Amica Silvae: Friendly Forest

[Sunar357]

No real interest in plants at all...darts are pretty cool though.

[hypostatic]

Yes, but what about a half vivarium, half aquarium, with waterfall, and some fish?

Merry Christmas!

 

ah, what you are describing would be called a paludarium. This is one of my favorites:

 

http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/parts-construction/83431-island-paludarium-360-z-185-gal-40-x-40-x-28-a.html

 

this is a great page for inspiration:

http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2013/index2.html

[1.0reef]

Oh yes, I've made my own before

[hypostatic]

Oh, and I referenced that paludarium in particular cuz I believe the water portion is saltwater. Most of the ones you see are freshwater

[1.0reef]

Yes, quite a few brackish ones too, popular with archerfish and mudskippers.

[Tochtli]

One up them all and do a mangrove/coral lagoon plaudarium.

[1.0reef]

Uhhh no

[1.0reef]

Next time i see some nice ones I'm going to get one more orchid, what color do you guys think I should get?

[hypostatic]

For orchids I'd highly recommend Andy's Orchids. With their Power Search feature you can look for orchids that grow in whatever conditions you want. Also they seem to be having a 20% off sale on most items currently.

 

andysorchids.com

[1.0reef]

I know them, but I can get big orchids from Trader Joes for $9 no shipping lol

[Cameron6796]

How the heck do you keep Orchids alive? My parents buy 'em but they don't last no more than 4-5 months.

When they lose their flowers they are in a "sleep" mode some you are supposed to cut the stem down to the leaves and wait for months and the blossom again. Unless your parents do overwater that will kill them, you should take your finger and poke the soil in 1/2" and see if its cool and damp, if yes don't water.

 

And since you have pink and white orchids get a yellow or green.

 

What do you use to keep your humidity up

[1.0reef]

Mmmm good call

I don't, this species isn't a tropical species better suited for something like a dart frog viv

[1.0reef]

New pics with Iphone 5C, MUCH nicer pics, I'm getting a lens kit for this on Jan. 4th

Sorry for any reflections

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0001_zps05d60c4e.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0069_zps999e092a.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0068_zpsf4a66206.jpg.html'>

Newest plant

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0067_zps25cbe4cf.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0066_zpsa8f3edd7.jpg.html'>

Orchids peeking out

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0065_zps007c3c12.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0064_zps6758efaf.jpg.html'>

Foliage

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0062_zps61c81fcf.jpg.html'>

More in the morn!

[Red_Blenny]

When they lose their flowers they are in a "sleep" mode some you are supposed to cut the stem down to the leaves and wait for months and the blossom again. Unless your parents do overwater that will kill them, you should take your finger and poke the soil in 1/2" and see if its cool and damp, if yes don't water.

 

Interesting. I did not know you're supposed to cut the stem down to the leaves. And yea, my parents overwater the crap out of 'em Our garden is fine but any plants in pots tend to be 'effy.

 

I'll try orchids when I have my own place. GF loves 'em.

[hypostatic]

Actually it all depends on the species of orchid. They are the largest group of flowing plants, with tens of thousands of different species!

 

Phals will actually rebloom on old spikes if you leave them and they are getting proper food and etc. And, depending on the phal, the blooms can actually last for MONTHS

[Kauai]

I have a empty 10 gallon tank with tons of left over soil and wood from my old freshwater tanks.... How do I go about setting something like this up man? any tips.

[1.0reef]

I have a empty 10 gallon tank with tons of left over soil and wood from my old freshwater tanks.... How do I go about setting something like this up man? any tips.

I just placed my moss on the soil, and stuck the orchids in their pots and plopped them in....

[Kauai]

I'll give it a try. thanx for the inspiration bud.

[Cameron6796]

Actually it all depends on the species of orchid. They are the largest group of flowing plants, with tens of thousands of different species!

 

Phals will actually rebloom on old spikes if you leave them and they are getting proper food and etc. And, depending on the phal, the blooms can actually last for MONTHS

 

This is a good point since the phalaenopsis are so diverse, I was mostly implying that common moth orchids can be cut to encourage new growth once they go dormant. You are right about them blooming for months to and if you cut the flowers of once they die it will encourage multiple reblooms.

[hypostatic]

Eh, I don't know if it encourages new growth or not. But some do it, some do not. Here's an AOS page on the subject:

 

http://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=76

 

And here's a phal I have that is reblooming on an old spike. I only really cut the spike if it's dead and brown. Otherwise I leave it in case it decides to rebloom.

 

 

Here's a closeup, showing the part of the spike that's dead and brown, and the node that the new blooms are coming out of:

 

[Cameron6796]

Eh, I don't know if it encourages new growth or not. But some do it, some do not. Here's an AOS page on the subject:

 

http://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=76

 

And here's a phal I have that is reblooming on an old spike. I only really cut the spike if it's dead and brown. Otherwise I leave it in case it decides to rebloom.

 

 

Here's a closeup, showing the part of the spike that's dead and brown, and the node that the new blooms are coming out of:

 

 

 

That is what I was trying to say I just forgot what the node was called, here's a pic showing what I meant by cut under where flowers were and it will encourage a reblooms, even that link you gave me said it.

[1.0reef]

Neato

Here's some pics

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0061_zps6716900d.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0060_zpsecedf6fb.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0059_zpsa4bc1c9f.jpg.html'>

I did some different editing on this one, once this phone focuses it takes sweet pics!

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0058_zpsa7546908.jpg.html'>

This pic kicks ass

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0057_zpsddcdbac9.jpg.html'>

A lot of the brown moss was overlit and got stressed, hopefully low light will help.....

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0056_zpsff581d71.jpg.html'>

Kittehs and Puppehs!

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0051_zpsd3dd9d1e.jpg.html'>

Better focus on Belle

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0050_zps53f39bad.jpg.html'>

[Giga]

do you know what would really set this off-is to get rid of the large orchid(sorry ) and replace with a cool ghostwood branch and put some hardy micro orchids on it

[1.0reef]

Which orchid?

And no, I don't want to pay for them, plus I'm looking for a jungle look, so bigger.

[1.0reef]

Our old dog Josie, adopted before I was born!

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0048_zpscbbbafb9.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0047_zps4d9585d3.jpg.html'>

Our younger puppy Moose!

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0046_zps67179731.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0045_zpsecbc4857.jpg.html'>

Our kitteh Coco! I was walking when taking the pics soooo they suck lol

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0044_zpse88160f4.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0043_zps68d21691.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0042_zps1c3a843a.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0041_zps1f2071e4.jpg.html'>

FTS

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0019_zps546090e6.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0018_zps023852ef.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0017_zpsc7747b20.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0015_zpsb723289c.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0014_zpsf3d2b36c.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0012_zpscbfa5eb4.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0011_zps23151732.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0009_zps617eafe0.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0008_zpsc7d6795f.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0006_zpsf469756e.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0004_zps10e796d6.jpg.html'>

http://s1088.photobucket.com/user/a-zbudiereef/media/IMG_0002_zps6334ae3c.jpg.html'>