Welcome to the seventeenth part of my BiOrbAir Review – Growing Miniature Orchids in the BiOrbAir!  The BiOrbAir is a specialised, automated terrarium, designed by Barry Reynolds from BiOrb.  I first planted this Miniature Orchid Trial BiOrbAir Terrarium in August 2015, so at the time of writing – in December 2017, this BiOrbAir terrarium is over two years old.

If you would like to start at the very beginning, and read the first part of this Miniature Orchid Trial and BiOrbAir review, please click here.

BiOrbAir Review and Miniature Orchid Trial

On the 12th November 2017, I conducted a big rearrangement of the orchids that were growing inside my terrariums, including this Miniature Orchid Trial BiOrbAir Terrarium.  I removed almost all of the miniature orchids that were growing inside this terrarium and introduced new miniature orchids to this Miniature Orchid Trial.

My motive in re-arranging my orchids was to allow me to trial more plants inside the BiOrbAir, to enable me to group orchid species so that wherever possible, orchid species from the same genus were growing inside the same terrarium.  I also moved plants into other terrariums according to their performance in the terrarium that they had been residing in, and the different growing conditions I had available.

On the 12th November 2017, as well as rearranging my plants, many of my terrariums were also moved to new positions.  This Miniature Orchid Trial BiOrbAir Terrarium moved to a brighter position, where it will now receive indirect natural daylight.  None of the rooms inside my home could be described as bright, but this terrarium has now moved to the brightest room I have.

With room to trial more miniature orchids inside this BiOrbAir terrarium, I will now be trialling the following plants….

Miniature Orchid Terrarium Planting List:

I currently have the following orchids growing inside this Miniature Orchid Trial BiOrbAir Terrarium:

• Aerangis mystacidii
• Ceratocentron fesselii
• Ceratochilus biglandulosus
• Ceratostylis philippinensis
• Constantia cipoensis
• Diplocaulobium abbreviatum
• Diplocaulobium chrysotropis
• Lepanthopsis astrophora ‘Stalky’
• Macroclinium manabinum
• Masdevallia rechingeriana
• Mediocalcar decoratum
• Psygmorchis pusilla
• Trichoglottis pusilla

Diplocaulobium abbreviatum is the only miniature orchid that was included in my original planting of this terrarium in August 2015.  Lepanthopsis astrophora ‘Stalky’ was introduced to this terrarium in January 2016, Masdevallia rechingeriana was added in April 2016, and Mediocalcar decoratum was added in May 2016.   The other miniature orchids that you see listed above were introduced to this Miniature Orchid trial BiOrbAir Terrarium on the 12th November 2017.

This is a Miniature Orchid Trial – a Trial to discover which miniature orchids will grow and flower successfully inside the BiOrbAir Terrarium.  Over time I have changed and added to the planting inside this BiOrbAir terrarium – the planting list of miniature orchids above relates to the current orchids that are growing inside this terrarium.

You can see the full planting list for this Miniature Orchid Trial BiOrbAir Terrarium here.  Here you’ll find the full list of all of the miniature orchids that have been trialled inside this terrarium, plants that were trialled in the past, the plants that are being trialled at present, as well as future plants!  Here you’ll also find the full details of where I have purchased all of my miniature orchids, the moss, and the cork I have used inside this terrarium.

For more information on how to mount epiphytic orchids onto cork bark, please click here.

Miniature Orchids

Let’s have a closer look at these plants and find out how these miniature orchids are settling in inside this Miniature Orchid Trial BiOrbAir Terrarium:

Aerangis mystacidii

I have a number of Aerangis mystacidii specimens, all of these plants were raised together from seed in the same flask.  These seedlings were de-flasked in June 2017, earlier this year and are now residing inside many of my terrariums.  The Aerangis mystacidii specimen that you see pictured above is the plant that now resides inside my Miniature Orchid Trial BiOrbAir Terrarium.

Ceratocentron fesselii

Ceratocentron fesselii is a critically endangered orchid from the Philippines.  This miniature orchid species, like so many orchids has suffered from over collection and is now in real danger.  I was given this plant as a gift, it was purchased from a reputable nursery.  Please don’t buy orchids from traders who are collecting plants illegally, with the sole intention of making money.

Ceratochilus biglandulosus

During this rearrange on the 12th November 2017, I moved this Ceratochilus biglandulosus specimen from another of my terrariums (a terrarium that I don’t write regular updates for) to this Miniature Orchid Trial BiOrbAir Terrarium.  I also moved another Ceratochilus biglandulosus specimen into my White Orchid Trial BiOrbAir Terrarium.  I will keep a close eye on both of these specimens and will update you on their progress in the coming reviews.

Ceratostylis philippinensis

I have also previously trialled a much smaller specimen of Ceratostylis philippinensis inside a BiOrbAir terrarium, which was unsuccessful – the plant died.  I hope that this Ceratostylis philippinensis specimen will not suffer the same sorry fate!  I will update you of this plant’s growth and progress in the continuing review instalments.

Constantia cipoensis

I love Constantia cipoensis!  This is such an attractive and charming miniature orchid!  I have another specimen growing inside my White Orchid Trial BiOrbAir Terrarium.  I hope that both of these plants will thrive inside the BiOrbAir Terrarium.

Diplocaulobium abbreviatum

This Diplocaulobium abbreviatum specimen was included in the original planting of this terrarium in August 2015, which at the time of writing was 28 months ago.  This specimen has yet to flower.  I have always felt that this plant needed more light, but although I have re-arranged this terrarium’s planting a number of times, I have never provided the plant with a bright enough position within the terrarium.  With this in mind, I have moved this Miniature Orchid Trial BiOrbAir Terrarium to a brighter position, where it will receive indirect natural daylight.  In recent months, but before I made any changes to this terrarium, this Diplocaulobium abbreviatum specimen has produced some new growth.  I hope that this Diplocaulobium abbreviatum specimen will flourish and will flower inside this Miniature Orchid Trial BiOrbAir Terrarium.

Diplocaulobium chrysotropis

I introduced this Diplocaulobium chrysotropis specimen to this Miniature Orchid Trial BiOrbAir Terrarium on the 12th November 2017.  I am looking forward to seeing how well this miniature orchid grows inside the BiOrbAir Terrarium.

Lepanthopsis astrophora ‘Stalky’

I love Lepanthopsis astrophora ‘Stalky’!  This is a super cute miniature orchid, which thrives inside the BiOrbAir.  Although I have proven that Lepanthopsis astrophora ‘Stalky’ flourishes inside the BiOrbAir, I am leaving this specimen in place, as I don’t currently have another suitable space available for this plant.  Being such a dear little orchid, I am certain that I will be glad of this decision, as Lepanthopsis astrophora ‘Stalky’ is simply a joy to behold!  I love to share the joy of these miniature orchids with you.

Macroclinium manabinum

This Macroclinium manabinum specimen is another new introduction that was moved from another of my terrariums (a terrarium that I don’t write regular updates for) into this Miniature Orchid Trial BiOrbAIr Terrarium on the 12th November 2017.  You can see photographs of this Macroclinium manabinum specimen’s flowers as they open in the photographs above and below.

Macroclinium manabinum flowering

Macroclinium manabinum‘s inflorescences become very alluring as they reveal themselves and open up in all their glory.  As the individual flowers open, they take on an iridescent, pearlised sheen, hanging down below the fan shaped leaves, like a magnificent pendent, certainly more beautiful than any chandelier.  I am so happy to be able to share this Macroclinium manabinum flowers with you!

Masdevallia rechingeriana

This Masdevallia rechingeriana specimen was introduced to this Miniature Orchid Trial BiOrbAir Terrarium at the end of March 2016.  Since then this plant has flourished inside this terrarium, flowering from January 2017, to July 2017.  I am sure that this Masdevallia rechingeriana specimen will continue to prosper inside this Miniature Orchid Trial BiOrbAir Terrarium.

Mediocalcar decoratum

This Mediocalcar decoratum specimen was given to me by a special friend in May 2016.  This plant suffered somewhat during a drier period earlier this year, when I was unable to mist these plants as frequently as I would have liked.  Following on from the drought and the damage this drier period caused this plant, I am guessing that if I were to remove this miniature orchid from its mount, I would discover that under the verdant green moss, this plant has died away in the centre, leaving two, if not three plants that are growing closely together.  Plants like Mediocalcar decoratum, that can be divided have a greater resilience around the outer edges of the plant, where the newer growth can be seen.

Psygmorchis pusilla

I love the appearance of this Psygmorchis pusila specimen’s fan shaped leaves!  I am excited to introduce this Psygmorchis pusila specimen to this Miniature Orchid Trial BiOrbAir Terrarium, I hope that this attractive orchid will be happy inside this terrarium.

Trichoglottis pusilla

I will be interested to see how well this Trichoglottis pusilla specimen establishes inside this Miniature Orchid Trial BiOrbAir Terrarium.  This miniature orchid species originates from Java, where it can be found growing on the tops of trees in forests.  I am looking forward to discovering how this orchid species grows and develops inside the BiOrbAir Terrarium.

To head straight to the next update for this terrarium and discover which were the next orchids to flower, please click here.

Other articles that may interest you…………………..

To read the first part of my White Orchid BiOrbAir Terrarium Trial, please click here.

To read the first part of my Madagascar BiOrbAir Terrarium Trial, please click here.

To read about the great new features of the updated 2017 BiOrbAir terrarium, please click here.

To read about the general maintenance of the BiOrbAir terrarium, and the general care I give to my terrarium plants, please click here.

For information on how to mount epiphytic orchids onto cork bark, please click here.

To read about using decorative features inside your terrarium or bottle garden, please click here.

To see a planting list for terrariums and bottle gardens featuring a variety of beautiful, terrarium plants, please click here.

To see a planting list of miniature orchids to grow in terrariums, please click here.

To read about the Writhlington Orchid Project, please click here.

To read about the 2017 Orchid Extravaganza at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, please click here.

To read about using long handled terrarium tools, please click here.