The bottom surface area is pretty much filled... I'l have to rig up a shelf :-)

What a beautiful piece!

I would reserve that for plants that are nearly impossible without the constant humidity (orchid cacti don't need to be in there, and as epiphytes, they might resent the lack of airflow). I am thinking mosses and ferns and carnivorous plants, maybe too, Episcias, and Fittonias.

Thanks woodnative, I bought it about 30/35 years ago from an antique shop. Every now and then I haul it out for plants that could use some extra humidity for whatever reason.

Phoenix, it works well for the Schlumbergera cuttings until their roots are established. The H. ilagiorum and some variegated string of hearts are in there for the same reason. More of a temporary thing. I think H. imbricata likes a lot of humidity, so that may be in there for the long haul. If it gets too humid, I can always cock the glass lid open a bit.

I'm sure that it would be good for mosses, ferns, and carnivorous plants, but I'm not all that interested in growing those. At least, not at the moment :-)

So cool! I wish I had room for such a thing! I am relegated to small cloches and glass cookie jars.

That is a beautiful case and deserves some impressive occupants. I see it full of ferns, variegated aspidistras and/or colourful Rex begonias. Maybe those carnivores Phoenix mentioned. It deserves something more impactful than little pots imo. Please, no ‘rigged up‘ shelf. That would be an insult to a lovely thing.

Floral, it is beautiful, but I also see it as utilitarian (which I believe it probably was originally intended for) and will use it as such. If I need to put more ailing or newly rooted plants in it, I see nothing wrong in rigging up a temporary shelf. I would, of course, not damage the case in any way in doing so.

The plants you mentioned are lovely, but not what I'm growing presently. Right now, I really don't care how impactful it is visually, so little pots are what's in it :-)

Nice box! Is it totally sealed? It looks like the top opens. And right above the lights, you can put a wire shelf and use that heat for plants that need them. That will require a second bank of lights above it and that means more heat..hm...that could be good! Or just open the top and install a 200-mm case fan to move the air around. I really love the look.

I disassembled a fish tank full of dead episcias last winter. Neglect makes plants eventually send out roots to use up the condensed moisture on the sides of the glass and cleaning that up got irritating.

Anyway, right now, I have a pot of nepenthes rehabilitating in it. I even allowed it to develop some fruit fly population (lol) before sealing it in.

Pagan, it completely closes. the top glass lid does lift up, and the front panel comes off.

top lid...

front panel off...

I did put a heating mat in it, but had to run the cords up through the top lid (certainly didn't want to drill any holes) so right now the led isn't completely sealed. Does't look beautiful, but gets the job done. The bottom of the interior is metal lined.

I also put a hygrometer inside so I can monitor the temp and humiditly. Fortunately, the spot I have it in gets plenty of light, so I don't need to jury rig lights. I was thinking of putting a small battery run fan inside for air circulation.

The bottom is metal-lined? Hm. It was probably meant to hold soil? That could mean there is a drainage hole somewhere. If there isn't, you can cut a 2x4 to the appropriate height to support drilling a 1.5-inch hole from above; somewhere close to one of the corners so the cables can be neatly mounted there. That is the size I drill into things where I need to put a plug through. So instead of coming from the top, the cables would be dropping through the hole in the bottom. It would be out of sight and easy to seal later if you decide to do so. Then get a bunch of cable guides that stick on because masking tape leaves an ungodly mess and the screw-on type will leave screw holes.

That wardian case totally triggered my inner tinkerer. It is a beautiful thing.

Nope, no drainage holes. Since it is an antique, I really don't want to drill any holes in it, so I guess I'll live with the cords coming out at one corner of the top. Stick on cable guides are a great idea, off to Amazon I go :-)

sld

Totally off the subject...I don't have any and do not know anything about hoyas. Wondering if you can tell me if this H.p. pink splash is worth $25 (CD, so maybe about $20 US...sorry, no size given just a pic).

TIA...

Hi Rina, google tells me that $25 canadian is about $19 U.S. There are some cuttings listed on Ebay, some for $25 U.S. dollars and some for $17, so $25 Canadian sounds reasonable to me for an established plant.

sld

Thank you so much! I have to get educated on hoyas yet :) Not sure if I should start collecting them, so many beautiful plants...so little time and space!

Oh, I just realized typed the cuttings price a bit wrong above, ebay listings for $15 and $17 (not $25 and $17) oops.

Prices for some Hoyas have really gone through the roof this year. Some have been going for obscene amounts on Ebay.

$20 is a decent price for that hoya. It looks good and has new growth. I believe that one is pink silver based on that pink splash on the leaves. I had one of those and it perished. But mine was significantly smaller and I paid a bit more for it.