Welcome to OrchidsForum.com. We are a friendly online community for Orchid Growers all over the world. If you haven't joined yet we invite you to register and join our community. Hope to see you on our forums!

New and Improved Terrarium

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by goods, Feb 13, 2012.

  1. gnathaniel

    gnathaniel Lurker Supporting Member

    Messages:
    784
    Likes Received:
    36
    Location:
    Athens GA, USA
    Glad everything went mostly okay! I've got a big move coming up this summer, no frogs involved but lots of plants. Any tips on minimizing stress?
     
  2. goods

    goods Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,255
    Likes Received:
    148
    Location:
    Louisiana
    Nat, most of my stuff was in this terrarium and the fridge tank that I have, so my experience will come mostly from transporting the tanks and inhabitants. I would say always move the tanks without the plants inside. I've done it where I left the mounts attached to the grid material on the walls, and honestly it's easier to take them down and then put them back up when you reach the destination. It relieves the stress of whether the grid will fail, plants falling off, etc.

    As far as moving big potted plants, I'd say the easiest way is to package them in boxes, so they are supported and easier to move many plants at once. Group them so that the individual plants support themselves in the event of a fall. Other than that, just drive safely :)
     
  3. goods

    goods Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,255
    Likes Received:
    148
    Location:
    Louisiana
    Well, it looks like I've outgrown another tank...I'm up to a front openining 36x18x18 now. I think this is as big as I can get while I'm in school.

    Pictures to come.
     
  4. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    5,515
    Likes Received:
    420
    Location:
    U.S.A
    Can't wait to get some dole from you!:p I will give you student discount this time.:D

    Serious though...What are you plan to grow in the new tank? What temperature?
     
  5. goods

    goods Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,255
    Likes Received:
    148
    Location:
    Louisiana
    Haha good one, Tom! :)

    I'm just expanding the I-W tank. Everything from the one pictured in this thread is already moved over. It just gives me a bit of room for expansion, and it's front opening, makes watering and general care so much easier!
     
  6. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    5,515
    Likes Received:
    420
    Location:
    U.S.A
    Sounds exciting! Picture please!
     
  7. goods

    goods Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,255
    Likes Received:
    148
    Location:
    Louisiana
    Here you go Tom!

    afarm9.staticflickr.com_8513_8366147214_9c21dc78fb_z.jpg
     
  8. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    5,515
    Likes Received:
    420
    Location:
    U.S.A
    That is much bigger than your old one, Zach. Good luck with it!

    edit: you still have room for new plants!:p
     
  9. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,729
    Likes Received:
    3,528
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    Way too much room to leave unfilled. It looks really great. So tempting!
     
  10. goods

    goods Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,255
    Likes Received:
    148
    Location:
    Louisiana
    Thanks to the both of you! The "Fill Zach's Terrarium to the Brim" fund is always open to donations ;)

    All kidding aside, I'll probably be in touch with a few requests. Marni, those Lep. saltatrix have been calling my name each time you post one on Ebay. Do they grow in similar conditions to Lep. calodictyon?
     
  11. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,729
    Likes Received:
    3,528
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    I've grown saltatrix with calodictyon for years out in the greenhouse. I've been growing these saltatrix seedlings with telipogoniflora, tsubotae, and a hybrid between saltatrix and calodictyon. They are in a covered domed tray for extra humidity and bottom heat to simulate a little warmer climate than my 56 minimum night gh.
     
  12. goods

    goods Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,255
    Likes Received:
    148
    Location:
    Louisiana
    Thanks for that Marni! I find it interesting you're also growing tsubotae warmer. I'd always thought it needed lower temps. I may need one of those too :)
     
  13. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,729
    Likes Received:
    3,528
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    I have grown mature plants cooler, but the seedling seem to really like the higher humidity. I should start pulling some out and trying them in the greenhouse. I looked it up and from the 1950 m elevation, it should do fine. Maybe I'm doing a bit of "unnatural selection" for warm growing L tsubotae.:rolleyes:
     
  14. goods

    goods Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,255
    Likes Received:
    148
    Location:
    Louisiana
    I don't mind that at all! I can get this tank down to the low 60s in winter, so the more warmth tolerant the better.
     
  15. Zack

    Zack Will work for plants Supporting Member

    Messages:
    236
    Likes Received:
    23
    Location:
    New Orleans, LA
    Hmm, that explains something about the small L. tsubotae I have in my cool terrarium...
     
  16. goods

    goods Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,255
    Likes Received:
    148
    Location:
    Louisiana
    Yours isn't doing well, Zack?
     
  17. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    5,515
    Likes Received:
    420
    Location:
    U.S.A
    @ L. tsubotae, mine is a mature plant and I have been growing it under 55-75F for years, and mine actually does even better when day time temp. is around 70F and night time temperature is about 60F. Constant good humidity(70%+)...
    For this tiny species, you will have better success rate if you can get home grown, established plant. The newly imported plant normally isn't easy to get it going again once it has been stressed too much.
     
  18. goods

    goods Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,255
    Likes Received:
    148
    Location:
    Louisiana
    Tom, your tsubotae is flawless.

    This species definitely ranks up there with telipogoniflora as the most extravagant Lepanthes flowers. I can get close to the 70/60 in this tank most of the year. Higher in summer; lower in winter. Humidity won't be an issue. I'm thinking I'll try this one in this tank most of the year and then move it to the fridge in summer. I doubt it will like the 80/~65 this one experiences in the heat of summer here.
     
  19. Zack

    Zack Will work for plants Supporting Member

    Messages:
    236
    Likes Received:
    23
    Location:
    New Orleans, LA
    Nope. I suspect Justin had imported it shortly before I came into my possession. It only has two leaves and it's been that way for a few months; it flowered once, but the bud took months to mature.
     
  20. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    5,515
    Likes Received:
    420
    Location:
    U.S.A
    I never grow my Lepanthes tsubotae that warm but that temperature range may not be too bad either.