my everblooming Lepanthes telipogoniflora

For my first photo pic for the forum I included one of my favorite and most successful species of the year. If you have already seen it elsewhere, I hope you don't mind. It was purchased from Ecuagenera last March. After about 12 blooms, the spikes die, but it quickly puts out new growth. The plant maxed out at 15 flowers open at once.







I hope you enjoy it. Thanks.

 

Here you go DPfarr, as requested. The telipogoniflora is on the right side. I use a 2 bulb 2ft T5 fisture with cool bulbs. There is a fogger that runs twice a day. I mist at least once and the fans run 24/7. The tank is from Exo-terra. The temps run as low as 52F in winter nights and as warm as 82F in summer days.

The sorry looking thing on the right side of the tank was supposed to be Paph. Yang Ji Diamond, but it bloomed with regular adductum, not anitum. I let it die as my compensation for the high cost.

Marni-thanks for the comment. Sorry for the delay with getting involved in the forum.

 

Marni- I have 5 indoor growing areas. 4 are tanks. I try and separate plants based on like watering needs more the temp requirements. I only have one phal species. The one you saw is a noid I got as a gift. Temps are from the room and outside air only. I plan on a cooling system for my new build as money makes itself more available.

Will you be attending the Santa Ana show?

 

Torrish_ I will take some pics of the top of the tank for you. The fixture rests directly on top of the tank, which is separated by plexiglass. I will post some pics of my setups in the growing area section in a bit.

 

I'm not sure why one would suggest no air movement, unless they had the plant directly in line with the air flow from the fan. I angle my fans upward so that they don't pull all of the moisture from the mounts. As much as I hate using tree fern for mounting, it has worked really well with this one.

My opinion is that all Lepanthes need good, if not continuous air circulation.

 

Torrish- pics as promised.
I wasn't sure what you exactly wanted to see on the top of the tank, but I hope these may help a little. I was cleaning and prepping another tank for when I get back this next week with plenty of new plants.



This is (2) 18x18x24" tanks side by side with a cheap zip up GH type thing that I got at Lowes for $40. It fits some paphs and other odds and ends on the top shelf and the bottom will also be filled shortly. Here is a peak inside: The space easily holds my full size stonei with room other stuff. I have lights in the top with fans hung up as well.

The tank you wanted to see is here: The telipogoniflora was moved to another tank.

As you can see the light fixture rests directly on top of the tank, separated only by a thin sheet on acrylic. The acrylic does tend to bend a little. This is what it looks like after 2 years, which is not too bad.

The tube on the right side towards the back is for the fogger. (ReptiFogger from Petsmart-$50) I refill it about once a week. It runs twice a day for 15 minutes.

I cut the top to fit the hose in. It didn't go as well as I hoped. You can see the cracking in the top acrylic.

The fans are hung with suction cups. The wires simply run up under the acrylic. Even with the large amount of humidity I have not had to replace a fan yet. This tank also has a chicken wire backing. Cutting and flattening it was a pain.


It is not the most scientific or the most structurally perfect, but it has worked. And in my opinion, rather well. Hope it helps.