Crazy, crazy crazy idea or is it?

[harrywitmore]

The water runs through the capillary mat. It absorbs water and plants root to it very easily. You pump the water to the top and apply it to the mat and it trickles down to the reservoir to be recycled. Sort of like a swamp cooler does.

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by harrywitmore

The water runs through the capillary mat. It absorbs water and plants root to it very easily. You pump the water to the top and apply it to the mat and it trickles down to the reservoir to be recycled. Sort of like a swamp cooler does.

That's what I was also wondering about- using the wall as a sort of natural swamp cooler with the constant evaporation of water. I'm unsure if I'll be using the lean-to still in Summer but I was considering an exhaust fan in the ceiling and putting in an actual swamp cooler bringing in only dry outside air from it- that gets cooled and replaces the hot air which is continually sucked out from the top..

So many questions, considerations and decisions to make

[harrywitmore]

Damian, I have actually also seen some pictures of someone that grew orchids on a swamp cooler. It was done for the very reason you are doing it, to grow cool growing orchids.
I didn't realize you were in AU. A little Northern Hemisphere bigotry I guess. Sorry.
You may have come across an English translation I attempted for the instructions on how to build this thing. Looks like the original instructions are now gone. I won;t post a link to it since I don;t have permission to post it but I am still trying to get in touch with the author. There is a fellow Patrick Blanc who inspired this construction who does it on a grand scale.
Living Walls | EcoGeek | Green, Building, Some, System, Wall

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by harrywitmore

Damian, I have actually also seen some pictures of someone that grew orchids on a swamp cooler. It was done for the very reason you are doing it, to grow cool growing orchids.
I didn't realize you were in AU. A little Northern Hemisphere bigotry I guess. Sorry.
You may have come across an English translation I attempted for the instructions on how to build this thing. Looks like the original instructions are now gone. I won;t post a link to it since I don;t have permission to post it but I am still trying to get in touch with the author. There is a fellow Patrick Blanc who inspired this construction who does it on a grand scale.
Living Walls | EcoGeek | Green, Building, Some, System, Wall

No problem Harry thanks for your reply Thanks for the link too, amazing stuff!! and very inspiring

[tunachris]

Although I have no direct experiece, I have heard of "water walls" being used in greenhouses to cool and add humidity to the greenhouse. In this application, orchds aren't grown directly on the water wall, the wall is on one end/side of the greenhouse to regulate the intenal conditions. I don't think many if any orchids could handle the constant water flow of the wall, but I may be wrong. The water wall functions as a swamp cooler in the greenhouse.

[harrywitmore]

Actually, the water is only ccled during the day but I have Bulbos that seem to love this setup.

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by harrywitmore

Actually, the water is only ccled during the day but I have Bulbos that seem to love this setup.

That would seem to be good for plants that don't want continuous water, but to dry out some to just moist.. I'll have to check out the poisonfrog viv again- he has an embedded drip line but I can't remember if it's on all the time or on a timer to come on at set times.

Any chance of a photo? I love bulbos!

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by tunachris

Although I have no direct experiece, I have heard of "water walls" being used in greenhouses to cool and add humidity to the greenhouse. In this application, orchds aren't grown directly on the water wall, the wall is on one end/side of the greenhouse to regulate the intenal conditions. I don't think many if any orchids could handle the constant water flow of the wall, but I may be wrong. The water wall functions as a swamp cooler in the greenhouse.

Yes that was my concern too, I don't know that other orchids would tolerate the moisture level mounted on such a wall that masdevallias etc do..

I wonder if they can be grown semi-hydro style but on a wall?

What I want to do though is more than just a wall- I want the look of the full on viv, the kind that Tindo and others have so masterfully created to resemble a slice of ephipytic nature; ie branches coming out, other complementary plants like tilandsias, broms etc..

I would also like possibly to use some 'terrestrials' like paphs and jewel orchids...

I guess it boils down to, plant selection, system design and function, asthetics and maybe in the end a little experimentation of trial and error.?