[Xardas Damon]

I've decided to give my 2.1 Auratus group an upgrade from their 18x18x24 ExoTerra to a 36x18x24. This was my first terrarium and it came with some flaws that I would like to get rid off. Last time I did a foam background and there are some big airbubbles which allow the frogs to get into the background.
This time I went with a hardscape of mopani wood and a background of cork mosaic that I will fill with sphaghnum moss to give a nice growing surface for plants.
I've (mostly) finished the backdrop, just need to carve the foam on the left side and will likely put in the moss today or tomorrow (not sure yet if I wanna use silicone to attach it or if I will just wedge it in.

 

[Xardas Damon]

I like it, but I wonder if this thin pressed cork paneling material has enough thickness and texture to hold the sphagnum in place the way that a cracked cork bark mosaic does? I am definitely interested in following this build

Thats why I am considering gluing the moss to the Wall. Alternatively I have also still enough cork to add a second layer and deepen the cracks.

 

[Xardas Damon]

I finished the first Wall, which has the widest crack and the moist sphagnum moss sticks in the cracks without any adhesive.

 

[Xardas Damon]

Backdrops is done, next steps: moving it into the shelf and then ABG and plants...

 

[Xardas Damon]

...and here I thought I was going to be unique doing a broken compressed cork theme.

If you wet the cork & take a little screw driver then carve up that cork. It will give it a really cool texture look. Not that it's bad now or anything.

Chickened out on the gravel I see?😂

Not as if I didn't steal the idea of using dark cork.
But I gotta say I really like the way it Looks. Better than silicon and coco fiber and way less work. I was considering if I want to cover up the foam, but ultimately decided leaving it black helps blending it in.
I am quite interested in seeing your take on it. I think I won't carve it because I hope to cover it with cissus discolor over the next few months. Still have to see how the lighting will be though.

Yeah I chickened out on the gravel, because I was to uncertain if the plants I plan to use will like it. Maybe next time. After all I will have an empty 18x18x24 now (and a 36x18x24 that was too cheap to Pass).

 

[Xardas Damon]

Plants are in! I still need more leaflitter, but I ran out. Probably will wait a bit to give the selaginella a fighting chance. I might still add more epiphytes (maybe some orchids) to the right side and am considering another 1-2 vining plants, but for now I like the look.

I will Edit in a plant list later.

 

[Xardas Damon]

Amazing job!

Thank you!

 

[Xardas Damon]

I can't edit the post for some reason, so here is the plant list:

Ground coverage
Alocasia azlanii 'invisible ink'
Alocasia baginda 'dragon scale'
Hemionitis arifolia

Bromeliads
Neoreglia Mephisto
Neoreglia blushing tiger
Neoreglia battle cat
Neoreglia of unknown Species

Trailing plant
Cissus discolor
Selaginella uncinata
Selaginella sp.

 

[Xardas Damon]

Xardas, what is the thickness of the cork panels you used ?

I used panels with a thickness of 2 cm. I needed ~1,5 plates of 100cm x 50cm to cover all three sides.

 

[Xardas Damon]

Orchids are in and leaf litter arrived, just needs to be sanitized before I can put it into the tank.

 

[Xardas Damon]

Did I miss what orchid species you ordered? I think I see some Pleurothallis, some Stellis and a Bulbophyllum?

I didn't mention it yet. I honestly don't know much about orchids yet, just getting my feet wet. They should all be pleurothallis, at least I ordered a bundle of pleurothallis orchids.
I can take some closeup shots and maybe some of the more experienced orchid collectors can chime in.

 

[Xardas Damon]

Here are some closeups as promised.

 

[Xardas Damon]

Honestly, most pleurothallids look the same to me but I'm pretty sure I see P. grobyi (the one with purple on the underside of the leaf) as well as a mini bulbophyllum (the one with bulbous bases for each leaf). The rest of your orchids are all in the pleurothallid family as far as I can tell, which does include a lot of species https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleurothallidinae
I hope they all do well for you and be sure to post pictures when they flower!

I guess its really hard to say without flowers. But I think you are right with the two you identified.
I will definetly post pictures once they flower! If they take on well I might get a Masdevallia nidifica and a Dendrobium jenkinsii as Well, because I really like the darker leaves and orange flowers. I also still own a jewel orchid that I am currently growing outside of a terrarium, maybe I can take some cuttings once it is big enough.

 

[Xardas Damon]

It is time for the one month update and first experiences. I had a bit of a setback, because the big piece of driftwood fell off and destroyed some growth on the cissus, but now it is reattached and rock solid.
The red bromeliad unfortunately didn't make it. I think water collects at the bottom of the driftwood and it was just too moist, so it rotted away from the inside.
The other plants are doing great though. Not all of them have grown yet, but the other bromeliad have grown and the Neoreglia Mephisto already makes another kindl.
One of the orchids even flowered.
I have some mushroom growth, but also a very healthy population of springtails under the leaflitter. Since not all mold is gone yet I will wait some more until I introduce the frogs.

 

[Xardas Damon]

Moving day has come. So far the frogs are very active and one of the Males was calling within minutes. They are not really phased by me moving in close proximity, which surprised me a lot