Orchidarium- Split Design Build

[Smotzer]

Soo amazing looking!

I apologize if you've already stated it, but how do you adhere the wood to the wall? Silicone? Also, to do the dirt background, is it Silicone and dirt?

Well in the case of the split trunk in the water feature that’s adhered to the glass w/ just silicone. But the rest of the branches are all stuck on using expanding foam, and then the peat onto that with silicone!

and thanks!!

 

[Wolfram1]

How does this thread not have any pictures of your miniature orchids yet . I wanna see what you plan to add.

 

[Smotzer]

How does this thread not have any pictures of your miniature orchids yet . I wanna see what you plan to add.

Ahhhh I know mainly because they’re 1500mi away where my friend is taking care of them until I’m ready for them to be shipped but that should be within a month! I’m so excited!! Stay tuned!!

 

[Smotzer]

@Wolfram1

 

[Wolfram1]

@Wolfram1 View attachment 455255

awesome

 

[Wolfram1]

have you thought about how you will provide each individual orchid with the care they need?

in any case, not sure if you are a fan of noodle salad, but if you are i reccomend getting Microcoelia cornuta

very hardy plant, it survived me for half a year already

 

[Smotzer]

have you thought about how you will provide each individual orchid with the care they need?

in any case, not sure if you are a fan of noodle salad, but if you are i reccomend getting Microcoelia cornuta
View attachment 455340
very hardy plant, it survived me for half a year already

Well most of what I have planned for the viv have fairly similiar tolerances but where I will put them and how I am about to do the ventilation restriction will allow me to place them in certain spots that I’ve planned out for those that need a bit drier or wetter. And there’s two vivs side by side that I’ll probably adjust to suit the needs better for certain species going in one or the other. I think I’ve got it all pretty planned out but I’m sure they’ll be some fine tuning.
And wonderful plant I love all the leafless noodle salads! My few Chiloschista are like that!

And I was also have these two orchids I was gifted this week Dendrobium lindleyi and another Ludisia discolor

 

[The Snark]

Orchids. Ultimate rugged survivalists.

 

[Smotzer]

They are quite the unique and enjoyable lot!!

 

[Smotzer]

Finally got around to siliconing the glass in place to mod the lids to keep the humidity in!


And also finally siliconing and covering the background with peat on the second vivarium!!
finally I will be able to plant both this month!

so close to being done !! Stay tuned!!

Edit: See above I also Tried experimenting with some cave/holes that I carved along the background for burrow options for the crabs. Really hoping they find them suitable!

 

[Smotzer]

One step closer! Backgrounds Done! (Other than tweaking)

Split-Design Paludarium Background Done!

• Smotzer
• Sep 14, 2023
• 3
• diy orchidarium paludarium viv's vivarium

Finally after waaaay longer than intended I have the backgrounds on both vivarium in this build!!

 

[SpookySpooder]

Wow! Great thread!

I have to pick your brain sometime. I've got a green thumb but Orchids are one thing I can never seem to get thriving for long. Once they flower once or twice mine always tend to curl up and drop leaves and die off no matter what I do.

 

[Smotzer]

Wow! Great thread!

I have to pick your brain sometime. I've got a green thumb but Orchids are one thing I can never seem to get thriving for long. Once they flower once or twice mine always tend to curl up and drop leaves and die off no matter what I do.

Thanks!! And sure thing! Some species require cool and/or dry periods for specific durations to flower and survive long term. Could be it but can’t say for sure in your specific case.

 

[SpookySpooder]

It's spot on I think. In my case it's a problem of "too many cooks in the garden" I keep finding random things done to my plants that I didn't request or approve. Stuff like excess waterings, unsolicited pruning on shoots I was planning to propagate, containers moved to new spots or rotated. It's like there's a poltergeist in my garden trolling my efforts.

My entire family are great fruit/vegetable gardeners but they're terrible container growers, and can't keep a plant alive indoors.

I do aquatic plants, carnivorous plants and hydroponic horticulture, (just breaking into organic vegetable greenhouse gardening) but I am at a loss when it comes to orchid knowledge. (I apply what I've read from Google and still fail) I've always been interested in them but the price point and endless failures have put me off into diving in as deep as I have with other plant types.

Here's an example of how poorly we do with orchids. Go ahead and laugh.

I repotted this one I just swiped from my aunt yesterday that's dying bad, and turns out it's been getting drowned.


That dry period is pretty important eh?

Take a look at how mine are failing.


The left one died back on me, but then sprouted again. Not sure what these even are as my neighbor gave them to me off her dying plant.


Here's one I've had for years, I got it to flower twice and now its curling up on me, roots aren't looking too hot either.


This one I'm having the most luck with so far, it's not as old as the other ones and somehow I've managed to get it growing a baby plant at the end of the spike.

No worries of you can't diagnose the plethora or issues going on with these orchids. Like I said, we are terrible at this. My other plants are much healthier, I swear.

Apologies for derailing your thread!

 

[Smotzer]

So those genus I actually think are kinda a pain in general (my least favorite) lol because they don’t really ever like being completely dry, only moist to just-damp, which in a home setting can be difficult through the entire year as it fluctuates how often they need to be watered and I find they need to be repoted like 1x per year. Also all those dead roots can just be cut off.

 

[SpookySpooder]

What are some of your favorite orchid genus/species to work with?

 

[Smotzer]

Today I am starting to test "plant" the bromeliad of the small/mini Neoregelia spp. I’ve decided to use!! Not sure what the final planting of them will be but I am liking what I am seeing thus far. And how they may fit around with where some of the orchids are pre-planned to go!



Exciting stuff as soon as it gets time to begin planting everything!!

 

[Smotzer]

Managed to start to get the pond back up and running!! No big problems which was great!! Now I’m going to let it run for a month or so and do water changes regularly to make sure everything is nice and clean and no problems long term! And I gotta say the dripping noise is wonderful so far!! Very calming!

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Managed to start to get the pond back up and running!! No big problems which was great!! Now I’m going to let it run for a month or so and do water changes regularly to make sure everything is nice and clean and no problems long term! And I gotta say the dripping noise is wonderful so far!! Very calming! View attachment 456453

Awsome builds what water living animals are you going to be housing ?!
Or it this a plant only build?

 

[Smotzer]

Awsome builds what water living animals are you going to be housing ?!
Or it this a plant only build?

They will house some more Geosesarma groups! And I have a few plants that I’ve been growing to see if they will interact with in particular.