first time terririum

[electric.chowder]

I'm thinking of converting an old five gallon fish aquirium into a terrirum for a phal I have. It had massive root rot, and I've had it in a small container for the past bit to keep up humidity, and it's started growing a root. I was just wondering if there's anything special I should know when setting it up, any helpful tips or tricks you all have learned, or just pics of your terrirum (I know you all are just dying to show them off )

[pikevi]

I think a 5G tank may not be a viable choice for a Phal., unless it is a 'mini' or a baby.

Assuming it is a rectangular tank the height is probably 10" (25cm) and the width is 14" (35cm). Some of my Phals. are 24" (60cm) across.

It may work if your Phal. is very small or or you want to keep the leaves about the top edge of the tank.

Good luck.

[Ellen]

If you're having rot problems, the last thing you want to do is put your phal in a situation where it has no drainage, no air circulation, and very high humidity. Why not just pot your phal in a standard potting medium such as medium fir bark and hope for the best? By the way, your phal would probably have started growing a new root even without the small container. When phals lose the roots that are in the medium, their normal response is to grow more from higher up on the stem.

[electric.chowder]

Pik, the phal is still a baby, so it's def. not going to be its home forever The container is a hexagon (I think, its got 5 sides) and is about 11in tall, 16in across and 9in deep (those are at the widest parts)

Ellen, I put it in the small container because everyone on here always recommends the spag and bag method after root rot, and I don't have plastic bags usually just laying around, so I used a container. This is the first time I've had an issue with root rot, so I went by what others have said. The phal is mounted and by an opening in the terrarium (which will also have a fan in it as soon as I'm able to get one)

[pikevi]

I think Ellen is right.

There is hardly any room for air circulation.

But you could try it for a few days/weeks just to see how the orchid reacts.

Good luck.