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My orchidarium is ready

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by Michalisz, Nov 18, 2013.

  1. Michalisz

    Michalisz Member

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    And damn it looks big. I thought i will start that from now so you can help me out.

    Here are the pics. Its 130x1.00x75 cm.
    i am still waiting for the egg crate .
    So far i got 2 hagen glo 48" t5's(which i msy need to add another 2 of them i think), my cork bark mounts, lots of hygrolon,2 fans attached together in a a box(may need another two?
    i will have around 30 phals plus dends and a couple of vandas.
    I hope it will go well so i will be able to add more species.
    Any suggestions from user are more than welcome. image.jpg image.jpg
     

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  2. KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Very nice!!! You are going to have fun filling that up.
     
  3. Michalisz

    Michalisz Member

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    With your help i feel more comfortable. Thx
     
  4. chicago chad

    chicago chad Active Member

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    Did you cut and seal the glass yourself?
     
  5. Michalisz

    Michalisz Member

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    Nope. Unfortunately am not a handy man.
    The man you can see in the picture did it. Its a pet shop owner doing this job for 30 yrs.
     
  6. chicago chad

    chicago chad Active Member

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    I need a guy like that. Trying to construct one sounds easy, but it's a hassle.
     
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  7. Michalisz

    Michalisz Member

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    Try a pet shop that sels fish.
     
  8. Michalisz

    Michalisz Member

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    Sells
     
  9. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    It won't look that big as soon as you get those plants in it.;) What a great space!
     
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  10. ZWUM

    ZWUM Bulbophiliac Staff Member

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    That's a very nice set up!
     
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  11. Michalisz

    Michalisz Member

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    Am trying different things with hygrolon so i can eliminate watering.

    Basically i tried mounting a phal on a plastic bottle of water dressed in hygrolon. I opened a hole in the center of the bottle and placed a wick inside it. For the last 4 days the cloth feels wet enough and it looks like working.

    So now am looking for a way to mount my orchids on cork bark with hygrolon but i need to find a way how that will work so i will not have to water them every other day.
     
  12. chicago chad

    chicago chad Active Member

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    I would ask Magnus. He is on this site. I believe he has done some work with a similar process.
     
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  13. Michalisz

    Michalisz Member

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    I will try to post some pictures to see what i mean
     
  14. Michalisz

    Michalisz Member

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    The bottle i was talking about. Am trying to see if it works and after i will do a better job on dressing the bottle .
     

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  15. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    If you search a bit in the archives, Magnus has posted good descriptions of what he set up to wick the hygrolon.
     
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  16. Michalisz

    Michalisz Member

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    I tried mounting a phal on a bark piece i have. I used silicone to glue hygrolon on the top of the bark where the miniature phal will sit. Does silicone harm orchids or hygrolon?
     
  17. Sean Houtman

    Sean Houtman Active Member

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    Cured silicone shouldn't hurt orchids, it also won't do much more than stick to the hygrolon.
     
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  18. Michalisz

    Michalisz Member

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    image.jpg
     

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  19. Michalisz

    Michalisz Member

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    Do you think this will absorb water for the roots?
     
  20. ZWUM

    ZWUM Bulbophiliac Staff Member

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    I have to tell you from my experience with the material that if there isn't enough surface contact between the wick and the material the plant is on it won't work well. Make sure your wick is wide and contacts a good portion of the material where the plant is. Once you get that figured out you'll be successful. Also don't make the reservoir too far away or difficult to access. If it's too far the water won't wick it's way up to the surface.