baking in the sun.

Cischweinfia dasyandra. I had to take this one out of the masd. tank because I think it was a air movement issue. It did look great on the side of the tank

Leochilus carinatus It was a cheap plant at $5. It is native to mexico and I think it divides itself readily so I got it so cheap. I took it out of my masd. tank when the Cischweinfia dasyandra came out, however it was growing fine in there. Based on pictures I think the spikes can get long though

I haven't put these in a tank before but they will need higher light and air movement, than the masdevallias:
Dend loddigesii is also a small one, and you may aquire a cheap keiki (I got mine for $3). It will need seasonal changes though including a cool dry rest in the winter so you may have to take it out of the tank.
Dend moniliforme. It will grow like the Dend loddigesii
Sophronitis cernua is also small and cattelya like.
Neofinetia falcata

The slippers will need the air movement or they may have a fungal attack. I haven't kept them in a tank before but I'm sure it is possible with the right amount of air movement. They grow well in high humidity and will take fluorescent lighting. For smaller slippers I have:
Phrag pearcei
Phrag schilimii I think the spike will be around afoot tall.
Paph helenae (Paph barbigerum is easier to find that helenae)
Paph charlesworthii is also a small plant but I expect a spike to be a almost a foot tall
Paph henryanum also small slippers, and it is a more colourful one

The above plants are all fairly new acquisitions, so I haven't bloomed them myself though....



Tindo had a Paph Vanda M. Pearman in a vivarium:
http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...m-pearman.html

[Diane]

[quote=smartie2000;70741]
I will have to install a muffin fan for my masdevallias,


All I can say is I see a picture of a fan with big bran muffins glued to the fan blades...

[smartie2000]

Lol....I thought 'muffin fans' were a joke when someone told me about them, but I found out they were like computer fans

Phal bellina and Phal violacea might also enjoy your conditions too, with air movement. I'm not expert on these though, my phal bellina was stressed badly from shipping and it is quite set back, though slowly regaining its strength. I think they like the humidity because of their habitat in the rainforests of Borneo. They are smallish plants for a phal and their spikes are short, spikes are also more horizontal than vertical, so perfect on the side of a vivarium.

What is the smallest phal by leaf span?

My Phal 'Lava Glow' is my smallest old phal. It is very small and the spikes aren't too tall compared to my other phals, but they are sent vertically (maybe a problem in a tank?). It's the patented one that is sometimes offered in big box stores. Lava Glow is not a registered phal name and I suspect that it might be Phal Laurel Lea Baldan ‘Lava Glow’ (Phal. Buddha's Treasure x Doritis pulcherrima) after some googling, but I am not sure. Anyone know for sure?

[smartie2000]

hmm....Phal bellina and Phal violacea might not be small plants. How big are the mature ones, they seem to be huge in some pictures (or maybe the blooms very small?) Well my bellina is small for now, its growing new roots but I'm waiting for new leaves and perhaps a spike eventually.

[murgdan]

My Phal 'Lava Glow' is my smallest old phal. It is very small and the spikes aren't too tall compared to my other phals, but they are sent vertically (maybe a problem in a tank?). It's the patented one that is sometimes offered in big box stores. Lava Glow is not a registered phal name and I suspect that it might be Phal Laurel Lea Baldan ‘Lava Glow’ (Phal. Buddha's Treasure x Doritis pulcherrima) after some googling, but I am not sure. Anyone know for sure?

I recently bought a Phal Buddha's Treasure x Doritis pulcherrima and it is not little at all! It's actually the second biggest phal I have.

You can see pictures of it here...

http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...ng-victim.html

[Kerry]

No that's definitely not small. Maybe Fren just got a runt from the litter!

[smartie2000]

Thanks Cindy

Was yours patented mericlone? It says it on the label. Mine actually reads reproduction prohibited. Patented by twyford.

My plant is a miniature. And the blooms are very similar to yours, though the plant size isn't