Just Completed Orchidarium, New Member

[gmdiaz]

Hello,

I am new to the Orchid Board but thought I would say hello and post my just completed orchidarium:

Twenty gallon aquarium
Exo-terra hood with one compact florescent daylight bulb
Coralife cooling fan (just came in the mail today)
Custom built rustic pine surround.
Aspen tree trunks

[justatypn]

Aboard gmdiaz...I am going to be moving your thread to the Introductions "Break the Ice"...the OB is happy your here...what a great looking orchidarium...

[gmdiaz]

My husband built the shelving unit out of a plastic "egg crate" panel that we got at Home Depot. You can find it in with the florescent lighting supplies. It's all glued together with water proof epoxy.

We left about an inch air space on three sides. The plan was to fill that space in with orchid potting mix/bark chips so that the shelf wouldn't be seen at all.

Inside the shelf are a whole bunch of ceramic beads used in hydroponics. They're inert, neutral ph and allow for air space AND also wick up moisture as needed by the plants. Plus they are super light weight. I DO want to be able to take this to work and put it on top of my horizontal filing cabinet.

On top of the shelving unit my husband tightly fitted a screen layer. . . when I say, tightly fitted, what I mean is that he folded and ironed the window screen material to fit over the shelving like a glove. . .ur, a tailored bed skirt. What can I say? *snicker*

On top of that will be the orchid mix and all the fun stuff.

[justatypn]

Wow, he did a wonderful job...what a great accent to any office

[gmdiaz]

Stage Two Through Four:

OK, I was having too much fun to take pics.




We built the tray that the aquarium will sit in and and the frame for the light fixture out of a big batch of free rustic pine boards we picked up from a neighbor last weekend.

I'll do all the sanding and then bang them up. . .add worm holes etc. then apply two coats of polyurethane.

Let's see. . .last week when we had a big snow storm and got to stay home, we went out in the snow with a chainsaw and cut down a couple of burnt aspen trees (we had a big wildfire a couple of years back) across the street to add to my terrarium decor. I've added my plants which are almost all miniature orchids. And I've put in the dry creek bed. . .two colors of rocks, black and combo browns.

But still working on it. . .

[Tindomul]

WoW!! Nice. How what sort of substrate are you using? I grow my Masdies mounted inside the viv because they don't need the extra humidity.
Welcome to the Orchid Board. Lots of us love terrariums/orchidariums and you fit right in

[gmdiaz]

A couple of other views:







Note up near the rim, my new digital thermometer and hygrometer. We're now at about 70 degrees during the day, and around 61 at night. Humidity has been balancing out around 83%. . .just so you know. Not sure what effect the fan will have but I am hoping I'll be able to get the tank cooled down.

[gmdiaz]

Hello, all! And thank you for the kind words of welcome!

I am using an orchid mix substrate with lots of bark chips. . .and a little bag of earthworm castings mixed in.

[Tindomul]

Fantastic. Im worried about the orchid mix. I wonder if it will be too wet/humid in that environment. Unless you don't keep the top on. Whats the ambient humditiy in the tank?

[gmdiaz]

The Masdevallia (CELTIC FROST) really should be mounted. But this is a test. . .of my shelving and substrate materials. lol

If they, I have two types (the other is a Rex x MASD. Gutullata), start looking poorly, I'll dig them up and carefully reposition them on the aspens. . .string and spagnum?