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260 gallon Vivarium/orchidarium

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by Interdependence, Sep 26, 2012.

  1. Interdependence

    Interdependence Member

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    If it makes you feel better, I've been doing this for close to 15 years! I've learned to anticipate where the plants will grow based on their habits. Ive also learned to be patient and think things through. It's a great amalgamation of science and art.
     
  2. Interdependence

    Interdependence Member

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    At the moment, it's not fully automated. I couldn't afford the fancy controllers with all of the probes and stuff.

    However, I do have a misting unit that kicks on once a day in the morning. The lights run so that there's a somewhat natural photoperiod. I run fans 24-7 to circulate the air and also to bring outside air in.

    On the non-tech front, I still regularly clean the glass with a squeegee. Despite having 3 quad heads, I still hand water some of the dryer parts on occasion. I've had a few Scaphosepalum's blast buds and Anthuriums fail to form roots due to this.
     
  3. keithrs

    keithrs Member

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    You'll have to post some pic in a year or so to show how its progressed!
     
  4. Interdependence

    Interdependence Member

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    Planning on it!
     
  5. Interdependence

    Interdependence Member

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    Terrible photo, but it was of increased difficulty to take...

    Stelis mystax bloom that's just about fully opened.


    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1351446314.872198.jpg
     
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  6. orchithusiast

    orchithusiast New Member

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    hahaha nice to see your here too JB
     
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  7. Interdependence

    Interdependence Member

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    Best shot I could get of this one... Such tiny flowers!

    Lepanthes mariposa

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  8. Rony9

    Rony9 New Member

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    Hallo from Czech Republic.
    Your vivarium It´s amazing job. How many plant species are inside? Is it possible to generate and insert here simple list of species?
    I had five years similar paludarium, my idea was to mimic the Ecuador tropical rainforest habitat. But it´s not easy to buy origin species of moss, ferns , climbing vines in our country in the middle of Europe. So, from time to time i must add non southamerican specie, especialy from southeast Asia. From asiatic ferns it´ s for example genus Drynaria, or climbing vines like Dischidia. It´s always a compromise.
    Sorry for so many questions and my insert into your thread.
     
  9. Rony9

    Rony9 New Member

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  10. Interdependence

    Interdependence Member

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    Hey Rony,

    No problem. Thank you for the kind words. There's over 100 species in this setup, so the list would be rather long. It is indeed a compromise. Everything planted in here has distribution in Panama or Costa Rica with the exception of the mosses. I'll admit it, I put two Comparettia in there as well ; )
    I couldn't find Monster tenuis, so I had to settle for an asiatic species (Rhaphidophora celatocaulis) to mimic its shingling growth. All in all, I'm very happy with the outcome.

    Do you happen to have a full tank photo of your setup? It looks very green and densely planted.

    Best- JB
     
  11. Rony9

    Rony9 New Member

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    Yes, of course....here are some today snapshots.




    Dischidia platyphylla show it´s flower.


    Only botanic specie Monstera I had ever got was Monstera dubia, but It´s since striking root at propagation place. (This is my cool bedroom, and also wintering place for carnivorous plants, tillandsias, other bromeliad and few Dendrobium orchids).


    Can I ask you, what´s your favorite place to buy botanic specie for your setup?
    See you Roman R.
    PB072110.jpg PB072117.jpg PB072097.jpg P9069501.jpg
     
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  12. Interdependence

    Interdependence Member

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    Roman-

    Great looking jungle you have there! Thanks for sharing some photos. Are you growing any orchids in your terrarium?

    My plants come from all over. I like to trade with other hobbyists here in the US. A good number of my plants come from:

    Tropiflora: a company based in Florida that sells mostly bromeliads

    Black jungle: a terrarium supply company based in MA

    The Violet Barn: a nursery that specializes in Gesneriads

    J and L Orchids: an orchid company based out of CT that specializes in mini-compact species of orchids

    Best,

    JB
     
  13. Rony9

    Rony9 New Member

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    Maybe it is not seem, but several species of orchids are inside. The space inside is not big enough for a vigorous large species of orchids, or it should not look good too, so I have tried to cultivate mini orchids only, since the beginning of existence paludarium . I was placed in at the first year- Pollardia pterocarpa (Encyclia pterocarpa) - blooms each year; Hormidium pygmaeum (Epidendrum pygmaeum) - grows luxuriantly, but not flower until today, it needs drier and cooler period; Bulbophyllum lasiochilum - bloom irregularly; Brassavola flagellaris-I had got a little part with only two bulbs , so I must wait it will grows enough .
    .... Today Brassavola has eight pseudobulbs, so i am trying get bloom outside the glass terarium on the south windowsill .

    Bulbophyllum lasiochilum


    Hormidium pygmaeum


    Pollardia pterocarpa

    The second year I added two types of Rodriguezia, one no ID Stelis , and one no ID species of Nanodes sp. from Ecuador, Pleurothalis subulifolia and next noID Hexadesmia sp.Gran Sabana from Venezuela.
    Rodriguezia doesn´t like water in rosettes, this information came to me unfortunately too late , both plants could not be saved. Unknown Nanodes sp.Ecuador has got another guy Nanodes porpax. This is my latest orchid i bought to paludarium.

    Pleurothalis subulifolia


    Hexadesmia sp.Gran Sabana and Stelis sp.Ecuador


    Hexadesmia sp.Gran Sabana and Nanodes sp.Rio Verde, Ecuador

    Every orchids grows well in the jungle, but some of them needs regular cooler and drier resting period to bloom, so it is necessary take out them from jungle to the windowsill to achieve lower night temperatures then in the glass jungle.
    It ´s sometimes a big problem, because their roots naturally grow beyond their own bark base.
    Now my jungle is much thickened inside- especially Anthurium scandens and Peperomia with heart leaves are very vigorous and invasive. So I had to improve air circulation, I also separated the light from the interior by weak glasses to prevent space under the lights from overheating. I have also installed automatic spray system, but sometimes do more harm than good job, and manual spraying is definitely more safety, cause this metod allows me to choose which plant will be wet more or less .
    I wonder how you manage to keep the right all year conditions, it seems your orchids bloomed all year round . Costa Rica and Panama have a relatively stable climate by my opinion, so I would like to ask you- do you hold the same watering cycle all year, or your orchids like a some drier period to bloom?
    Today I regret I did not built higher glass terarium, it could be easier to deploy plants according to their terms and conditions........, but this idea would require the much stronger and power light source.

    Off topic ... some look at the windowsill. It is Dendrobium parishii and Dendrobium chapaense.




    Sorry for my incorrect English language I think you understand me , I don´t speak english so often for last 20 years.
    R.R.
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  14. Interdependence

    Interdependence Member

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    Maxillaria lankesteri bloom about to open. Been waiting for this for a few days


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  15. Interdependence

    Interdependence Member

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    Stelis mystax - feels like its in perpetual bloom


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  16. Cischweinerschnitzel

    Cischweinerschnitzel New Member

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    Awesome! JB, did you build the tank yourself? A few years ago I built a 240 out of half inch acrylic, but the desire of the acrylic to warp was greater than my noob welds. Been looking for a nice one in glass.
     
  17. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    That must have been very disappointing. Welcome to OI.
     
  18. Interdependence

    Interdependence Member

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    Thank you for the kind words. It was built for me by a glass company that specializes in terrarium construction. If i had built it, I probably would have used a thicker glass for the bottom. My lighting also heat stressed the top and cracked it, so I too am not without failure. Sorry to hear about your acrylic build. I have has some bad experiences with the stuff myself.
     
  19. Cischweinerschnitzel

    Cischweinerschnitzel New Member

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    Heh... First post in five years!
     
  20. Cischweinerschnitzel

    Cischweinerschnitzel New Member

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    Can I ask what the name of the company is? Thanks, Dan