cloud forest terrarium - an attempt

[DirtyCoconuts]

this is the thread where i will share about my recent project and the things i learned for the next time or the next tank

here is the tank finished with the water and the cloud machine off.
Roots....but how??? by J Solo, on Flickr

there are 11 orchids in the tank...a few were just thrown in bc i had extra or a keiki but the list for starters (we will see who survives LOL) is:

Pleurothallis stricta
Pleurothallis niveoglobula
Bulbophyllum maximum
Bulbophyllum congestum
Bulbophyllum lasiochilum 'red'
Haraella retrocalla
Macodes petola
Dendrophylax lindenii
Andinia dastroemii
Lepanthopsis acetabulum
Zootrophion hirtzii


they range from 500-3500 M and that is BIG range i know but i am hoping the temps of 68-78 with humidity in 94-98% range will be suitable...the orchids are all without any substrate...some will have moss near their roots eventually and there is hygrolon on the walls where they are mounted (most of them)

i will add lot more with build pics and some specifics as i go with the grow in and learn about the results of the first terrarium experiment

[rbarata]

How to you keep temps in that range?

[DirtyCoconuts]

I keep my house set to 72 at night and 75 during the day.

When the light is on the tank is about three degree warmer than the house and with the cloud machine on it is about three degrees cooler.

I have a bunch of holes in the door panel and my idea was to have more ventilation at the top so the warmer air in the tank would be escaping and it would pull in the cooler dryer air to the bottom adding to the evaporation and the air exchange.


It’s only a few weeks old at this point so time will reveal a lot

[DirtyCoconuts]

so, i found out that cuttings that are acclimated to a south florida, outdoor, environment are not great candidates for this tank LOL, both bulbo cuttings are STRUGGLING hahaha.

the rest of the minis and wet plants are doing really well...it is a little disorganized as i figure out how to do the labels in a better way to make it look more like a botanical garden and less like a crime scene (labeling the bullets, we are former prosecutors so...).


i welcome any and all thoughts and criticisms.

Medusa and more by J Solo, on Flickr


and here is the main cork bridge....


Medusa and more by J Solo, on Flickr



almost all of the plants have new growth...a few are downright aggressive and there are a couple that are in flower. pretty pleased with the way this is going so far. i am learning a lot and i suspect this will need to be re-done in the next 2-3 years but i will be a lot more equipped for that one LOL

---------- Post added at 01:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:42 PM ----------

Macro, catts, and flowers by J Solo, on Flickr


Macro, catts, and flowers by J Solo, on Flickr


Macro, catts, and flowers by J Solo, on Flickr

Macro, catts, and flowers by J Solo, on Flickr


Macro, catts, and flowers by J Solo, on Flickr



Macro, catts, and flowers by J Solo, on Flickr

[Ray]

[orion141]

Looks great!

Any updates??

[DirtyCoconuts]

Thanks!

Yes. It is doing well. I’d say three steps forward for each one step back

It is at 13 plants and all but two ( two of the bulbos I took cuttings from outside and stuck in here) are in active growth.

I’ll grab some pics tomorrow but the mosses are growing in, the timing of the light/fan/mister/waterfall are all pretty dialed in

[Draikan]

I like seeing everything mounted bare root.

What is your air circulation like inside?

Have you experienced any mold or fungus?

[DirtyCoconuts]

I have enough holes for decent passive circulation but I also have two 5cm pc fans running positive pressure. They blow into a diffuser so there is not a lot of “whoosh” but a lot of air is moving gently throughout.

I have the fog and the waterfall running down the back to make certain there is movement in the hardest to ventilate parts


No mold or fungus but it’s chock loaded with springtails so they get work done before I see it

[DirtyCoconuts]

so here is the front face of the terrarium...it is 1/8 plexi and that was a huge mistake! it warped even though i bought "good" plexi and reinforced it with a bar of 1/4"...too little too late.

not the biggest mistake i made LOL

Untitled by J Solo, on Flickr


you can see the 5 passive vents at the bottom they are just over 1/3 of an inch and the top is all 1/4 exactly. i did the math (lol, i know) and it is like 5 square inches of "in" at the top and 1 and 1/2" of "out" at the bottom.

the thermal cycling of air will make this pretty decent as the light is at the top of the tank and the outside air (my house AC) is always dryer and usually cooler. adding the fans makes sure the inside is both positively pressurized and able to cool itself by evaporation and the air itself (being AC air)

---------- Post added at 11:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:54 PM ----------

NOTE- in case you noticed the fly paper in the tank...my lovely guinea pig , Monica, her cage is literally directly next to this tank....while i change the cage bedding weekly or more, there are always a few F'ing flies around and they seem to always get pulled into the terrarium...this is a simple way to extract them LOL