Hello from Siberia

[Akhenaten]

Hi all,
I live in the Russia, in the middle Siberia. I grow carnivorous plants about 5 years. I have bought first my plant in Singapore 6 years ago, it has lived only 3 months, unfortunately. Then I tried to buy a fly-trap at Trev from Ireland, through the Internet, but he has not sold to me a plants. A year later I nevertheless have got 3 venus flytraps, 1 sarracenia plant and 1 nepenthes in Holland, since then plants at me have started to grow and educe very fruitfully. In February, 2007 I have decided to grow carnivorous plants and orchids in the one florarium, having united a terrarium and an orchidarium. I call it the orchiterrarium.
I wish to tell about my orchiterrarium. I am sorry for my bad English.

Construction. My orchiterrarium is made of a glass trading show-window. It dimensions is 80cm length x 50cm width x 130cm height. It is divided inside into 2 tight parts that the distilled water carnivorous plants did not blend whith the fertilised water for orchids. In a bottom of a terrarium two foramens for plum of waters. Orcid's part is had vertically, and occupies a back side of a orchiterrarium, the carnivorous part occupies the inferior horizontal part of a terrarium. They are divided among themselves by the glass septums glued by silicone.
Substrate. In a terrarium-part I use only pure longfiber peatmoss, a layer depth 15 cm. 5 years all my carnivorous plants fine grow in a pure peatmoss, the minus of a peatmoss is necessity to change it every year. In a orchidarium-part a substrate is the mix of a pine bark, charcoal and it is not enough moss.
Light. Osram L 36W/765 - 3 lamps (827), Comtech Fl 26 36/840 G 13 - 3 lamps (840) and Osram fluora 77 - 2 lamps. Lamps are had in two fixtures on 4 lamps, and locate from two sides of a terrarium, vertically. On terrarium top locate the third fixture containing of 7 - T4 28W lamps: 4 lamps a cold white light (840) and 3 lamps of a warm white lite (827). This is light enough for very well growing of Vandas. The pitcher of carnivorous plant is red inside.
Watering. I watering carnivorous plants with a distilled water, which I do by "Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Tap Water Purifier", water turns out good and already almost year of a plant grow on it well. I watering orchids with ordinary water, fertilizings. The ultrasonic humidifier is connected to an orchiterrarium through a hose. Humidity is sustained in him from 50 % in the afternoon, to 70 % at night. I have computer cooler 12 cm in diameter for an air circulacion iside.
Light, ultrasonic humidifier, cooler are power up or down by a timer.
Dormancy. I tried to create all pathes conditions for a dormancy of carnivorous plants, illumination decrease (it is easy for making) and a cold. To lower temperature in a terrarium, even after connection of a refrigerator it was not possible to me. Therefore I have simply moved all carnivorous plants requiring a dormancy to the tight plastic big container and have placed for 3 months in a refrigerator. After 1 month of hibernation in refrigerator they condition is very nice.

Some about my plants: a lot of Dionaea muscipula, many Sarracenias purpurea, 2 Nepenthes (alata, ventrata), my new little cefalotus and heliamphora. Orchids: phalaenopsis, cattleya, chiloschista, ascocenda, vanda, colmonara, lealia, tolumnia, sophrontis, schoenorhis, howeara, denrobium, paphiopedilium... all 30 species (mainly miniature species).

[FinnBar]

Hi Akhenaten and to OrchidBoard!

can you post some photos of your setup?
it sounds very interesting.

[Des]

Welcome Akhenaten, Siberia , just the thought gives me the cold shivers .Growing Orchids there must be a real challange. When the weather get to too cold here my electricity bill soars . I can only imagine what yours must be. Good luck and enjoy!!

[tuvoc]

A big, WARM, Welcome. I'm impressed that you can keep such a variety of plants up there this time of year.Keep us posted on your collections and progress.

Kim

[moogiemama]

Welcome! And I thought I had challenges growing orchids and other tropicals (and cacti & succulents) here in New York state! I don't have a greenhouse but make do with a heated sun room and the living room window. It really would be great if you are able to post some pictures of your set up and the plants. Sounds so interesting!

[Ross]

Welcome from Michigan, USA. I think you may be the first member from Siberia and your English is good enough for me Maybe better than some of my friends'

[Paul]

Hello Akhenaten.

You're English is quite good -- much better than my Russian.

I, too, would like to see pictures of you orchiterrarium if you are able to post pictures.

[GreggC]

And I thought my growing conditions were difficult. All I can say is you must have a lot of patience, my friend!

[Akhenaten]

Thanks huge to all of you for warm reception at a forum and kind words, photos I will place in a branch about a terrarium at this forum

[tuvoc]

I just want to add that being an ancient Egypt freak from about age ten, I love you avatar and handle!

Kim