My vivarium - Pics inside - Orchid Board

Marty · #1 (**permalink**) 05-22-2005, 09:14 PM

FULL FRONTAL

Fake rock with a fern (sorry don't remember the name), java moss and ficus pumilia

Little waterfall and a drip wall... a bit hard to see.

One of the inhabitants of the viv. Dendrobates azureus female.

Sorry, no idea what specie this orchid is. I got it long time ago from my brother, when he used to deal orchids. It seems to grow quite nicely and it has very healthy roots. I'm yet to see it bloom.

j.schroeder · #2 (**permalink**) 05-22-2005, 09:20 PM

Very nice Marty!!

The orchid looks to me to be a Bulbophyllum, maybe ambrosia. I grow this orchid with great success in my vivs too.

The fern is selaginella, but I don't know what species.

I will try to find my photo of that orchid in bloom so you can see what your missing

Justin.

P.S. Any breeding?

j.schroeder · #3 (**permalink**) 05-22-2005, 09:31 PM

Here's the flower, its one of my favorite in this family.

Marty · #4 (**permalink**) 05-22-2005, 09:33 PM

Justin, yes I have much more success breeding frogs then not killing orchids

.

If you could dig out a photo of that orchid, it would be great. She's quite tiny. Leaves are about 2" max.

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.schroeder

Very nice Marty!!

The orchid looks to me to be a Bulbophyllum, maybe ambrosia. I grow this orchid with great success in my vivs too.

The fern is selaginella, but I don't know what species.

I will try to find my photo of that orchid in bloom so you can see what your missing

Justin.

P.S. Any breeding?

Marty · #5 (**permalink**) 05-22-2005, 09:35 PM

WOW! That's beautiful...

Master Schroeder !!! What do I need to do to see that flower in my tank. I need guidance

hehe

j.schroeder · #6 (**permalink**) 05-23-2005, 01:57 PM

Well, I must be honest that this photo is from my geenhouse specimen, not from my vivariums.

The trick for flowering is bright light. These orchids grow very well in shady conditions, but tend to not flower very frequently without a period of high light. I have just recently started switching my lighting in my frog tanks to more intense compact florecents, around 6700 k. I will keep you posted on the results, but so far, I have had several orchids starting to set blooms.

Another trick you can try is the cold water method. This trick works well for some orchids that are hard to bloom. In the wild, even in very tropical locations, there can be periods of cold rain and hail. Some orchids que off these storms as to when to set flower. You might try spraying it with colder water for a week or so, and see if that works. This should be done when any new growth has matured, and there are now new psudobulbs being produced. Try to focus the spray on the roots. Or, if that is hard to do, you may be able to put an ice cube by the base of the plant, which I have heard works well too.

Good luck,
Justin

P.S. Don't take it as a sign that your doing something wrong when you can't get a plant to bloom, most orchids only bloom under environmental stress, so you might be taking too good of care of it.

waretrop · #7 (**permalink**) 05-23-2005, 08:12 PM

Hay you guys. All these piccys are just beautiful. Keep 'em coming. I enjoy it. Barb

Yahoo IM waretrop

Tindomul · #8 (**permalink**) 05-25-2005, 10:09 PM

Jaw droppingly beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How in the world did you do that? It puts mine to shame :cry:

I think that your viv is the kind of thing i want to be building in the future. I looked at you pic and start thinking I have no right to be putting in any darts in mine. Teach me master.

Again, wow!

Marty · #9 (**permalink**) 05-25-2005, 11:21 PM

Few general things that work for me
- dont cut corners, if something needs 2 weeks to dry, let it dry
- plan out your viv for a bit. I always keep ideas in my head of what I will do, it's much better then doing everything in one day with no clue
- experiment with plants, some will grow some won't
- good lights are the key
- misting system is a must IMHO, especially if you're lazy and if you're going to do a larger setup

in general don't rush it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tindomul1of9

Jaw droppingly beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How in the world did you do that? It puts mine to shame :cry:

I think that your viv is the kind of thing i want to be building in the future. I looked at you pic and start thinking I have no right to be putting in any darts in mine. Teach me master.

Again, wow!

waretrop · #10 (**permalink**) 05-26-2005, 06:52 AM

I agree be logical, patient, and wise. Rome wasn't built in a day. The watering system really helps me both in the viv and in the greenhouse. I don't know if you could call it lazy or very busy, with me. When I finally finished with the watering systems my plants really showe their appreciation.

Barb