Some photos of my terrarium - Orchid Board

Mikefromearth · #1 10-11-2011, 12:09 AM

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to share some pictures of my terrarium after a few new additions.

Here's a top-down shot of the central stump with various orchids mounted to it:

Vanilla planifolia:

Pleurothallis grobyi

Pleurothallis prolifera

5-bud Haraella odorata

Leafmite · #2 10-11-2011, 12:23 AM

That looks really cool! I love your design/layout.
Leafmite

camille1585 · #3 10-11-2011, 03:37 AM

You terrarium looks outstanding! I love the ones that recreate a piece of jungle like you did in yours.

Jayfar · #4 10-11-2011, 10:22 AM

Beautiful! With leaves like those, who needs flowers?

ezil · #5 10-11-2011, 12:55 PM

I love it! What, if any, lighting do you provide? Will the vanilla eventually take over, or will you be cutting it back? I love the idea of the drift wood, but after having battled an outbreak of sow(pill)bugs, I've cleaned everything out, and am starting anew with mopani wood. (the wood I had initially had been dried out thoroughly after having been soaked in bleach), and left in the sun the whole summer. Any ideas you have to share are more than welcome. Thanks

Mikefromearth · #6 10-11-2011, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezil

I love it! What, if any, lighting do you provide? Will the vanilla eventually take over, or will you be cutting it back? I love the idea of the drift wood, but after having battled an outbreak of sow(pill)bugs, I've cleaned everything out, and am starting anew with mopani wood. (the wood I had initially had been dried out thoroughly after having been soaked in bleach), and left in the sun the whole summer. Any ideas you have to share are more than welcome. Thanks

Thanks!

Right now I am using a 2 bulb 36w t5ho 6500k light, but hopefully soon I will be upgrading to a 4 bulb fixture.

I will be cutting back the vanilla and using the cuttings to grow more in my house.

Funny you should mention pill bugs (isopods). I have my tank seeded with 3 species! Pill bugs are actually used in many tanks because they eat mold and if they have enough to eat, they will leave your plants alone completely. I suppose it depends what species have infested your tank. Mine boomed at first, but died off largely and have now reached an equilibrium in the tank. I have dwarf greys, dwarf whites and spanish giant orange isopods in my tank. I also have 2 species of springtails in my tank, which also help clean things up and have no negative effect.

I bought my driftwood stump from thedriftwoodstore.com. It's some kind of SUPER dense wood. It weighs a lot!

ezil · #7 10-11-2011, 10:16 PM

Thanks for the info. I live in an apartment and don't like any bugs! I have had spring tails once, and it drove me nuts. I only have plants in my terrariums. There would be no chance of using any chemicals, even for scale or mealy bugs, so vigilance is key.

Mikefromearth · #8 10-11-2011, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezil

Thanks for the info. I live in an apartment and don't like any bugs! I have had spring tails once, and it drove me nuts. I only have plants in my terrariums. There would be no chance of using any chemicals, even for scale or mealy bugs, so vigilance is key.

Yeah, a lot of people get squeamish when I try to show them my bug collection ;-)

I just try to think about it this way: these plants that we love so much came from a natural ecosystem, like us. The best way to keep them happy is to replicate this ecosystem as closely as possibly to nature, and in nature, there are bugs! Realistically, my terrarium is built in such a way that no bug could ever escape into my house, and would die soon after anyway, so I don't have a problem with it. That said, I do understand your sentiments.