My aeroponic orchid wall

[Vanda lover]

I am imagining what this will look like when the plants start blooming. What a great way to create space for them! It just goes to show, there is always room for more orchids, if you use your imagination.

[billc]

Originally Posted by NatalieS

That's interesting - I thought it did wick but I must be mistaken. How about hygrolon then? I also haven't used this before but it does say that it wicks. There are some threads on the board about it:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...t-cabinet.html

Natalie beat me to it. Magnus' setup looks to work well.
I wish my better half would allow something like that in her house.

Bill

[ALToronto]

Thank you Steve! I will definitely look into getting a slow drip device. I'm not sure if such a thing exists as a standalone (as opposed to a device that connects to a hose), but it's worth a look. Or maybe I should just switch over to lithophytic orchids that like alkaline water! *

[Discus]

Originally Posted by ALToronto

I wish there were something compressible that could still wick water and not disintegrate.

Hygrolon?
They don't really wick, but epiweb and/or ecoweb are also options.

---------- Post added at 11:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:02 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Stray59

Could you not set up a slow drip device to add the citric acid daily - or get a mechanical device that delivers the needed ph adjuster?

Thinking laterally, you can use a dosing pump and an pH meter, together with a controller, to do this. The aquarium reefkeepers have all sorts of gadgets that would achieve this.

[ALToronto]

Thanks for the suggestions, but the pH is no longer a problem. Between etching and carbonation, the alkaline surface layer has disappeared, and the water is staying pretty neutral. Besides, the catts don't seem to mind the alkaline surface - the roots are attaching themselves to the outer surface of the wall and staying healthy.

I've also given up on trying to recirculate all the water. So I made a planter to go underneath the wall and replace the cubby. The planter has a 1/4" hose fitting sticking out of the bottom, and the top of the fitting is about 1/2" above the bottom of the planter. This creates a bit of a semi hydro environment with lava rock in the planter. Overflow goes into a small pail, and I get about 1/2 cup a day.

I filled the planter with anthuriums and one stray mini phal. They all love it, and I no longer have to worry about spraying water over the front surface of the wall.

[Discus]

Thanks for the update, looks great
I wondered if the pH problem would be short term.

[Gage]

Beautiful! I also love the planter underneath!

[Vanda lover]

Wow! That will look spectacular when they bloom!

[RJSquirrel]

I admire your tenacity at making that work.

[ALToronto]

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

I admire your tenacity at making that work.

Are you implying I have no hope?