"totally NOT a terrarium" build by DirtyCoconuts (I built nothing)

[Token]

Hey Coconuts,
I'm surprised you got so many positive comments - don't get me wrong, I grow most my orchids in wardian cases, so much easier to control temperature and humidity - it's just when I have seen other members mentioning growing in an enclosed space with little ventilation there are no positive comments, ever.

Sometimes it just comes down to which member posts something but so I am glad you have coconuts - I know you will post updates and I'm sure your Orchids will love their new home since this is not a new practice and works great.

It does need a bit more monitoring though, usually you can smell if something goes bad before you see something going bad so if you notice any mouldy or pond like smells you need to investigate. This is an advantage for me as it is an early warning system that you might not notice in an open space.

Mould only forms on organic rotting material. This is why I avoid moss in enclosed areas with no ventilation. I grow inorganically.

You don't need the ventilation but no ventilation + moss is a recipe for something going wrong so just be extra cautious with organic material.

I find the only things that do end up going mouldy are either spray droplets on wood, moss or dried up plant sheaths. Be cautious with cork long term too however your enclosure has so many gaps there certainly won't be any stagnant conditions. I have far smaller holes on some of mine.

But I do also have temperatures controlled, alarms fitted to mine so if humidity or temp is off target the alarm goes off. Mine can reach 90% on really wet days and that probably would cause problems.

I would recommend you place a temp and humidity sensor and monitor the max and min values for a week, repeat for every season.

I won't critisize members for posting bs comments here, never achieves anything, although it seems to be standard practice to have a hierarchy on this forum and put others in their place- just be careful of members that like commenting on every post on this forum even if they have never grown in a wardian case or would never grow with no ventilation and thus are just speculating for the fun of it. I know my comments are never liked much, i say how things are, I don't say things to get myself the most likes on this forum.

I mentioned it matters which member posts something - I mean entirely up to you but instead of listening to someone who would and has never grown in a wardian case and suggests changing something - I would suggest you see how humidity values are over a week and then decide to change water levels or whether you need more clay balls or less.

Good luck

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

no, it is in a tiny pot...i think it would be too big for in here, no?

they appear to flower HUGE

Yes, that's why I asked. Was thinking about when it flowers. As ya know, I'm just now starting my first Den lindleyi. Mine's in a small SH pot. A pretty tidy thing when it isn't in bloom, but most I've seen (in pictures only) appear to explode when blooming. And seems like most are cascading instead of more upright.

When/if mine blooms, I'll need to make a decision about whether to start hanging it, at least for bloom time. Which would be an excellent problem to have.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Thanks Token

It has pretty good ventilation with two vents at the top and open seams on all the glass panes

I kept the LECA in trays so could remove and dump and clean as well

It sits under a ceiling fan which is always on and I have a small solar clip on fan that I will add if the numbers I see suggest it is needed

I did an experiment and put a lit match inside the case (in a clamp) and I could blow it out from outside with the doors closed

Granted, I am a 6’4” lifetime free diver so my lungs are good but, I took that as the case was pretty ventilated


You aren’t the first to mention mold so I know it can be an issue and I will monitor and be aware. I certainly don’t want anything growing in there but orchids




WW, I think it would do well in a taller vase, like the ones I use for my SH....they are 6-8” tall so the flowers have a ways to hang down


But you know me, mount everything!!!!!

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

WW, I think it would do well in a taller vase, like the ones I use for my SH....they are 6-8” tall so the flowers have a ways to hang down


But you know me, mount everything!!!!!

Yeah, it's in very small now, because it's small. As the roots get longer, I just dump it into a taller vase. Has more to do right now with depth of reservoir to ratio of wicking for the root size.

And yes, FloridaCoconut, of course you do mounts... KansasWitch can't do that unless I devote all my spare time to watering, which ain't happening. Now if I EVER get that greenhouse....

[DirtyCoconuts]

STILL not even a quote or was the quote bad news?

[estación seca]

What about removing the LECA balls from the reservoir and putting in a few tropical fish like platies? With a slightly deeper reservoir you could also hang mounts on the edge of the reservoir.

[DirtyCoconuts]

i figured that given the repeated concern about the mold issue i would do this.

the bottom is already sprayed with clear spray paint to seal it ( you can see it thick in some areas) but this will also keep the water from getting stuck on the bottom..

Stuff in a box by J Solo, on Flickr

---------- Post added at 04:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:41 PM ----------

the LECA trays sit on top of this making an air layer for better circulation

[Akhenaten]

Very nice terrarium!
Very nice Pete!
C. schilleriana is very beautiful How much growth has your C. schilleriana?

[DirtyCoconuts]

Thank you for all the kind words Akhenaten!

I only recently acquired that one and it was just starting to bud. So all I did was not mess it up

It has a small new growth starting now

[SADE2020]

Hi Pete, what the update with this project? Pls if you could share.