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!

terrarium plant ideas

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by Bronze, Dec 10, 2015.

  1. Bronze

    Bronze Member

    Messages:
    81
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Columbia S.C.
    Ok so I'm almost don't putting together a small vertical 10 gallon aquarium made into a terrarium. I used spray black foam for the back ground covered in silicone and then eco earth. I will post pictures in the next few days. I'm looking for ideas or some cool plants to put into 4 small spots on the back wall. Thanks
     
  2. blestbeing

    blestbeing Member

    Messages:
    71
    Likes Received:
    6
    Location:
    Arizona, USA
    I have seen examples of incredibly small mini Phalaenopsis with flowers whose colors will blow your mind. As far as a non orchid type of plant, I have always been partial to a rabbit's foot fern it is incredibly gorgeous and if memory serves me a member of the asparagus family. Either Plumosa or Lindenii. I'm not sure. Its fronds come up and then level out in a horizontal triangle with delicate hair-like cilia resembling dill weed. When I read your post I immediately thought about creating a mini waterfall feature. You could probably created for about $3. A small aquarium air pump from Goodwill, a couple of feet of tubing and an airstone. It sounds like a great project. I Look forward to see the results
     
  3. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,732
    Likes Received:
    3,530
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    Until you know what the temperature range is going to be, it is hard to know what orchids would do well.
     
  4. Bronze

    Bronze Member

    Messages:
    81
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Columbia S.C.
    Currently I'm not going to make a running water feature. Its just going to have a small drainage type pond just so I can keep water levels correct if I can get it to work out. As for plants I do have a couple that are going in. A couple very very small type ferns not sure which type but I found them growing around the base of trees also I have another type of fern I found growing on the side of trees I will put on the wall somewhere , and a very small piece of dendrobium jenkensii..although I'm not sure how well that will do but it's not doing well mounted on cork in my window.
     
  5. blestbeing

    blestbeing Member

    Messages:
    71
    Likes Received:
    6
    Location:
    Arizona, USA
    The very best of luck to you. You will figure out what works best with what overtime. It's all part of the fun of the learning curve. It sorta sucks when things don't work out but when they do it is great
     
  6. Bronze

    Bronze Member

    Messages:
    81
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Columbia S.C.
    Ok so far so good or I think at least.
     

    Attached Files:

  7. Bronze

    Bronze Member

    Messages:
    81
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Columbia S.C.
    Here are a couple more ofbky progress and what I have in it so far. ;)
     

    Attached Files:

  8. KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    6,561
    Likes Received:
    2,361
    Location:
    Redding, California, USA
    Looks like a great start. Keep us posted.
     
  9. Bronze

    Bronze Member

    Messages:
    81
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Columbia S.C.
    Everything seems to be running decent so far. Looks like my temps will be in the 65 to 75 degree area. Now to figure out some neat plants for the wall. The ground itself is a touch wet but that shouldn't bother anything on the wall.
     
  10. blestbeing

    blestbeing Member

    Messages:
    71
    Likes Received:
    6
    Location:
    Arizona, USA
    Beautiful project. I have a question, doesn't that spray foam give off a toxic gas?
     
  11. Bronze

    Bronze Member

    Messages:
    81
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Columbia S.C.
    It doesn't have a smell after its dry. I saw a ton of other projects made with similiar materials. The only thing I can notice still is the silicone smell...I left it open over a week so far but it's going away slowly as well. This is my 1st terrarium too so I guess time will tell. But if it eventually grows in nicely after I get it planted and the silicone smell is gone I'm thinking about adding a 1st dart frog. This will be a few months down the road.
     
  12. DPfarr

    DPfarr Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,528
    Likes Received:
    558
    Location:
    Sacramento, CA
    What about a Harella retrocalla?

    The jenkinsii might be a little challenging to bloom per light, temp and dryness cycles.
     
  13. Bronze

    Bronze Member

    Messages:
    81
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Columbia S.C.
    I've gotten it to bloom once since I've had it a few years but now it's such a small piece left. So you think the terrarium it will be to dry or to wet for it? The light is a cfl 26 watt made for plant growth. 15000 lumens at 4 inches from top.. bottom of tank is around 1000 lumens 6700 Kelvin range. Also the Harella retrocalla looks nice.