My DIY wardian case

[Orchidflowerchild]

One of the benefits of the family business being construction is that any time I have an idea for a DIY project, it's pretty easy to get materials. Hence, my wardian case for cool growing orchids:

Closed up, with lights on:



Open, lights off:



Top shelf:



Bottom half:



All of those pics are from right after I built it, in summer. Having run the case through the hottest of our months, I know I can keep it cool enough for the Masdevallias and Draculas I love. Hence, the wardian case, today:



Cheers!

-Cj

[Graehstone]

Ok, disregard my reply in your greenhouse post, lol It's already too late ... you are doomed, doomed I say, lol.
I like that set up too ... getting too many ideas here argh!

Thanks for sharing those.

[Ross]

What are you using for lights? Just curious. Nice setup.

[Orchidflowerchild]

Originally Posted by Ross

What are you using for lights? Just curious. Nice setup.

Six 4', 2 tube shop lights with a mix or warm and cool white 40watt (or maybe 32watt) flourescent tubes.

-Cj

[minicatt]

What is your method of cooling? How warm does it get in there?
Thanks,
Peter

[Orchidflowerchild]

Originally Posted by minicatt

What is your method of cooling? How warm does it get in there?
Thanks,
Peter

It rarely gets up to 80, and then only on days when it is too mild for the A/C to kick on, but warm enough for the house to warm up. I keep my A/C set pretty low (I make up the green points by not heating my home overly much in winter), and my bathroom is small and close to the central unit, so it regulaly runs much cooler than the rest of the house. My usual range is 58-60F for a nightly low and between 70 and 74 for a high. That is the temperature range as recorded in the case by my hi-lo thermometer. Probably a few degrees warmer, when the lights are on, than the rest of the room.

My reason for growing dracs and masds is that I pretty much am comfortable in the same conditions as they are.

-Cj

[Undergrounder]

That's not a Wardian case that's a Tardis!!

[Grandma M]

How have you enclosed the front? Can we see a full shot pic of the whole case completed?

[Orchidflowerchild]

Undergrounder: A tardis?

Grandma M: All of the pics are post-construction and fully operational. The first shot is with the front closed and all the lights and fans and humidifier going. The cosure is a vertical flap of poly sheeting (like the rest of the covering of the case) that has a length of PVC at the bottom held tight closed with hooks on the bottom pipe and little hooks on the side to hold the flap tight and keep in humidity, etc. It's a cheapie case, but it works. I also have plans in my head for a nice, stained wooden case with rigid policarb panels and all sorts of fancy doodads, but as it tuns out, free PVC, construction fencing, expanded aluminium, and a roll of 4mil plastic is much cheaper than wood, polycarb panels, stain, varnish, etc.

As a college student, I'm kindof okay with the beer budget things. Lets me spend more on the things that go *in* the case. LOL

-Cj

[Undergrounder]

Originally Posted by Orchidflowerchild

Undergrounder: A tardis?

CJ you need to get more in touch with your inner geek... or maybe they don't show Doctor Who in the States?