Setting Up A Wine Chiller Orchid Terrarium In A Tropical Country

Restless during the pandemic, I decided to start on a terrarium for cloud forest orchids. It was something I had always wanted to explore but never quite mustered the time, energy and moolah to actually do so. 

After hours of reading, research and Facebook conversations with local cool-plants growers, I finally took the step. Most people were really kind, helpful. There were more support from those with highland carnivorous plant terrariums than those who specialise in growing orchids. (In general, orchid keepers are known to be snobby, deep sigh.) This article by carnivorousplants was particularly illuminating.  

Before we start, here are some photos of miniatures that I managed to grow and bloom in my converted wine chiller.

Dendrobium subacaule

Dracula vespertilio, the evening star-monkey face orchid.
Can you see its face?

Lepanthopsis astrophora with its flower fireworks 

Paphiopedilum rungsuriyanum, its name meaning
increasing prosperity. (Huat arh!)

Specklinia grobyii var small,
easy and cute

Chamber Construction

There are a few factors to consider, all of which could be toggled to suit the needs of what one wishes to grow.

1) Temperature

Cool-growing plants generally require night time temperatures between 10 to 12 oC and day time temperatures between 15 to 21 oC while intermediate-growing ones appreciate 12 to 18 oC night time and 21 to 26 oC day time temperatures. |

Your first decision will be on which class of plants you wish to grow. Your next decision would be to either grow the plant in a customised set-up, fridge (0 to 4 oC) or wine chiller (5 to 18 oC). 

One grower I know built his own set-up from scratch with an aquarium chiller and temperature sensor. This is more labour intensive and requires proper use of tools.

Another got a huge four-panel display fridge for free and got a temperature probe to regulate the temperatures.

My own terrarium

I purchased a secondhand wine chiller from Carousell. It is about 1.8m tall and 0.8m wide and fits neatly into the nook where the rubbish chute is. There is no need to get a temperature probe as I can simply adjust the nob on the wine chiller. 

Currently, the day time temperature is around 21 oC and the night time temperature is around 18 oC due to the growth lights being off. I find that there is no need to deliberately ensure a day-night temperature differential - too much work - as most plants are doing well, some even blooming prolifically. 

Digression: I got three temperature probes online and did not manage to get any of them to work. Setting up any terrarium can be an expensive process of trial-and-error.

Things to consider:
- Are there people giving away display fridges, wine chillers or tanks in your neighbourhood? Or selling them at discounted prices? It will have an impact on how you can set up your tank and how much you spend.   
- Would you prefer something newer, cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing? It will be more expensive to buy new equipment though.  

2) Light 

At the start, I got a variety of lights. Some allowed the plants to grow but not bloom. One was so bright and how that it even heated up the entire wine chiller.

Expensive! :(

After trying out a few brands, I would recommend this light (8000W Full Spectrum Growing Lights). Another grower who flowers the most magnificent slipper orchids prefers this:

3) Humidity

The humidity of my chamber is above 90 %, usually around 99 %. This helps new plants to acclimatise and not shed any leaves. 

All potted plants are on plastic container lids which contain spagnum moss (both dead and alive) and trap water. 


Cloud forest orchids are famously finicky. Is the water clean enough? If not, say hello to diseases, decay and eventual deaths.

At first, I collected rainwater for my plants, even bought mineral water during the drier seasons. Then, I realised that water from cooling panes could be collected instead. There is a network of rectangular containers held with cloth tapes and a plastic tube directs the cooling pane water to a plastic reservoir at the lowest shelf.
 
This reservoir is topped up with rainwater and contains very few slow release fertiliser pellets.   

4) Wind movement

Two portable USB fans are permanently switched on to provide air movement.

5) Potting mix

Most orchids are potted in porous rocks topped with spagnum moss. They do well with a daily misting. 

6) Miscellaneous

I used to have a little device which keeps track of temperature and humidity. It links direclty to the phone and could even graph out all fluctuations. However, it ran out of battery and I felt it wasn't quite necessary to purchase a replacement. 

Questions & Answers

1) Where do I get my cloud forest orchids from?

Most are from Ecuagenera though there are some from Mundiflora and Bela Vista Orchids. A few came from Thai sellers while others from hobbyists or local nurseries.

2) What would I have done differently? 

The setup looks rather haphazard, which is somewhat intentional. The wine chiller, being secondhand, does not look aesthetically pleasing. However, it serves its function well and cheaply, which I deeply appreciate.

3) Is the wine chiller monthly maintenance fee costly?

To the best of my knowledge, not really. It consumes about as much energy as an additional fridge and does not lead to a significant jump in energy bills. 


Hope you have free flowering plants. Happy growing! 

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