New in terrarium growing

[Keltera]

Originally Posted by Tindomul

Nice list, if you plan on keeping it bright you might have some luck with some smaller bulbos too. Are you going to use the tank as simply a place to put your plants, or are you going to build a naturalistic terrarium, so the setup looks like something from the wild?

I am hoping for a more natural look. I have an idea for the backdrop. I have a large plank of 150 year old barn board that had a wonderful knothole in it, i think iam going to cut it to size and have it as my backdrop and cover it with moss and put a small chid in the knothole

PA070357.jpg picture by Keltera - Photobucket
PA070356.jpg picture by Keltera - Photobucket

[Tindomul]

Thats cool. I like it. But seems like a lot of work to mount a plant.

Here are some pictures of some of my tanks. For the twin tanks, the one on the left is an orchidarium, because I only grow orchids in there. Well I have some moss and a fern and a liverwort, but those are lower plants not higher plants like orchids, except the fern but ferns are not flowering plants. Anyways I used the method of using great stuff expanding foam (the type you use for insulation in your home) and siliconed coco fiber to it to make it look like some sort of natural thing, kinda. Then you can just pin the orchids to the background. And you can add drift wood where ever as you spray the foam so that you can mount more orchids on to them. Its a fun process really.
I used the same method on the first tank, a 40 gallon breeder tank, and mounted lots of bulbos and plants of the Araceae family. But its a little too big and I can't really keep the humidity high enough.

[Connie Star]

Tindo, are those aquariums set on their sides? How do you aerate them?

[Tindomul]

Yes, i stood them up on their narrow sides, and I aerate by the use of a computer fan. I set aside some space in the front and make it a screen opening so they are not completely sealed in.

[Keltera]

How do you set up the computer fans? I've seen you mention them sevral times. Are they easy to set up?

[Tindomul]

Well I simply bought the ones that are made for the aquarium hobby. More expensive but the wires are all done for you already. Then I just siliconed them into place around the screen opening.

[Keltera]

Oh good, i am heading to a aqarium place right now, maybe they will have some!! *crosses fingers*


i got everything... but a fan! ugh! now i have to hunt for a fan! anyone know where i can buy one online for a good price?

Edit: found a good priced one on ebay :3

[Keltera]

Here is a list of plants ive put together that i can choose from after looking through my available sellers
* = ones i really like

Edit : Definitly going to Clouds as his prices are much more aggreable, though i might just buy the Epidendrum porpax from paramount because ive been wanting that for awhile

Paramount orchids

Angraecum didieri * 28$
Epidendrum porpax * 30$
Plectochilus Gem 26$(Sarcochilus Pinkhart x Plectorrhiza tridentata )
Sophronitis coccinea 24$
Bulbophyllum Louis Sander 28$
Comparettia Oberhausen 26$
Promenaear 26$
Rhinochilus Orange Stars 26$
Sarcochilus Heidi* 28$

Clouds orchids
Bulb. lasiochilum 20$
Angcm. didieri 20$
Bulb. longiflorum 25$
Octomeria gracilis 10 $(not sure how big this one gets)
Phal. lobbii* 20$
Den. aberrans 15$
Phal. mannii (dark form) 25$
Paph. Wossner Goldsuk
Epi. pseudepidendrum x floribundum* 15$
Epi. Mabel Kanda 'Green Leaf' * 10$
Enc. xipheres x Epi. dickinsonianum 15$

Now the question is, do these plants grow well together in the same conditions?

[Keltera]

After debateing on what to get! i think ive gotten my pick!
Enc. xipheres x Epi. dickinsonianum
Epi. pseudepidendrum x floribundum
Epi. Mabel Kanda 'Green Leaf'
Bulb. lasiochilum
Angcm. didieri
Phal. lobbii

And Possibly
Epidendrum porpax if i can find it cheaper then 30$

[Tindomul]

Good choice with Phal lobbii, I have two that have been doing rather well in my terrariums.