What's new
TerraForums Venus Flytrap, Nepenthes, Drosera and more talk

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

CP/Orchid Case

Here is my (freshly cleaned) CP/orchid case. I used to have many mini orchids in this case as well as a larger version in the same bay window. Having a you kid (now 3) running around has limited my time. This smaller case has slowly been used more for CPs, which don't need quite the attention.

I have a small 1 gallon ultrasonic humidifier below that pipes up to the top of the case. It runs a hand full of times a day with the small CPU fan. This keeps the humidity relatively high. The nep Ampullaria sure is growing like a weed. Might try a different type later on... one that stays smaller.

I recently acquired a few young sarracenias, so they will spend the winter inside this year with the cephs and heli.


Case1.jpg


Case2.jpg


Case3.jpg
 
Very nice Edwardian Case, would love to have one like that!
 
Cool! Very classical! :)
 
What is the plant with the molted leaved hanging on the glass? Is that some kind of bulbo or pleuro?? I am very interested in it. Leaves are stunning.

Awesome ceph too. Plants are looking great.
 
Very cool! Love the case
 
Really nice gothic look awesome case to put your nice looking cephs in
 
Thanks all. It passes the "looks good enough to have out in the open" test.

That mini orchid is a pleuro crinita. I have had it for years. It makes "interesting" flowers... like little monsters. See the below link. I should be able to get a division if you are interested.

http://www.orchidspecies.com/pleurcrinita.htm

and not to get on to an orchid talk.. but since the flowers of the below are maybe* insect mimics... i though the CP group would like them non the less. They are quite amazing flowers.

http://www.orchidspecies.com/bulbcimicinum.htm

http://www.orchidspecies.com/bulbabbrevilabium.htm
 
I'd be interested in a division if you can spare any. Cool plant.
 
  • #10
This would be a division of the pleurothallis crinita. Just PM any plants you would have for trade.
 
  • #11
i agree a great looking case,just what i am thinking of getting,what is it constructed from,great looking ceph is it a giant it looks huge:0o:
 
  • #12
Thanks. The case is mainly metal. I ended up adding in the middle section (below the angle roof) to make it taller out of wood and plexi. I was able to melt a circular whole through the plexi to pipe in the humidifier fog. It has a 4 in deep plastic tray at the bottom that came with it too, so I was able to just drop in a cookie rack to keep the pots out of the spill over water.

The ceph is just a typical. The larger pitchers are just over an inch. The photo probably makes things look larger then reality.
 
  • #13
thanks for the reply, any bad effects on the wood from the water involved,i was thinking of making something similar and being a carpenter wood would be a good option for me
 
  • #14
The case is by no means as tight as a terrarium is. all the seems have air gaps. If you built something yourself, you could definitely tighten it up. The RH stays 70-90 because of the humidifier, without it, it drops to just a bit over what the RH in the house is, and gets hot. The wood portion at the top has actually held out just fine. The metal portion on the other hand has been getting some rust, nothing to do anything about, but it's there.
I was planning on making a custom one years back... but as i stated before.. don't have a lot of time these days. It would be easy* to do though. Get a base pan/container/tray and build the frame around it. Make a access door. And those glass slides that are mentioned in the other thread "grow shelf basic and upgraded" would be perfect. I do have to say that they plexi is quite the pain since you have to be careful when cleaning to not scratch it.

*based on your "building stuff" skill set

---------- Post added at 06:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:17 PM ----------

*Now you got me thinking of making a larger one again.
:spazz:

Since i had to mimic the square metal tube stock that the bottom and roof are made up, I used the same size wood stock. The below diagram shows a bird's eye view of the case. You can see the corners are just three lengths glued up, but you could certainly just cut the same "L" shape from a solid stock.
You then just add in the glass track on the bottom and sides ... leaving the top open so you can remove the glass for easy cleaning. You also need to make sure that the glass is sized correct to the bottom tray so that all drippings will fall into the tray and not outside. For mine, I actually run a piece of tape along the bottom of each pane of glass that seals the joint between the glass and track. The water then just runs off the tape into the tray.

diagram.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • #15
thanks so much for taking the time to explain in so much detail,in the new year i will definately start a similar project and i am lucky in the fact i specialise in bespoke hardwood conservatories,therefore should be able to use current suppliers for glass and such like,must start on some plans,thanks again
 
  • #16
awesome... how about... you come over and make me a conservatory.. and i will make you a "mini" conservatory!
 
  • #17
Great, now you got me all fired up to build it :). Will have to use treated lumber, but they usually warp upon drying.So, may have to pick my lumber carefully and let it dry slowly in the basement. Hopefulyl by Spring, I'lll be able to go at it.
 
  • #18
I would think that only if you are going to be having sopping wet conditions would you need treated lumber. Ripping it do to to small dimension is a pain anyway. I used poplar that i just had to rip into strips and painted. There is some sort of roofing peal/stick liner that you could add to all exposed internal wood elements.
 
  • #19
@nevermore: that pleurothallis crinita looks freaky looking. may i ask how large the leaves are? if the leaves are half an inch to 3/4 an inch, i'd like to trade with you sometime, i try to specialize in miniatures.
 
  • #20
yeah.. around 1 inch max. just pm you grow list.

---------- Post added at 08:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:05 PM ----------

pm'ed
 
Back
Top