Small test cabinet

[Magnus A]

I have for a long time wanted to build a cooled growing cabinet with very low demand on maintenance. This thread show my initial tests of a new growing media, Hygrolon, and a LED panel to evaluate their performance.

But lets start to look at the build.

The aquarium and some Epiweb panels. The aquarium used is small 30*30*60 cm.


First layout test and fitting of the panels.


All panels coverd with hygrolon.


Final layout, time for planting!

[Magnus A]

As you see in the pots I have mounted strings of Hygrolon to produce a self watering system. The Hygrolon will transport water all the way from the reservoir below the false bottom.

The cabinet with some plants.


To evaluate the light and the Hygrolon I planted some moss on the panels. I just took some moss and mixed it with water in a kitchen blender and watered the panels with the mixture. Below you see two pictures just after the panels was watered with the moss water.

[Magnus A]

After about 10 weeks



I only filled the water reservoir every second to third week. I have not watered any of the orchids in thie cabinet, the only water the plants got is from the hygrolon transporting the water up from the reservoir under the false bottom. (except one plant that had very few and short roots that got water until the roots firmly dug into the hygrolon)

For mossgrowth over 10 weeks under the LED light you can compare the pictures below with those in previous post above.

[WhiteRabbit]

very cool!

[sailortom2]

keep us posted

[fishmommy]

Nice!

[NatalieS]

Fantastic! Absolutely love this idea.

[Bud]

A well thought of set up....I will think of this when I decide to go ahead and work with my old aquarium

[DelawareJim]

Nice Magnus. Have you been using the Hygrolon long? How do you like working with it?

Cheers.
Jim

[Magnus A]

Originally Posted by DelawareJim

Nice Magnus. Have you been using the Hygrolon long? How do you like working with it?

Cheers.
Jim

Jim, I have tested Hygrolon since May, though not in this setup. I have mostly used the uncut version, the cloth. You need a sharp pair of scissors or rolling knife to cut it.
I mainly glue it to Epiweb and I have cut it up in pieces and planted orchids in pots. I have also used pieces of Hygrolon mixed with bark as pure substitute for spagnum moss.

The cloth is some what "rigid" but a little elastic in one direction. The Hygrolon structure do not collapse on its own wet weight when used in normal sized pots (have not tested super large pots but I do feal that it is no problem there either).

/Magnus