Orchidarium for cool growing orchids- my ideas about solving the temperature problem
 

Today is the second day my cool orchidaium is working successfully. I will share my solution for the low temperatures problem. I must underline that I am not a technicaly skilful person .
The case:
I bought a second-hand vertical refrigerating showcase with a wide temperature range: from minus 30 to plus 30 degrees. The showcase height is almost 2 meters, as the usable part is about 150 centimeters (the compressor is below)
Somewhere I had a picture of the showcase in its original form,but I cannot find it .....
My changes to the showcase :
- The fan is bound to work independently
- The show case had 2 vertical luminescent lamps 1.2 meters each,they were replaced with Philips series for plants
- I added to the top 4 more luminescent lamps 2x15W (Silvania, a series for plants) and 2x7W (white light)
- the showcase was covered with wall-paper imitating natural material (sackcloth)
- there are metal bands on the door, along the the vertical lights in order to reflect the light.

I plan to put some matte wall paper on the bottom of the door in order to hide the drainage and irrigation system (you'll see on the picture)


Interior :
- All items are from Epiweb. I used a hot air gun to make different shapes,branches nad lianas from the epiweb .After heating epiweb becomes soft and pliable, processing it in any form is not a problem.
- I uzed 2 layers of waterproof material to create something like a second false bottom. I added a framework and two diagonals from metal perforated tape for stability. The false bottom has a slope to the inner wall. The lowest point has an opening that is attached to a drainage tube.
- The vertical part: The 3 walls are covered with the same waterproof material (not cutting). It is is longer than the height and goes inside the false bottom .

Irrigation system :
There are two courts (one is used as overflow) on the floor of the showcase , under the false bottom. Inside is an aquarium pump . Using hoses, angles, etc. I made a framework which is placed on the upper edge of epiweb.There are series of small holes along the hoses from which water runs down the walls. There is a pipe with holes inside the big liana,which is connected to the hoses of the frame..The pump and the lights are on timers.

Plants:
-Dracula s
-masdevallias
-telipogon
-lemboglossum
Several bromeliads .The walls are covered with a mixture of spores of sphagnum and Kyoto moss

I will add several more orchids at the top part :)
Temperature regime for the moment: 17-18 degrees daily temperature and 8-10 degrees night temperature. Lights are on from 8 to 21. The pump is working 3 times a day for 2-3 hour cycles.

Photos:
http://thumb7.webshots.net/t/66/766/...7XXQcva_th.jpg http://thumb7.webshots.net/t/74/74/2...7mFNFZk_th.jpg http://thumb7.webshots.net/t/63/763/...7YcCEWO_th.jpg http://thumb7.webshots.net/t/74/74/1...7vDtpKe_th.jpg http://thumb7.webshots.net/t/63/763/...7cSsKLn_th.jpg http://thumb7.webshots.net/t/74/74/5...7QlfEZt_th.jpg http://thumb7.webshots.net/t/73/173/...7QADUgj_th.jpg http://thumb7.webshots.net/t/66/766/...7GYRpxI_th.jpg http://thumb7.webshots.net/t/62/662/...7gcORPn_th.jpg

That looks amazing, keep us informed on how things are growing. Maybe one of these days I'll have to try something like this. I keep getting all these great ideas, but time and space prevent me from doig more then looking wishfully at yours right now. What is the plant in flower in pictures 6&7?

Now that was a very cool idea to use a refrigerator showcase! You did a very nice job putting it together, it looks great!

I am glad you like it :)
The plant on picture 6 and 7 is telipogon ariasii

What a fantastic orchidarium:drool::drool:
Joann

I have a false bottom from watreproof material.The walls under the epiweb are covered also with such material. The showcase doesn`t get in contact with the water at all.The water is circulating : the false bottom -the pump -up the pipes- falls down along the epiweb walls- false bottom and so on.

Very cool!!

Excellent set up! I love how you've done this. Fantastic idea - and it all seems like you are providing a near perfect environment for the plants. Well done!

Wow, what a setup. Looks like a smart way to go to solve a difficult problem. Do keep us updated on the progress of your invention. I had an idea similar to yours although I was going for the ready made structure of a commercial display case. No way I could have done something as complicated as yours. Here in Atlanta, Ga we have several places that sell used commercial display cases such as yours. Down the road might have to give this a shot. Thanks for sharing.
Neil