Driftwood Art

[MAli]

Well the artist in me has found a new love and I dub it Driftwood Art. I love moss as some of you may have guessed from my recent post looking for live New Zealand LFS here in Canada. Some may also be wondering why so picky. I thought I would start this thread to share with you my first attempt at something like this.


At the last orchid show there was a lady that had some really nice displays with driftwood and orchids and ferns. One was even made to look like a dove using a Phal as the wings. Very nice and I've been thinking about in the back of my head since. Then one a day I saw a piece of driftwood and the lights came on

Look at those pictures and tell me if you don't see a rooster . Sometimes I see a seal depending on the angle but is anybody feeling me here ?? Even the one with bright flash came out looking like a Rooster.

I'd eat it .

Anyways...... the idea is to grow the sphagnum as the tail feathers mostly because I thought the red yellow and green feathery look would be more realistic. I will also use a mixture of mosses, carnivorous plants ( pings for that thing on their head and face), ferns, and maybe I can sneak an orchid or four Miniatures of course I will likey grow it in a tank so I can have a pump continuously dripping water where it's needed. In the end though I don't want a bog look but it's the closest thing I can refer to. Bog Rooster !!!

The first piece is the one I'm talking about but I've also included a couple of others that I like. If anybody has done this before or if you just get an idea please share with me. The artist in me sometimes needs a push start I plan on making this a "build" thread for this project but it is definitely going to take time cause it takes forever to get cool stuff here.

Cheers

[Daethen]

Wow. I see the rooster or a peacock. I want you to find me some driftwood though. Just beautiful. Great idea.

[WhiteRabbit]

Very cool! I can't wait to see what you come up with!

[MAli]

Thank you Jonada. I am actually debating that very issue. Do I go for a rooster or a peacock I find the front is more like a rooster and the back more like a peacock

Thank you Sonya I already have a perfect place to grow everything out with a drip system untill they can handle just misting. I'm going to put it in my shrimp tank

Now to find the plants.

I was thinking of using a mixture of Selaginellas from Understory. They can be the main body of the tail in the peacock and in other parts of the body. For the rooster my biggest issue now is what can I grow that will resemble the red crown and beard. Is there a red liverwort or small succulent or something anyone can think of

For the body of both birds I will probably use subwassertang and a few of the other mosses I keep to add color.

If anyone wants to brainstorm a bit with me on this one go right ahead.

That's it for now

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[Island Girl]

If u go to a local garden nursery (not big box stores) & ask them about a plant that would fit in culture-wise I bet they could tell you... I feel like there is something, but I have no idea on a name... Sorry

This is a really really cool idea... I've been collecting driftwood myself...


I will def be keeping up, so post pics when u r working on it!

[nenella]

Very cool idea! I look forward to seeing what you do in the end & seeing updates!

[Island Girl]

ok so i was on etsy looking at succulents... and i thought about ur thread... there are a few i saw in the "Succulent Oasis" shop that i think might work for the thingie? on top of a roosters head (i obviously dont kno exactly what u had in mind, but here's what popped into mine- albeit w/o concrete plan, but an idea nonetheless)

ok so plant #1 is called Purple Scallops Kalanchoe- (on 1st page at the bottom 2nd from the left);
plant #2 'Blue Curls'- (on the 2nd page, 3rd row, 3rd from the left);
plant #3 'FlapJack luciae Kalanchoe- (2nd page, 4th row 4th from the left)
(i typed them in EXACTLY as they were written on the website)

and im sure u could find these at a nursery, maybe even a big box store that has succulents... im not familiar with their pricing, or availability i was just on there brainstorming a few ideas for myself & remembered this thread Hope it helps!

i don't quite kno if i am typing in the link right, but u can find the shop on etsy under "Succulent Oasis"

Buy Succulent Plants Online Wedding Favors by SucculentOasis

[ramp]

Originally Posted by MAli

Well the artist in me has found a new love and I dub it Driftwood Art. I love moss as some of you may have guessed from my recent post looking for live New Zealand LFS here in Canada. Some may also be wondering why so picky. I thought I would start this thread to share with you my first attempt at something like this.

Mali I was wondering what happened to your project.
Any updates?

[AJW]

I have had some success with growing orchids on driftwood. I found it best that once you have selected a piece soak it in a a bucket or similar of fresh water for around a month adding around a tea spoon of lime to the initial mix then taking it out and hosing down before attaching the plant.
Aussie Sarcs and Cat's have done well however plenty of ongoing watering is required till the roots establish.

[MAli]

Wow this thread is old now.

Sorry for the late reply ramp but the project started and ended within a couple of months as I had to move. So many people wanted to buy the driftwood and I asked for ridiculous prices to discourage them but I still sold them all.

The biggest issue is that the moss needs way more moisture than most other plants can handle and they end up rotting.

I have a few future projects coming up so stay tuned.

Cheers