Nano Viv Terracotta Tubes - Erin Pottery

[gmdiaz]

Well, as I am thinking this through. . .I don't think the clay tube idea is really workable.

For one thing, the porosity IS a big issue, hard to get it just right with any of the terra things around here. I mean I could buy a bunch of wine chillers or other various terracotta things and test them but that sort of gets expensive and wasteful.

I think it would be difficult and require a lot of experimentation on Vic's part to make these to our specifications. I know he would do a great job for us but I really don't see enough interest for him to ask him to spend time on it.

Now, thinking along different, more traditional lines. .natural vivarium, with a water feature and/or a misting system. lol

One idea that I saw that I just loved at a local greenhouse was a great big rock (10' tall) that was made into a fountain, planted on top so that it hid all the fountain parts. . .all you saw was water rolling down the rock face.

Maybe something like that to fit in the Exo tank. Hmmm. . .still thinking.

Thank you so much, everyone for your input! I love to hear what you think and value your opinions!

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[Kyle]

I hvae some of the tubes from Roellke. They work well. The tip Lutz gave me was not to put plants on them until the moss has made a carpet. Its been 6 months and I have a nice carpet on them. They do weep a little. They need to be filled every 4 days.

I would also like to make a larger one. They best thing I can find is clay chimeny pipes. They come in different widths and lengths. Square and round. The manufactuer said they are porous - but they seem to have some kind of coating. I guess I could pay a bit to have it sandblasted off. I bought one in the spring, but haven't had time to set it up. My plan is to silicone a ceramic tile to the bottom.

heres some pics:





Here is the manufacture of the chimney tile: Superior Clay Corporation

[unhappykat]

Has anyone ever tried doing this with just a regular terracotta pot with the drainage hole plugged and the base glazed so water would have to come from the sides and not just drip from the bottom. I know there are a few places that sell extra tall clay pots that would do nicely for this sort of growing, you could even place a mini taro or anthirium at the top of the container for a palm like look to the whole container.

[Magnus A]

Kyle, the chimney pipes looks very interesting. The coating could be sanded or sandblasted if it has not penetrated to deep. Then there is the question of how porous the pipes are! But you could ask the manufacturer if you could get a non treated pipe and test it!

unhappykat, Yes I have tested clay pots. Most of them seems to be wax treated ruining them for this application. The ones I found without treatment has been fired at to high temperature and have not been leaking enough. They are not porous enough!

[unhappykat]

Originally Posted by Magnus A

Kyle, the chimney pipes looks very interesting. The coating could be sanded or sandblasted if it has not penetrated to deep. Then there is the question of how porous the pipes are! But you could ask the manufacturer if you could get a non treated pipe and test it!

unhappykat, Yes I have tested clay pots. Most of them seems to be wax treated ruining them for this application. The ones I found without treatment has been fired at to high temperature and have not been leaking enough. They are not porous enough!

I have never encountered clay pots with any type of wax treatment on them before, I find that interesting. Could you try wrapping the clay pot with long fibered sphagnum moss then attaching a wick to the edge of the pot to draw moisture directly from the resivoir to the moss layer bypassing the porosity almost entirely. Then you would be able to use more decorative ceramic pots as well as clay ones for your mounts.

[Magnus A]

Originally Posted by unhappykat

Could you try wrapping the clay pot with long fibered sphagnum moss then attaching a wick to the edge of the pot to draw moisture directly from the resivoir to the moss layer bypassing the porosity almost entirely. Then you would be able to use more decorative ceramic pots as well as clay ones for your mounts.

Have no opinion for the sphagnum moss mount you suggest. I think you have to test but the result will depend on your humidity! Dry condition gives more and faster evaporation and so on....

[growinhydro]

Hi all, interesting thread

To answer the SwampStick question, I have in fact perfected them with the addition of a soy based tile sealer at the bottom inside of the mounts. I have also had good results with the use of water absorbing polymers inside the mounts.

It was good timing that I came across this thread. I just finished installing an extruder I had built. So far I have had 3" and 6" dies built, but I can now extrude those very tubes you are interested in.

6" diameter, approx 1/2" thick, and I am limited on length by the height of my kiln so nothing longer than two feet.

I am planning on creating a custom mount creator type web page where you can pick a tube diameter, length, add a base, add a glaze, wax treatment, texture, or about anything else you can think of and I will build them to your specifications.

I'll be testing it this weekend so I will take some pictures. If you have any other questions regarding the SwampSticks or an extruded terracotta or white clay tube, feel free to contact me.

Kind regards,
Jesse

[gmdiaz]

Hi Jesse!

Thank you so much for responding to our thread! I really appreciate it!

I would be happy happy happy to test one of your tubes.

I need something quick, actually. My poor little calodictyon is so unhappy. . I am down to one new leaf!

Maybe Magnus, could speak with you in detail about what works and what we're looking for specifically. He has tested some tubes that have the right porosity.

If you could get the porosity right. .it would be a GREAT growing tool.

Feel free to contact me!

[Magnus A]

Hi

It is very hard to define the porosity on a good tube! But a guide is that it should bleed enough so that small drops are formed on the outside after some hour! The tube leaks alot when it is filled but after the watersurface is lowered due to leaking the preasure drops and the leaking slows down. I refill my tube roughly ones a week.

The evaporation is also a factor to consider and a slow leaking tube stays wet enough if it is enclosed into a small vivarium/case.

/Magnus

[golden]

Hi there
I was inspired by this topic and decided to give it a try. I bought a regular unglased ceramic vase and mounted 2 mini hybride masdevallias and a dracula lotax. The vase is fill with RO water and placed in a small aquarium. There is a compure vent going on 24/7. The whole thing is placed on a windowsill and needs no additional light.
The plants have been mounted for 2 weeks and look good so far.


The photos are made 1 week after the start of my project.