New orchids in the cabinet!

[Xara]

Today I planted the plants below in my cultivation cabinet (an old aquarium). I really hope they'll get along with the others and enjoy their new habitat, but ALL of them are new kinds of orchids for me, haven't tried anyone of these before :-o! Living on the edge :-D! (Anyone with any good ideas or warnings?! ;-)

Bulbophyllum dickasonii
Cirrhopetalum bicolor
Haraella retrocalla
Leptotes pohlitinocoi
Oncidium cheirophorum
Ornythocephalus grandiflor
Sigmatostalix radicans

[Phimax]

Cannot advice u on these but good luck!!!
Wait for pictures of your growing cabinet

Jan

[78Terp]

I would really love to see pictures of this. My 50 gallon aquarium is screaming "make me into a growing cabinet". And I might just listen. But that is down the road a bit.

But I'd like to see more of others designs before I jump in. I want to have a good plan in hand before I proceed with such a project.

Thanks!!!

[Xara]

A couple of pictures from today: reeeally difficult to take photos though with the tablet down in the cabinet...!

[78Terp]

So the orchids are still in their own pots and just 'buried' in the moss?

[Xara]

Some are in pots but most are mounted on tree pieces or just buried in compost. This is my first cabinet so I'm a total beginner, just experimenting! I have not put so much thought into it to be honest, but I've only had two fatalities so far :-). (Mini-phal species both times.) The whole thing is very decorative in the livingroom, so I'm very satisfied so far!

[78Terp]

See that is why I am asking questions! ;o)

That may be the ticket for me in having mounted orchids. The environment is too dry for them here if not in a humidity controlled environment. Grow class yesterday indicated they need to be 'watered' like 2 times a day here if left to the open air. They sell them mounted at our orchid nursery here and they are appealing to me.

I have a 10 gallon fish tank that has no fish in it. I had a crypt plant in my 1980 fish tank and the 10 gallon tank has hosted its offspring for many years. In fact, that is the only reason that tank still is in operation today. But those plants have been ravaged by time now and are almost gone. So I may be experimenting with that soon myself.

Thanks for the ideas!

[Xara]

I'm misting myself sore at the moment, which is why I'm presently installing an automatic rain system... Not up and running just yet due to leakage, but getting there!

[78Terp]

Can't you cover to top with glass or a sheet of plastic and leave small openings for fresh air with a small fan to circulate the air to make it more humid?

I'll have the fish tank lid with light fixture (just need to replace the fluorescent lamp to a T5 or higher if possible) that has only the cutouts for the filter and heater open on top to use as a base for enclosing in the humidity. maybe make a little 'pond' for water to sit in to help keep the humidity up. That might be especially helpful since I want to do hanging in it.

This has now moved way up on my to do list.

[Xara]

Oh I have glass cover, aquarium lights and two good fans, maybe too good ;-):-D! Fans are important: the plants want moving air and since I have a couple of centimeters of water in the bottom of the cabinet I don't want any mould or something like that. I'm hoping the automatic misting/rain system will be able to keep the humidity up...