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My new grow cabinet, a construction journal

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by Jon, Jan 27, 2009.

  1. Jon

    Jon Mmmm... bulbophyllum...

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    I'll update this thread as I progress with my new grow space. I plan on using it to grow awesome plants that thrive in the lower end of intermediate. It's going to reside in front of an eastern window (with blinds, so it doesn't get too hot). My house never really gets below about 65, but in the summer it can get upwards of 90. So my only temperature concern should be with cooling the cabinet. I plan on using a dorm fridge with some modifications for that. The exterior dimensions are: 17.5" deep, 48" wide, and 25" tall.

    Wood cut and clamped together, just to make sure I didn't biff it on the measurements and cuts. :) The red lines were drawn last night to give me an idea of how much viewable area I would have.
    woodCutToSize.JPG

    Screwed & glued with the token PBR can for size reference.
    screwedAndGlued.JPG
    woodCutToSize.JPG screwedAndGlued.JPG
     
  2. Jon

    Jon Mmmm... bulbophyllum...

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    The liner has been installed. As has the bulkhead overflow. The liner is 40 mil PVC shower pan liner. The lights will arrive sometime in the next few days, but I probably won't be able to get much more work done on the cabinet until next week.

    pvcInstalled.jpg

    bulkhead.jpg
    pvcInstalled.jpg bulkhead.jpg
     
  3. Jon

    Jon Mmmm... bulbophyllum...

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    It's been a while since I've updated this, but I've been busy, in Vegas, and waiting for parts to arrive.

    Here it is with the glass ceiling and glass/doors installed.
    glassOn.jpg


    And here it is filling with fog. I used an ultrasonic mister from Mainland Mart, a 5 gallon bucket, some tube, and a fan. I'll add a timer to it at a later point.
    fogRollingIn.jpg
    glassOn.jpg fogRollingIn.jpg
     
  4. Jon

    Jon Mmmm... bulbophyllum...

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    I had to redo the liner. The corners were awful, and I didn't like all of the staple holes. So I ripped it out, installed other pieces, and tested out the Epiweb fit.

    Yup... works well.
    epiwebPlaced.jpg

    So I installed the Epiweb with UV resistant zip-ties, installed the watering system, and cut the egg-crate to fit the bottom. Fogging & watering systems are on in this image. It's cooler in the room than in the cabniet, so the condensation on the glass makes it a bit of a drag. Guess I need to get that evap cooler built...
    prefinished.jpg
    epiwebPlaced.jpg prefinished.jpg
     
  5. Jon

    Jon Mmmm... bulbophyllum...

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    Here are the plants I installed. I plan on adding dracula lotax and dendrobium vexillarius this evening. It's going to take a lot more to get this thing filled than I expected. :cool:

    Dendrobium porphyrochilum - cork
    Trichosalpinx chamalepanthes - wall
    Bulbophyllum boukettae - manzanita
    Bulbophyllum odonotopetalum - cork
    Masdevallia vieirana - cork
    Bulbophyllum cernuum - tree fern
    Bulbophyllum alkmaarense - manzanita
    Microsaccus griffithii - manzanita
    Bulbophyllum microrhombos - pot
    Bulbophyllum "masdevalliodes" - cork
    Monosepalum dischorense - cork
    Trisetella cordeliae - manzanita
    Ceratostylis phillipensis - pot
    Dendrobium oligophyllum - pot
    Bulbophyllum ovalifolium - cork
    Dendrobium cuthbertsonii - pot
    Bulbophyllum tentaculiferum - cork
    Dendrobium torresae - cork
    Dryadella species - pot
    Dendrobium laevifolium - pot
    Pleurothallis caligularis - pot
    Pleurothallis grobyi - pot
    Bulbophyllum maquilingense (yellow) - pot
    Bulbophyllum dolichoglottis/alticola - tree fern
    Barbosella species (Peru) - pot
    Barbosella species (Ecuador) - pot

    plantsInstalled.jpg
    plantsInstalled.jpg
     
  6. Mary Jane

    Mary Jane New Member

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    I love corner clamps.
     
  7. Jon

    Jon Mmmm... bulbophyllum...

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    Corner clamps make the world go round, IMHO. I got them at an estate sale for free when I helped the people move boxes.
     
  8. Hank_MN

    Hank_MN New Member

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    Jon- what are planning on using for lighting- I am anxious to see how it turns out.
     
  9. Hank_MN

    Hank_MN New Member

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    Oops just found it maybe in another thread- T5s
     
  10. JonP

    JonP all that Supporting Member

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    I got TWO sets of corner clamps from my FIL. I think of him whenever I use them. I built a table using four of them.
     
  11. Tom_in_PA

    Tom_in_PA I am not an addict

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    Jon - Do you seal the inside with marine paint to keep the wood from rotting? Also what about the bottom for draining? An inquiring mind wants to know ;)
     
  12. mini-catts

    mini-catts Member

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    Good luck Jon on the cooling. I have an orchidarium chamber that i built and have tried several methods of cooling. the only one that has worked and lasted is a makeshift evaporative cooler with a tube that is attached to the box. I tried a chest freezer, but it didn't work that well. the air was too dry and the freezer was on all the time as i had a fan that pumped the cold air into the box.
    Let me know what works for you!
    Peter T.
     
  13. Jon

    Jon Mmmm... bulbophyllum...

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    Not going to paint anything. I'm going to put up (and seal) the thick rubber sheeting that is used to make shower basins (or something like that). It's thick, durable, and holeless. :)

    I considered an evap cooler, but I decided to try the fridge. The lights will be separated from the enclosure and vented, so I expect to see some heat savings from that. Would you mind starting a thread on your orchidarium chamber, Peter? I'd love to see it. What are the dimensions? What about temps and RH outside of the box?
     
  14. mini-catts

    mini-catts Member

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    Jon, yes i just need to get my butt in gear and take the photos and stuff. i've had the unit in action for almost a year now!
    I'll get some pics tomorrow and start a thread.
    Thanks for the interest!
    Peter T.
     
  15. Jon

    Jon Mmmm... bulbophyllum...

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    I forgot to answer Tom's question about drainage.. I plan on using a passive system with a hydroponic bulkhead that will drain to a bucket. I'll manually empty the bucket. When I get sick of that, I'll incorporate my kitchen drainage line. :)
     
  16. Tom_in_PA

    Tom_in_PA I am not an addict

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    Thanks Jon....please be sure to keep us posted as I have been planning to build something for almost a year but with school I just can't seem to find the extra time needed to do it right.

    I am hoping seeign yours progress (and Peters when he starts his thread :poke:) will ispire me finally to make the time to do it ;)
     
  17. mini-catts

    mini-catts Member

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  18. Jon

    Jon Mmmm... bulbophyllum...

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    A couple of pics have been added.
     
  19. Mary Jane

    Mary Jane New Member

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    Hopefully, that's a fresh beer, Nancy.
     
  20. Forrest

    Forrest Really Neat

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    looking good Jon. You done yet?