SADE Tank Attack (orchid terrarium) - Orchid Board

SADE2020 · #1 02-20-2021, 04:18 PM

Hello All

Inspire by a few terrarium projects in this section, I began a project myself with a small 50x70 tank. The back wall is covered in cork and Hygrolong. I am not planning to use any organic material except moss for mount it orchids and maybe some natural mosses for structure and ambiance.

These are the Orchid I am planning to incorporate, after a few weeks or months of running the full tank:

For the top (close to the light)
Nanodes porpax
Asctm. christensonianum
Bulbophyllum - Cirrhopetaum
Phalaenopsis (Doritis) braceana

Intermediate (inheight and light)
Aergs rhrodosticta
phal. wilsonii
Restrepia purpurea, trichoglossa, brachypus

bottom (dark, less light)
Mediocalcar (pygmea or decoratum)
Paph. callosum Pygmy
Paph. Var. Thai
Onc. cheirophorum
Sigmatostalix
Porroglossum species
Platystele argentata
Sigmatostalix radicans
Dracula lotax

Now my few questions for advice if you can share some comments:

1) anyone works with Hygrolong? Any tips
2) anyone knows how to place natural moss in the Hygrolong (moss that I have collected )
3) these are the orchid I am planning to use, what do you think?

Thank you for your help and feedback!

Feb. 02. 2021

March 01.02021

March 20.2021

March 27, 2021

Abril 22, 2021 (one month to plant everything little by little)

June, 2021

Aug. 15, 2021

Aug. 2021
I have incorporated during the summer 3 Tanks, all differences

Nov. 2021

DirtyCoconuts · #2 02-20-2021, 08:30 PM

How will you be handling the plumbing and maintaining the conditions?

estación seca · #3 02-20-2021, 08:55 PM

This is a huge project.

I suggest you put together the whole thing without any plants. Turn on the fans and watering system. Use thermometers to measure the temperatures, day/night, in multiple places. When you are happy with the temperatures, air movement, watering and humidity, add plants slowly. Start with only one or two plants. After 2-3 weeks add one or two more. If all goes well add one or two more every 2-3 weeks. If there are any problems, do not add more plants until you figure out what is not correct.

harpspiel · #4 02-21-2021, 01:21 AM

Personally, I find wicking fabrics difficult to keep moist unless they have constant standing water to wick from. Without it, I find that they dry out very quickly and will need to be sprayed by hand many times a day to stay moist enough to establish moss. Even with standing water I don’t think they’ll wick more than 30 cm vertically. My experience is with Spyra, but I have heard similar complaints about Hygrolon.

---------- Post added at 02:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:03 AM ----------

If you’re set on Hygrolon, I think your best bet is a drip wall.

SADE2020 · #5 02-21-2021, 07:52 AM

Hi all ... 🙏 Thanks for the comment

@dirtycocunuts @haprspiel @estacion_seca

For circulation I have bought a series of 3 terra fans; for 2 circulations towards the inside and one for extraction.

For irrigation a pump with 3 nozzles, I thought to put one from above the hydrolon and 2 in front of the plants. I have already made a false floor with egg crate covered on Hygrolon as well where the water will pass, then on top I am planning to add some pebbles or fish tank stones to hide and supporting the lowe level plants in their own pots.

I am only planning to mount the highest and middle session, that is, the low one will seem to be part of a natural set up but with they'll stay in their pots .

I agree that I must assemble the mechanics, test the three elements; light, humidity and temperature, before introducing the plants little by little. However, I thinking in introducing the natural moss as soon as I have installed and controlled the misting system. I have been told that by making it "pee" free, I will keep root rot and possible organic media descomposition under control.

I know, I have to add more water manually probably during summer season... Buy I'll be all over that box everyday anyway.

How this sound? My problem now is where should I keep the plants in the meantime, should I buy them slowly. The think is I have better deal if I purchase all at once.

Thanks 😌

estación seca · #6 02-21-2021, 10:32 AM

I would buy them one or two at a time. They will have a better chance of surviving.

SADE2020 · #7 02-21-2021, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estación seca

I would buy them one or two at a time. They will have a better chance of surviving.

@estacon_seca sounds like I would kill them all... 😂 Hahaha

But, I can buy them and keep them in nursery, no ? Or that would be harmful for the plants as well for adaptation? The shipping and orders around here are complicated to do it one by one.

SADE2020 · #8 03-01-2021, 01:41 PM

Project Update
**Placing the Moss*

The Moss is form around my house and has been 2 weeks in my nursery.... Let see 🙈 if go on and grow normally. I use carpet moss so when I introduce the orchid I can combined with spaghnum over the cork and hygrolon. I don't want any volumen other than the orchids itself.

I've tested for 2 weeks the misting, airflow and temperature ... I am just concern how I am going to keep this a bit cooler during the hot days in Jul & Aug here in Mallorca. However, thinking on that, I won't use anything heavy for decoration in case I have to move it to an air-conditioning area.

Here are the pics in an album, cuz is very difficult for me to attached them all:

Thanks !!!!

hypostatic · #9 03-01-2021, 11:34 PM

Hey, I'm coming in a bit late into the thread, but I'd like to give my 2 cents on the moss part.

While they are usually beautiful, abundant, and FREE, the moss that grows around our houses generally don't fare well when we try to grow them inside. Whatever the specific reason actually is, it is probably because those mosses need different lighting/humidity/airflow/watering than we typically provide in terrariums. They will typically stay alive for a few months, and then unexpectedly brown and die out.

I don't know what mosses there are in Mallorca, but I just wanted to prep you, in case they behave "normally"

A different option would be to go to a local greenhouse that has orchids, and ask if you can collect some of the moss growing in the containers for your terrarium. I feel like most places would be OK with this, especially if you are buying some orchids from there anyway.

SADE2020 · #10 03-02-2021, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hypostatic

Hey, I'm coming in a bit late into the thread, but I'd like to give my 2 cents on the moss part.

While they are usually beautiful, abundant, and FREE, the moss that grows around our houses generally don't fare well when we try to grow them inside. Whatever the specific reason actually is, it is probably because those mosses need different lighting/humidity/airflow/watering than we typically provide in terrariums. They will typically stay alive for a few months, and then unexpectedly brown and die out.

I don't know what mosses there are in Mallorca, but I just wanted to prep you, in case they behave "normally"

A different option would be to go to a local greenhouse that has orchids, and ask if you can collect some of the moss growing in the containers for your terrarium. I feel like most places would be OK with this, especially if you are buying some orchids from there anyway.

Thank you for your 2 cts much appreciated

No orchid greenhouse in mallorca , I think is only one in Spain, I have to order everything from nursery in Germany and Belgium. Now with the Brexit not even UK is available anymore :-(

I have my doubt but after 1k hours of terrarium Master kraft (Korean/Japoneses) I gave it a try cuz it looks great and it seams to be a trend. If dry out I'll replace it with spaghnum moss if there is no other option..

One odd thing someone told me that keep moss alive is to use water mixed with sand/mod and spraying every x days, for the PH and alkaline needs.