Ground plants and misc. non-orchids for moist terrarium? - Page 2 - Orchid Board

Jmbaum · #1 04-08-2021, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draikan

Jmbaum can you post pictures of that setup somewhere? It sounds amazing!

Yes, I’ll figure out how to upload images to here tomorrow

This was the original orchid list, added about half dozen more, sadly the Malaxis almost immediately suffered beyond recovery. I did move the P. ornata out last week, it had plenty of growth and bloomed non stop, but it needs a little less moisture onslaught and more room for the ever extending flower display.

Coelogyne incrassata (monilirachis)
Zootrophion hypodiscus Cirrhopetalum tingabarinum haraella odorata
Trichosalpinx orbicularis
Pleurothallis ornata
Sophronitis cernua
Bulbophyllum catenulatum (red/yellow) Dracula carderi
Masdevallia sernae
Malaxis calophylla (aurantiacus)

estación seca · #2 04-09-2021, 03:00 AM

Dichondra is susceptible to flea beetles, almost microscopic voracious little things. I would consider soaking the piece of dichondra under water overnight before putting it into the terrarium. If you can find seed it's very easy to sprout.

Fishkeeper · #3 04-09-2021, 11:11 AM

I'd also love to see pictures. Sounds really nice, and roughly what I'm going for.

The terrarium and substrate are in the mail, so when they get here, I'm going to fiddle around with the flooring. I have to figure out how much of the bottom I want to be water. Definitely some of it, so I can easily get in there to adjust the water level.

I have a D. spatulata sundew in a sort of desktop flask setup. I bought it as a "no-maintenance" plant. It's in with a nutrient gel, so it can stay in there awhile, but I'm going to take it out sooner or later. I might try it in the terrarium? Though they like a lot of light.

Ever try Pinguicula emarginata? I had one on a Hygrolon living wall experiment, and it did pretty well. Nice flowers, reproduces easily from fallen or cut leaves, and great gnat control. I'm almost definitely going to have one in here. Maybe see if I can get it and some moss to grow on a rock, since that's how they grow in the wild.

Whichever carnivorous plant I end up with, I'll probably just isolate them so the fertilizer can't get to them. I think sundews can handle a tiny bit of fertilizer, but still, they don't like it at all. Too bad there's no micro-mini nepenthes, a lot of those are just fine with orchid level fertilizers.
(If the GMO-decorative-plants thing expands past just people making new flower colors, I'd love to see micro-mini nepenthes. Imagine how cute they'd be if they started vining with the leaves only 1-2" long.)

I can't find any Dichronda, I think the frost got it. I'll check around the rivers at some point, see if I can find any, and I'll definitely make sure to soak it. Heck, might do two or three days, I've seen this stuff survive submerged in temporary puddles for way longer than that.

Jmbaum · #4 04-09-2021, 11:55 AM

Yeah absolutely, take your time to play. I was a little rushed the first go around between having to drive 2 hours from Andy’s to get the plants home and at risk of cat attack while the waited to go into the terrarium.

I started a live sphag culture and it’s happy to slowly creep over rocks and the manzanita branches, nice and slow. The Pinguicula emarginata would have a happy home I’m sure.

Even though I have many species that enjoy more shade, I find where I position and angle the light head makes the biggest difference. And I have tended to keep the leaves on the anthocyanin side for the ones that produce it.

Species wise, my biggest must have is Coelogyne incrassata (monilirachis) which contrast all the bulbos and pleuro leaf types. Make sure to position it where the leaves make no contact with anything when the fan is on, as it promotes rots.

In general I’m weary of anything too vigorous since space is in short supply and I like a broad representation of different species and growth habits. I’m about to take out half bulb. catenulatum because it’s abundantly happy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishkeeper

I'd also love to see pictures. Sounds really nice, and roughly what I'm going for.

The terrarium and substrate are in the mail, so when they get here, I'm going to fiddle around with the flooring. I have to figure out how much of the bottom I want to be water. Definitely some of it, so I can easily get in there to adjust the water level.

I have a D. spatulata sundew in a sort of desktop flask setup. I bought it as a "no-maintenance" plant. It's in with a nutrient gel, so it can stay in there awhile, but I'm going to take it out sooner or later. I might try it in the terrarium? Though they like a lot of light.

Ever try Pinguicula emarginata? I had one on a Hygrolon living wall experiment, and it did pretty well. Nice flowers, reproduces easily from fallen or cut leaves, and great gnat control. I'm almost definitely going to have one in here. Maybe see if I can get it and some moss to grow on a rock, since that's how they grow in the wild.

Whichever carnivorous plant I end up with, I'll probably just isolate them so the fertilizer can't get to them. I think sundews can handle a tiny bit of fertilizer, but still, they don't like it at all. Too bad there's no micro-mini nepenthes, a lot of those are just fine with orchid level fertilizers.
(If the GMO-decorative-plants thing expands past just people making new flower colors, I'd love to see micro-mini nepenthes. Imagine how cute they'd be if they started vining with the leaves only 1-2" long.)

I can't find any Dichronda, I think the frost got it. I'll check around the rivers at some point, see if I can find any, and I'll definitely make sure to soak it. Heck, might do two or three days, I've seen this stuff survive submerged in temporary puddles for way longer than that.

Fishkeeper · #5 04-09-2021, 01:37 PM

Oh, right, live sphagnum. I've had some of it (or something very similar) pop up in a sundew pot, so hopefully I can get that to grow for me and get more of it.

The Coelogyne incrassata looks really cool, thanks for the suggestion.

I had actually been looking at Bulb. catenulatum. I might get some anyway, even if it runs a bit amok. I'll just have to put it somewhere I can easily trim it.

Completely agree about variation. It really helps things stand out when you don't just have 30 plants with almost the same leaf shape.
Do you happen to know of any micro-mini, moisture-enjoying bulbos with a really wide, squat bulb? I know I've seen a couple somewhere, but don't remember the names.

I'm hoping to be able to keep B. moniliforme. It's so tiny and cute.

Jmbaum · #6 04-09-2021, 04:18 PM

Don't get me wrong about Bulb. catenulatum, I still adore it, and is in perpetual bloom. I was the first great indicator that things were going well. I divided it when I dismounted it originally, to attach to the manzanita , did not mind at all! It has many variations within the species, I recommend the bicolor form myself (red/yellow) the contrast of the two colors creates a lot of interest. If you can find one that perhaps clumps a bit more(shorter rhizomes), is slower grower generally, or smaller form, it might be a better choice. Placing it against the lower side of the back wall on almost anything that won't hold on to too much water will effectively have it run straight up the wall for good cover.

You can also modify the growth with different wavelengths, adding more blue it keep plants shorter, though you'd really need to plan placement. of lights and plants. I have two goose neck bulbs on mine. Seriously inexpensive amazon purchase and very effective. From what I have read on, epiphitic orchids are okay with wavelengths that our eyes see better (green/yellow) since the chlorophyll of the trees are very effective at capturing a great deal of the red and blue wavelengths. This is great new for bulb price when catering to plants that live below fairly dense canopies. I was given a red blue LED board and had that on for a time, and while nothing died, they were effectively stunted in the way of vegetative growth and stressed even through the temperature was the same and they had all the humidity they could want. just too much light energy available on the ends of what they are comfortable with.

The ultra mini bulbs are great, but have to be really mindful about where you place them for enjoyment, they get lost easy if they are any real distance from the glass ( I have b. malleolabrum). Look at B. rinkei, B. inconspicuum, B. mutable. I hesitate to remount some of the micro minis that are happily establish on their current mount, but ideally I would like them closer to the front. just the same I try to keep the habitat looking more "natural" where possible, not like a bunch of sticks hung up on another stick or walls... but still working on that. Knowing that now I'm very inclined to see exactly how something is growing on a what it is mounted on prior to purchasing. That is why Andy's open houses are worth if if you can manage to get there. I would have approached the whole thing differently had I not started with plants from him. SO... advice, only get things mounded on cedar if you are going to unmount them (not so hard since you can soak in 8o degree water kind break it apart for the size used for mini's) or put them on the back wall and allowing moss and ferns to blur the edges (takes so much time). natural cork can get disguised easy, cork composite blocks are a nightmare since happy plants put roots all through it, and with stick (my preference) you have to see the stick and how the plant is growing and better if its not blunt end. What I do (very carefully) is take out the hanger with wire cutter and pliers, I drill a hole in the bottom of the stick mount slightly narrower than the gage galvanized wire I insert. I find a spot on the manzanita that work for light, viewing and where the thickness looks most natural, there I drill a thin hole for the other end of the wire. keeping in mind a natural angle to the other branches (avoiding 90 degrees) also realize is the hole is too lose the mount will swivel. You could use a spot of the same super glue used in aquarium planting, but that make a bit difficult to change things if needed.

Also, you can just get Andy on the phone for a few minutes. He has so many species not on the website and specify what you need from the mount. Honestly one time I called him and had a lepanthes teleipogoniflora I wanted and just said to surprise me with whatever you thing has an interesting growth habit. That is how I ended up with B. malleolabrum, but also Lepanthes manabina which is one of my very favorite to look at, so alien in its growth and flowers, his have the most unusual undulation to the leaves and burgundy with a little green algae coating, very cool.

Also smaller Restrepias are fantastic toward the back, they tend to lean forward and always in bloom when they get going.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishkeeper

Oh, right, live sphagnum. I've had some of it (or something very similar) pop up in a sundew pot, so hopefully I can get that to grow for me and get more of it.

The Coelogyne incrassata looks really cool, thanks for the suggestion.

I had actually been looking at Bulb. catenulatum. I might get some anyway, even if it runs a bit amok. I'll just have to put it somewhere I can easily trim it.

Completely agree about variation. It really helps things stand out when you don't just have 30 plants with almost the same leaf shape.
Do you happen to know of any micro-mini, moisture-enjoying bulbos with a really wide, squat bulb? I know I've seen a couple somewhere, but don't remember the names.

I'm hoping to be able to keep B. moniliforme. It's so tiny and cute.

---------- Post added at 03:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:47 PM ----------

some pics of my terrarium
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...lbums1693.html

---------- Post added at 03:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:17 PM ----------

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...lbums1693.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draikan

Jmbaum can you post pictures of that setup somewhere? It sounds amazing!

Fishkeeper · #7 04-09-2021, 04:38 PM

Ah, lots of advice, thank you!

Do you mind linking or naming the bulb and fixture you're using? I'm looking at the Spectral Designs ones, which are low-lying and have a dimmer switch (seems good for fine-tuning), but they are a bit pricy.

I know a grower who has B. moniliforme in their greenhouse. It's on their "we just have these, we don't really propagate them" wall of miscellaneous things, but I've asked if they would be able to wedge a bit of cork up against the moniliforme and see if it'll grow onto that. Seems more likely to work than trying a cutting.
If I can get a moniliforme, I'm not taking it off the mount! Whatever it's on is getting integrated into the terrarium. Might trim the mount down, but I'm not even going to think about trying to un-mount a moniliforme. That's how you get orchid confetti.

I'm planning on a cork bark and sphagnum background. Also some manzanita, if I can find where I've put that big chunk I had.

Oh, Restrepias! Love the flowers on those, all the delicate little stripes. Any particular species you've had do well? I think I saw a picture once of a Restrepia that had flowers striped with white and... either dark purple or black. I should try and find out what that was.

I figure I'll get the terrarium set up, try to get it running on lines that the species I know I want will enjoy, and go from there. Once I have it staying at good, stable parameters, yeah, I reckon I'll give Andy a call. Ask about some species I've been reading about, and for some suggestions. Mostly "what do you have that's weird-looking and would like these conditions".
Also, liverwort! I got a bag full of moss and liverwort from him years ago, along with an orchid order, and that's a great addition to a terrarium.
I unfortunately can't really go in person. I don't live in California, and I dislike airplanes enough that I don't really do plane flight travel. I have an autonomic nervous system issue that makes my blood pressure drop on planes. Not pleasant, and it leaves me badly fatigued for days afterward.

I'll admit, I've already grabbed a few things- mostly plants that are rare to find for sale and would probably be out of stock once the terrarium was fully up. Nothing that won't be fine with sitting in a glass cube (opened and misted daily, since I only have to manage it for a couple weeks) until things are ready. One thing I'm very happy about- Lepanthopsis astrophora. One of my absolute favorite species I've seen photos of. All the tiny little flowers! Perfection.

I'd like some leaf litter on any patches of land I do end up with, just for decorative purposes. Can I just go and get whatever fallen, dried leaves I find outside? I assume anything that doesn't ooze resin or other poisons would be fine. I should probably boil them so they don't bring any nonsense in. I think I'd go for mostly live oak, and a few magnolia leaves if I can chase down where those have gone.

Jmbaum · #8 04-09-2021, 07:45 PM

sorry they are all amazon... but pandemic

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

haven't had an issues running this under floating plants, and you never see it:
Amazon.com

I run solid 12 hours on the light. I like that I have the gooseneck so I can focus the light energy to who wants it more, and create areas of fall off for the others.

with the sphanum on the background it might wick up too much water if it touches the bottom, at least to plant the orchids in unless something like lepanthes telepog. with thin leaves. anything with pseudobulb or thicker leaf will appreciate being on more cork bark area, or on top of moss rather then too nestled in.

I imagine most the restepia will do well do well, but I'd opt for species or hybrid that have a shorter stem that supports the leaf (maybe a burgundy leaf one), else it can hog a lot of space maybe the brightest yellow or clear red with the darkest or reddest bold stripes I could find. I have R. brachypus because it was an add on for an order I made from SBorchids. it is a joy to look at and always presents perfectly to the front glass.

I have had all sorts of moss species and liverwort sprout up all over on it's own accord, really makes the look. As for leaves, I like magnolia boiled for 12 min and then dried out... probably stuck in the blender after so the scale matched and less place for pest to hide. The tannins and smaller sizes is better for acidity and have antiseptic properties.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishkeeper

Ah, lots of advice, thank you!

Do you mind linking or naming the bulb and fixture you're using? I'm looking at the Spectral Designs ones, which are low-lying and have a dimmer switch (seems good for fine-tuning), but they are a bit pricy.

I know a grower who has B. moniliforme in their greenhouse. It's on their "we just have these, we don't really propagate them" wall of miscellaneous things, but I've asked if they would be able to wedge a bit of cork up against the moniliforme and see if it'll grow onto that. Seems more likely to work than trying a cutting.
If I can get a moniliforme, I'm not taking it off the mount! Whatever it's on is getting integrated into the terrarium. Might trim the mount down, but I'm not even going to think about trying to un-mount a moniliforme. That's how you get orchid confetti.

I'm planning on a cork bark and sphagnum background. Also some manzanita, if I can find where I've put that big chunk I had.

Oh, Restrepias! Love the flowers on those, all the delicate little stripes. Any particular species you've had do well? I think I saw a picture once of a Restrepia that had flowers striped with white and... either dark purple or black. I should try and find out what that was.

I figure I'll get the terrarium set up, try to get it running on lines that the species I know I want will enjoy, and go from there. Once I have it staying at good, stable parameters, yeah, I reckon I'll give Andy a call. Ask about some species I've been reading about, and for some suggestions. Mostly "what do you have that's weird-looking and would like these conditions".
Also, liverwort! I got a bag full of moss and liverwort from him years ago, along with an orchid order, and that's a great addition to a terrarium.
I unfortunately can't really go in person. I don't live in California, and I dislike airplanes enough that I don't really do plane flight travel. I have an autonomic nervous system issue that makes my blood pressure drop on planes. Not pleasant, and it leaves me badly fatigued for days afterward.

I'll admit, I've already grabbed a few things- mostly plants that are rare to find for sale and would probably be out of stock once the terrarium was fully up. Nothing that won't be fine with sitting in a glass cube (opened and misted daily, since I only have to manage it for a couple weeks) until things are ready. One thing I'm very happy about- Lepanthopsis astrophora. One of my absolute favorite species I've seen photos of. All the tiny little flowers! Perfection.

I'd like some leaf litter on any patches of land I do end up with, just for decorative purposes. Can I just go and get whatever fallen, dried leaves I find outside? I assume anything that doesn't ooze resin or other poisons would be fine. I should probably boil them so they don't bring any nonsense in. I think I'd go for mostly live oak, and a few magnolia leaves if I can chase down where those have gone.

---------- Post added at 06:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:39 PM ----------

I don't have experience with them, but check ecuagenera too.

Draikan · #9 04-09-2021, 09:10 PM

I have a spectral designs light, it's great. I do recommend it and the dimmer certainly is nice. They're also easy to hook up to a TC420 to get automatic dimming for sunrise and sunset. He even sells them with the TC420 if you want to get it all in one place.

Ecuagenera has been ok for me. Their selection is great, but they ship from so far away I don't think you can really expect everything to arrive alive. Not their fault but still a bummer.

Fishkeeper · #10 04-09-2021, 09:40 PM

That two-bulb fixture is cool, and the flexibility seems good, but some of the reviews make me a little nervous. I know any electronic thing can fail, but after my dad having a laptop battery explode in the charger and set our house slightly on fire, I'm not a fan of electronics that aren't sturdily built.

Spectral Designs is pricier, but I think that's where I'm going. I'll have to see how the MistKing winds up positioned. It says on their site that they can do customs- I wonder if they could make a light that has a couple holes through it for the nozzles.
Doesn't need to ramp up or down, I have an aquarium light in the room doing that already. I'll just plug it into a light timer.

I'll keep the sphagnum away from the water. Mostly plan to use it to fill the gaps between chunks of bark, and hide whatever I end up using to fix the cork together. Probably silicone. I would like to position things so that sprawling orchids grow across sphagnum frequently, since that would make them much easier to prune than if they could fix their roots to cork bark.

Lepanthes telipogoniflora is another I really want to grow. From what I'm reading, it doesn't like much air movement, so I'll have to give it a little pocket somewhere with reduced air flow. Or maybe it's just that they really need high humidity? Either way, it's getting a pocket, to help keep a little extra humidity around it even if the rest of the tank starts to dry out.