There are at least 4 sizes. I usually just add water everyday.

Yes, I was just thinking why wouldn't simple terra cotta be the answer?! Just cap the bottom ends. Maybe water transpires too quickly??

I too live in your area (35 miles south in Orange County). We live basically in a transformed desert here in So Cal!

I just started growing Masde's and I was worried myself how I'm going to handle the upcoming summer. Get's 90 and above sometimes. I grow them outside now, they love it during the fall/winter/spring seasons. But I'm guessing I'll need to bring them indoors, meaning I'll need setup w/ AC, lights, etc.

The 'kool-logs' site doesn't really go into detail the substrate used for their castings (proprietary info I assume), you know, what sets them apart from typical terra cotta, what is it that allows them to hold water yet still allow the water to permeate the container just enough without draining out too fast. I'm guessing it's likely finer grade pores produced with this 'magical' material component.

But I was thinking for your vivarium application cutting their 'small log' version into even smaller logs could work for you. Find a local Tile Mason, they cut tile all the time. Just have to have the right saw/blade.

Wow!! Fantastic intricate displays! And some not so intricate but quite industrious. Maybe shoot him a note and pick his brilliant brain huh? :biggrin:

I was thinking if you use a clay pot and fill the bottom with clay beads and the top with s.moss around the plant and set the pot in a small dish of water might be a way to keep the plant cooler and moist. I know that Wade from Wade's orchids keeps his masdies in a pot sitting on a wet soaked carpet pad.

Much of this could all be on a different post for masdie care or kool logs I suppose...not sure if there's a way to do that but anyway...

what fascinates me about the kool logs is how it uses what I presume is cappillary action to evenly moist an entire surface (that doesn't break down) and then cool as water evaporates. I tried out a swamp cooler in one of my old apartments and it really didn't cool a room very much, but at a micro level the coolness around the roots may make the difference with growing cooler growing plants.

I'm assuming, paphy (you'd think someone would have had that handle already!), that it is fairly similar to terra cotta and that there are significant improvements... however the one thing about terra cotta is that it's not very rough which orchid roots can have problems with completely smooth surface, plus it seems to hold a lot of minerals in it, but doubt kool logs can prevent that...

From what I've experienced hungtington beach is balmy and cool? I used to live in santa monica and managed to grow many cool growers there successfully, I just can't imagine it being that different than santa monica, although since you're further south i guess it's possible... fortunately if you get the coastal breezes things are cooled off by late afternoon, which would make a difference for cooler growers. i personally think you'd be fine growing them outside... but if you have space like how I don't, I'd build an outdoor enclosure with adjustable sides or top according to humidity or maintain air current. Easily done for smaller plants like masdies. Right now I grow outside in glass cylinders, still at the experimental stage with varied success.

By the way, if you ever go to Santa barbara orchid estate, or andy's, it's always a bit shocking what and how they grow their cool growing masdies...

I agree.. oh well.. anyway, once again I'll mention your cool little bloom you presented at the post onset. Quite unique!

Um, really not all that magical I believe, in respect to it being characteristically kool-log inherent. When any porous material is around water it absorbs it like a sponge. Capillary action as you say. I think the main difference of 'kool-log' vs 'terra cotta' is prob the size of the pores, a purely physical characteristic which regulates duration of uptake and release of moisture.

I think it would be easy enough to roughen the surface of terra cotta. Rough sandpaper, wire brush, gouging etc. It's just low-fired clay (dirt), fairly soft material actually.

My background is in art and marketing. Do you think if they made Kool-logs in terra cotta color that anyone would think of them as 'special'? White is giving them a brand. Also the fact they are pre-molded to be a hollow container (no need to bother plugging bottom) gives them a special 'no-fuss' turn-key appeal. I guess I'm going to have to buy a Kool-log just so I can mangle it and find out what the material is, haha.

Kool-logs almost have to have the same characteristic as terra cotta of holding on to micro-substances like salts and minerals. Maybe terra cotta is inherently more 'grainy-like' which causes it too hold them more tenaciously. Maybe it's more dense pores. Don't know, never seen a Kool-log. But with both I would imagine a simple complete submersion would purge the them..

What do you think of my idea of sawing Kool-log in smaller lengths for your vivarium?

Yes, HB is balmy cool.. especially northern HB (geographically the city is quite large) where it's perfect for cool growing. I live in southern HB. About 4-5 degrees warmer than northern and not as much wind. But only balmy cool 9 1/2 to 10 months of the year. It's the 2-2 1/2 month period I worry about. Very hot and dry even here 4 mi. from coast. And then, as you well know, ALL of Southern California is subject to the periodic infamous 'Santa Ana Wind' condition (high pressure forcing desert offshore winds, extremely dry) which can virtually occur any time of year and can last 2 weeks, but typically more like 5 days or so. Usually doesn't happen in Dec. but I've lived here 40 yrs and I've even experienced it then. Can go from 50's day temp to 80's day temp overnight.

Anyway, my lone Masdevallia, an amabilis, (have three more Mashies coming :lol: they are virtually in the mail as we speak) is doing famously well at the present time. Has 5 spikes now. It loves it outside under 70% shade cloth with current consistent cooler wind flow. Will post pics when it's at peak flourish. This amabilis was actually purchased from Andy when at our local club show a month ago.

Do tell? Haven't yet been to either nursery even though I'm very familiar with Santa Barbara, I went to UCSB!, and to me I can't imagine a more perfect West Coast growing spot for cool growers, perhaps San Francisco area is only better. And I fully intend to get down to Andy's.. they have open house in a couple weeks during the San Diego show. :biggrin:

You won't need to saw up a Kool-log, the small is very small. Only 5 inches tall and 3/4 wide. There are also a couple of brown/log colored logs.

Kool-Logs

That's good to know. Still, I really doubt we will ever see a kool-log in terra cotta color, just too obvious a connection.

Kool logs are more porous than clay pots.

Please explain, for those not living near those spots.

wintergirl, please give an idea the difference, would you guesstimate it's double the size in porosity?..triple??.

Do you detect a more glassine quality (higher fire temp) to the material or equal earthy character such as with terra cotta pots?