A Greenhouse Orchid Display - Page 4 - Orchid Board

roxrgneiss · #1 01-13-2010, 08:34 PM

Hi all,

I'm new here, but I've used this forum for a couple years when searching for info about orchids I have or want to collect - my thanks to all for your contributions to this site. All the plants I grow are in terrariums. I grow all sorts of tropical plants and do alright with a few orchids.

Anyway, one of the reasons I joined here is to share a large orchid display I built for a friend. The display is located within a greenhouse and receives a heavy misting daily, so many of the plants are moisture tolerant or in dryer spots. I like to think of this as an "open air terrarium".

Below are photos of the construction and finished work.

The gray/black material is polyurethane and polyethylene foam. The foam in this sequence is sculpted, coated with tinted non-toxic epoxy (#1319, Polygem brand) and coarse sand, then lightly painted.

Water Test

The Background is polyurythane foam that is carved, then coated with black silicone (acetic acid solvent). To the freshly applied silicone, a mix of Medium Tree Fern Fiber, Fine Fir Bark, Fine Activated Charcoal, Ground Sphagnum, and Peat is firmly pressed. The same mix of ingredients is used for the terrestrial substrate, as well.

The first plants added were bromeliads/Tillandsias and a small tree fern (Bechnum gibbum, I think). The orchids, other epiphytes, terrestrials, and aquatics were added over the course of about two days. The display has been planted and running for nearly a month. Certainly, it is possible that some of the plants won't be happy where they are long term, but for now most seem to be responding well.

After a little time acclimating and water clearing:

And I snapped a few more about a week after those shots were taken:

The front faces east and there is supplemental lighting above, consisting of 2 48" 2X65W CF, 2 6,700K & 2 10,000K bulbs. There is also a small 13W (I think) spiral CF behind the buttress.

I'll post some photos of my own displays at some point, though most of the plants aren't orchids and mine are much smaller - this display is 8ft long. If I get around to it, I may post a plant list here too. By the way, if you want to see pictures of the greenhouse this display calls home, you can take a tour: Al's Orchid Greenhouse

Cheers,
Mike