Nightstand lantern.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

I really wonder what IS IT with your telipogoniflora. I will have to research on this. None of mine has this issue.

[Ordphien]

Originally Posted by DeaC

Wonderful! You may have to call this your "Phoenix Project". It came back so well and with some tweeking, 2015 is gonna be spectacular. Happy New Year!

Constantly rising above the ashes. The ashes I keep creating lol.
Happy New year!

Originally Posted by Reeses

Ordphien, I love this project!! I shared it with my family, and I got a similar lantern for Christmas I have a Haraella that I bought to put in it, and I hope one day it can look as amazing as yours!

I did have a few questions--do you have any air flow in this lantern? Mine has an opening at the top similar to yours, but I was just wondering if it would be enough. Also, what has your experience been with lava rock vs. cork for mounting? I LOVE the lava rock you used in this one, but the Petco stores around here are very limited and don't carry them. It would actually cost more to ship it than to buy it

Thanks so much for sharing this amazing project! Best of luck for 2015!

Thank you! I hope yours turns out well.

I have no purposeful air flow. The glass on the sides isn't silicone down, so there's a small gap (very small) between the glass and wood. There's also a slight gap where the door is.
The top is open on mine, but I sealed three of the four edges with silicone and put a decorative strip of coloured glass in. To prevent the lightbulb from shining in my eyes constantly.
I think the bulk of my air exchange comes from me opening the door a few times a day to turn the light on and off.

Cork is a great mount, but it doesn't wick water. I chose lava rock because i knew I would be concentrating moisture loving species that needed water at all times.

Have you tried masonry place? The kinds that carry bricks and stones and such. They usually have a big supply of black lava rock for landscaping purposes (and honestly the last 3 times I asked for a particular rock, they just gave it to me free of charge).
Red lava rock might be easier to find.

Perhaps get a bag of the red they sell at home improvement stores, and silicone the bigger bits together? Really once the moss starts growing in you won't be able to tell.
My lantern is made of at least 8 different bits stacked on top of each other.

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

I really wonder what IS IT with your telipogoniflora. I will have to research on this. None of mine has this issue.

I have no idea. It's a little upsetting.
I think I might buy another. And let them grow side by side. That way I can confirm if its me, or the plant.
Are any of yours from Seattle orchids?

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Seattle orchids mean Ecuagenera. Check my post about Lepanthes cross, and you will see my Ecuagenera Lepanthes telipogoniflora there. I have one from them (the same supplier, Seattle gets it from Ecuagenera), and I have another two, one from Colombia, one from Europe, all are growing and blooming very well. Ecuagenera that is in the thread is smaller one, I have double sized one that came year ago from Europe - Popow.
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...nk-please.html

[Ordphien]

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

Seattle orchids mean Ecuagenera. Check my post about Lepanthes cross, and you will see my Ecuagenera Lepanthes telipogoniflora there. I have one from them (the same supplier, Seattle gets it from Ecuagenera), and I have another two, one from Colombia, one from Europe, all are growing and blooming very well. Ecuagenera that is in the thread is smaller one, I have double sized one that came year ago from Europe - Popow.
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...nk-please.html

I'm just hesitant to order from the same source again. But if yours are doing well from the same source.
Oh Popow... I've had their page for dendrobium parvulum 'blue' saved for over 3 years. It's a dream orchid for me.
I'm not sure really how to order from them, or even if I can afford it.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by Ordphien

I'm just hesitant to order from the same source again. But if yours are doing well from the same source.
Oh Popow... I've had their page for dendrobium parvulum 'blue' saved for over 3 years. It's a dream orchid for me.
I'm not sure really how to order from them, or even if I can afford it.

Alex (Popow) comes usually only to Redlands show. He comes few times a year to California, mostly private visits. You can pre order one for Redland show and he will ship it to you. It's awesome orchid, I have 3 and I am getting more, growing them in completely different environments to see which one works best, I have few inside in terrariums, and one outside :-) They are pricy like hell, but amazing. I nearly fulfilled my PNG miniature Dendro list, there is still few on the list, like Dendro putnamii, which I think I must have, but it's hard to get and the price tag is even hire than for parvulum blue :-)

[PhytoDude]

Originally Posted by Reeses

Ordphien, I love this project!! I LOVE the lava rock you used in this one, but the Petco stores around here are very limited and don't carry them. It would actually cost more to ship it than to buy it

Maybe try a fireplace and grill specialty store? They seem to be cropping up everywhere.

[Reeses]

Thanks for the suggestions on the lava rock, guys! I have some aquarium silicone that might work to put pieces together if I get some. You guys are so creative

[Ordphien]

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

Alex (Popow) comes usually only to Redlands show. He comes few times a year to California, mostly private visits. You can pre order one for Redland show and he will ship it to you. It's awesome orchid, I have 3 and I am getting more, growing them in completely different environments to see which one works best, I have few inside in terrariums, and one outside :-) They are pricy like hell, but amazing. I nearly fulfilled my PNG miniature Dendro list, there is still few on the list, like Dendro putnamii, which I think I must have, but it's hard to get and the price tag is even hire than for parvulum blue :-)

I didn't know that. I'm pretty socially inept and avoid shows and stuff. Though I might finally go to one this February.
That's great to know though as popow has another two orchids that are also on the list.
How has your experience with it in terrarium culture?
Ideally I'd love it in one of my terrarium setups. I'm worried about potential airflow problems with that though.

My newest terrarium that I'm setting up I intend to stock full of mini png dendrobium. They've really been captivating me for the past year or so.
Oh my gosh. Putnamii is wonderful!

Originally Posted by PhytoDude

Maybe try a fireplace and grill specialty store? They seem to be cropping up everywhere.

That's a good idea!

Originally Posted by Reeses

Thanks for the suggestions on the lava rock, guys! I have some aquarium silicone that might work to put pieces together if I get some. You guys are so creative

Good luck!

[Ordphien]

I'd like to open this update with a picture of my lantern in the sun.
Once a day for 10 minutes, right as the sun sets, the light bounces off my closest mirror.
And I get to see everything bathed in golden light.



My birthday is in 10 days, so I bought myself a small present.
I got two orchids from Andy's.



One is smaller than I thought, and one is bigger lol.

Platystele stenostachya... The description said 1.5 inch leaves.
They are not. It's quite big. Whether or not it stays in here, or goes into my future project remains to be seen.
The flowers are awesome!
Even smaller than my lepanthopsis!




And aerangis punctata... I already owned this one in another setup and it died.
Thought I'd try in this one.
I'm particularly worried about it.
It's half the size of the last one I was sent, and only has two roots.
And I broke the tip of the long one getting it off the mount



Other than the new acquisitions, everything is pretty much the same.
The lepanthopsis is a machine.



The leptotifolia is still working on those two growths. It's way in back.



I cleared some moss from around the lepanthes, and the Pluerothallis calyptrostele.
Wherever will it bloom!



Those two fused buds on my telipogoniflora blasted as expected.
I pinched off a bud from the other spike, and saved one bud at least.


Roots on the haraella! And new leaves!



The platystele came with a new neat moss...



And I'm also getting cool lichens!
No micro ferns though.
So sad.



Do the pictures look low quality?

[Pattywack]

Your pictures are wonderful! I have followed this post and been so envious of your night stand lantern. It's just awesome and doing well again. I have the Platystele stenostachya and mine is much smaller, probably much younger. I found mine at J&L and it just blooms its tiny head off. It now is growing many new leaves and I hope it will be as full as yours. I've had it for a few months. I recently bought three new ones from Andy's, love his plants, one of these is a Stelis hirtzii and it has very small, short leaves. They are a blue green color. It is in spike now with tiny tiny reddish blooms on a fairly long spike, maybe three inches. It is mounted and would be beautiful in your lantern. I love the mosses too. Nice job keeping this going. I love it.