Nano Viv Terracotta Tubes - Erin Pottery

[gmdiaz]

Hiya,

I've been really interested in trying out a technique that I read about on-line for growing some of these mini orchids that need constant moisture.

Here's a link to the article that got me to thinking.

I guess the Swedish pipes work well but have heard that the terracotta wine coolers don't work so well. . .it has to do with the porosity being just right.

So, I got to thinking, that maybe Vic at Eriin Pottery could make one with the right kind of clay and firing - a clay vase/tube (to hold water) with a pretty glazed tray.

I send him an inquiry email yesterday, here's what he said about the idea:

"Hi Gwen

The porosity of clay depends on the temperature that it is fired to, it's quite simple earthenware is porous, this fired below 1100 c and stoneware is non porous.

The wine cooler that you have mentioned will almost definitely be earthenware but will have an internal glaze which will make it non porous.

This is why earthenware coffee mugs for example are glazed internally.

Terracotta is generally fired to earthenware temperatures and is porous, Glens pot from Hobby Lobby is a terracotta plant/flower pot and these are generally left unglazed.

The terracotta pipes mentioned in Sweden, will definitely be glazed, usually a salt glaze, otherwise they would leak any liquid put through them not a good quality for a pipe ;-)) and for the use that you mention above they don't have a bottom either so they definitely would not work on either porosity or holding water.

My firings are always stoneware so my pottery is not porous, i could fire to earthenware but i would need a kiln load to do so, my kiln would need around 28 to 35 of the size pots that you mention above to be full, it simply would not be economical to fire it for just 2 pots, for several reasons, one the cost of the electricity for the firing, two the fact that i have to travel to my kiln, i don't have room for it here so it is in my aunties garden shed, it's a family business ;-)) so with the energy cost and my time travelling to the kiln with just 2 pots would make them so expensive that it would not be realistic.

If you can come up with 20 + orders then i could go ahead. . .

Regards Vic"

Soooo, what I am wondering, are there 20 people or more who would be interested in ordering one and having Vic make them per our specs?

I want one!

[Becca]

Hi Gwen! Have you tried the Swampsticks? They are essentially the same thing, and you can choose a hanging swampstick or one with an attached base for standing. Visit: SwampStick Ceramic Orchid Mount - Home

[gmdiaz]

Have you tried of of these? I like it!

Did the guy who makes these ever work it out so that the porosity is just right?

[Becca]

Hi Gwen! I have tried a few of these, but I think I was not patient enough at the time to allow the 'chids to adapt to them. I did find with some, the water would weep through more quickly then others, I purchased around 4 or so. Also, on one, I was having problems with white fuzzy mold growing on the outside of the mount and the roots of the 'chid....not sure if I just didnt' have enough air circulation or what? So currently, I am not using any of them, I think I gave one to one of our members on here (Reba) who lives close to me and I haven't seen on here since about the time she became a member! I haven't heard how it worked for her and currently I do not have any in use because I was afraid of having mold/fungus issues again. I never thought to start some moss growing on the outside of it! I love that look, one of my mounts is covered in it and it looks so nice! Well if you want to try a Swampstick, I am sure I could hook you up and you can keep us posted on how the nano vivi experiment goes. If others are willing to order the one's from Erin Pottery I would like to know how much he is charging for them, maybe he may come up with a different design? Let me know what you think, I can take pictures of my swampsticks for you. If I recall correctly, Marilyn (Grandma M) has tried the swampstick as well....maybe she will have some input?

[gmdiaz]

The Swamp Sticks sound very nice but what I am imagining. . . standing solo inside my tall Exo Tank is:

A pretty big "tube" with irregular rough rock and bark shapes sculpted and added to the outside and a matching tray with crawling root shapes.

Cover much of it with moss and attach a bunch of super coolio minis that can't dry out!

And I was thinking about some sort of lazy susan to turn the tube and tray, so I could plant up and see all "sides"

My only concern is the porosity. . .that has to be just right, can't get too drippy, nor too dry. BUT if that were perfected, I could get a Telipogon, which has been at the top of my wish list for about a year!

[Becca]

I understand....your description of what you are looking for sounds awesome....let me know what the price would be and depending on that, you might be able to count me in as one of the 20 needed. Also, if you still wish to ever experiment with a swamp stick just let me know!

[snow]

what an interesting thred. i,m gobbeling it all up.

[Bird Song Farm]

I'm following along also. Since I just set up my first terrarium yesterday I am more than interested.

Al

[Magnus A]

Originally Posted by gmdiaz

Hiya,

[/COLOR]
The terracotta pipes mentioned in Sweden, will definitely be glazed, usually a salt glaze, otherwise they would leak any liquid put through them not a good quality for a pipe ;-)) and for the use that you mention above they don't have a bottom either so they definitely would not work on either porosity or holding water.
[COLOR=blue]

I would just to clarify this
The pipe that Mikael (Mitcholito) uses in Sweden is NOT glazed! They are pipes for drainage and the idé IS that they leak (to drain of water). As I know Mikael personal I have looked at his setup many times and have just started one for myself.

In Sweden you can find terracotta wine coolers that leaks! It is the evaporation on the outside that cools the wine. They are not glazed and works in this setup.

[gmdiaz]

Originally Posted by Magnus A

I would just to clarify this
The pipe that Mikael (Mitcholito) uses in Sweden is NOT glazed! They are pipes for drainage and the idé IS that they leak (to drain of water). As I know Mikael personal I have looked at his setup many times and have just started one for myself.

In Sweden you can find terracotta wine coolers that leaks! It is the evaporation on the outside that cools the wine. They are not glazed and works in this setup.

Hiya Magnus,

I think Mikael just came up with a great idea! You'll have to tell him that I absolutely love it! His results are beautiful!

Thanks so much for the clarification on the pipes and the wine chillers! That's helps a lot!!! So what I am looking to find or have made is just unglazed terracotta. . .hmmmm, .

It's sooo cool that you've started one too! I would love love love to see photos and to hear about how it's working for you.

Are you trying one of the terracotta drainage pipes then?

Are you finding that he unglazed terracotta seaps moisture to the outside, in the just right quantity?

Do tell. . .