Brassavola in the vivarium

[andy83]

Wow, thanks for the info on doing that. I am fairly satisfied with the way mine is at the moment. I'm going to get a nice fan.....I may just try to build or find one that will end up being an external unit that recirculates the air in the tank.

[andy83]

After flipping the fan around to where it now sucks the humidity at the root mass is 66% and the temp is 82 during the day. During the night, the humidity is around 85% and the temp drops to around 73.

I'll add pictures in the coming weeks to show how it's doing with the new uncovered roots.

[Ross]

Presuming you have a 12 volt fan (forgot to check earlier posts) you can slow it down a bit by adding a filter layer taped to fan. Try a thin layer of open foam (1/8" or so or a small chunk of gauze curtain like they use in windows) to the tank-side of the fan. That will reduce the air pull a bit. Should increase humidity as well. Differences you see are due to "relative humidity" - warm air (day time) holds more moisture than cool air (night time). Mine does same thing.

[andy83]

I am using a 12volt for now and there are two slots with fly screen over where the fan sits. I'll post pictures of that later. I need to make a different fan though because this one is only temporary.

The humidity is up to 80% right now. There was a little more of a gap between the fan and the tank. The fan pulls a good amount of air out of the tank but the waterfall does a pretty good job at keep the humidity up.

[Ross]

80% is great! I think you are on to it!

[andy83]

[andy83]

Quick question....

Does anybody know how to train their roots growth. I'm good for now but this thing it really sending them out there. Nothing to complain about. I was just wondering if anybody did that.

[Tindomul]

I've never done it. Frankly for me, the more wild roots there are in a vivarium, the more natural the vivarium looks However, usually, if the background in a good place for roots, then the plant will grow them there rather than anywhere else. So perhaps your background is not satisfying your plant's needs. Just a possibility. Could it be too dry, too wet?

[andy83]

Oh well as far as that goes these are the three new roots that started and they pretty much just went straight. I don't mind the look really. Just as long as they don't bunch up and restrict light.

There is a root or two that aren't new but green tipped and seem to be anchoring into the tree fern panel.

We'll see what happens in another couple of months. I just ordered a coralife aqualife 192 watt 6700k fixture. That should kick things up a notch.

[andy83]

Well,

I started a new thread in Cattleya Alliance. I'm pretty sure those are three new leaves and not three new root shoots. That is a good sign.

I didn't expect that under three 26watt spiral cf's. I'm really hoping to get this orchid to bloom and so far it's adjusting well. It gets good ventilation and hopefully will have enough light.

Wish me luck.