Masdevallia floribunda - Page 2 - Orchid Board

vmax3000 · #11 03-17-2008, 04:05 PM

I used a mister for a reptile enclosure and used an old muffin fan from a computer to move air and mist around in my terrarium. The other misting device you might consider is one of those punch bowl misters that folks use to make a little fountain in their punch for parties. Harry Phillips recommended one of those to me, but I had already gotten ahold of this reptile enclosure pump system. It has worked rather well and the muffin fan does the job quite nicely for a smaller enclosure....btw, I am NO electrician, just in case you were wondering!!

Tindo, love the masdevallia pic. I have had some success with livingstonea and discoidea, so I have treated myself to mejiana. Down here in Waco, Texas, I have to watch them in the summer season (or "hell", as my husband calls it!). Of course, I would love all of the cool season orchids

!

mnh3281 · #12 03-18-2008, 08:05 AM

Tin, it is beautiful! I'm jealous! One of these days I'll have success with masdies, but until then I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Lindafvb · #13 03-18-2008, 11:28 AM

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I am off to the store to buy "the fan". Even if this is normal leaf drop I did learn something. I did not realize how bad this could get. Today the Masde looks fine and there has been no leaf drop for two days. I also see the making of a new leaf among the the older leaves. Hopefully leaving the doors open and the drying out is working. Gotta get this working before shopping at the Longwood Orchid Show at the end of the month.

Paul · #14 03-18-2008, 01:56 PM

M floribunda is an intermdiate to warm grower so you temps should be fine.

Linda, installing a PC fan is really very easy. Keep in mind that PC fans run on DC current. If you attempt to hook it up to AC (ie. plug it directly into the wall) you will instantly fry it. You will need an AC/DC adaptor. (I've found them inexpensively at Menards.) I suggest you look for a variable current adaptor as this would allow you to change the speed of the fan. You will also do well to get some push-in connectors to wire the fan to the adaptor.

Ross · #15 03-18-2008, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

M floribunda is an intermdiate to warm grower so you temps should be fine.

Linda, installing a PC fan is really very easy. Keep in mind that PC fans run on DC current. If you attempt to hook it up to AC (ie. plug it directly into the wall) you will instantly fry it. You will need an AC/DC adaptor. (I've found them inexpensively at Menards.) I suggest you look for a variable current adaptor as this would allow you to change the speed of the fan. You will also do well to get some push-in connectors to wire the fan to the adaptor.

Or even easier get one of these: Coralife Aqualight 3 1/8 Cooling Fan Kit It's already wired and ready to go. I have one inside Orchidarium running 24/7 and another through-the-wall that vents the tank at night. They are nearly silent.

Tindomul · #16 03-18-2008, 05:31 PM

Ross, thats exactly what I use, but because of money constraints my next fan purchase may have to be something I will have to wire for myself. THose are very cheap from what I've heard.

vmax3000 · #17 03-18-2008, 06:30 PM

I picked up a variable dc adaptor and wired in an old muffin fan (Necessity is the mother of invention...or in my case, the need for another orchid pushes me to do things I probably would never do

). It wasn't too expensive at our local electrical supply store. Based on the voltage choice, I can increase or decrease the rpm of the fan. I got to use a soldering iron and some of that electrical shrink wrap....cool.....

Lindafvb · #18 03-20-2008, 10:46 AM

I wanted to update this thread for all of those who have sent personal notes to me and wrote in on this thread. Thankyou, thankyou for the encouragement. I did buy a fan and with the help of a nice man at Radio Shack I have my fan. I bought all the supplies there and he helped put it together so when I left the store it was working. I have placed it on top of the screen which sits on top of the Exo-terra. I block the other half of the screen to keep humidity up. I will keep playing with the position as the weather here in NJ gets warmer. The Masde is happy for now and no leaves have fallen for several days.
Thanks to everyone I now have a fan and I learned about connecting red and black wires.

Linda

Tindomul · #19 03-20-2008, 10:49 AM

Now, can you teach me?

Royal · #20 03-20-2008, 11:01 AM

Yeah Linda!

Now we want pictures!