u/msprincessmanatee

My boyfriend got me a terrarium for our anniversary as I have wanted miniature orchids for the longest time. Its an H Potter Terrarium. And i am slowly but surely adding miniature varieties. I do have a small fan installed on the back for air movement. Overall I am excited to see how these grow.

Im waiting on live moss to come in and I know that will make my set up seem more alive and have a softer appearance.

Any recommendations on miniature varieties?

Ngl he scared me as I was filling up my mini pond. What an unusual spot lol

I really contemplated tearing this entire pond down but we kept on. I wanted a solar powered bog filter and I thought it would be easy... i was wrong. 1st Pic is where I am currently am and the last Pic is where I started. I wanted to share what my mess ups were when setting up a container bog filter etc. Just wanted to share.

1. Got a round tub for a bog filter. It had leaks the seams were not water tight. I used aquarium silicone to seal it. It didnt hold it had pin hole leaks.

2. Siliconed again. Sprayed flex seal on the outside of the tub. Didn't work still leaked.

3. Used flex seal caulk on the outside seams. Finally held.

4. The pump I had was WAY TOO BIG. It moved 300 gph. More flow = cleaner water right?!? WRONG! all the water would divert out of the top of the split instead of through the tub I had as it didnt have an air tight seal. Tried different connections and wouldnt work. Scrapped the first pump. It was too much when it was on.

5. While testing my first pump I realized my inflow into the bog was more than my outflow as I had a water hose spigot that let's out a trickle... thus brought up the secondary bog filter. The first pump still overflowed my bog with two different outflows.

6. When I moved my pond I realized it wasn't level anymore drained it and leveled it with gravel. My bogs are not level... they have wabisabi. (I tell myself this as they are heavy and it won't matter once the plants fill in)

7. Finally got a new pump that moves 80 gph and it works perfectly. Set it up and tested it out today and am quite pleased.

I do have a cleanout valve at the bottom of my first bog. And I have a siphon break hole drilled at the top of my hose where it feeds into the pvc pipe in my bog so it sprays water into the pvc pipe when the pump is on.... and it doesn't drain my bog back into the pond when the pump turns off. This whole process has been a PITA but tbh this trial and error has been a lot of fun and I am enjoying the process. Please enjoy my happy accidents as i have more room for plants now.

First staghorn fern and first time with any kind of mount. I used a hanging succulent cage from walmart to hold my spagnum moss and cut holes in the wire where I wanted to insert my fern... Any tips are welcome!

1st pic is after I mounted it and it was drying out too fast (within the day, texas heat), 2nd pic is where I have it living now in a south facing window with my orchids.

My pond has been a work in progress and day after day I find him somewhere in my pond creating drama! Today he dug up one of my bulbs. Last weekend he tipped over the planter on the side of the trough. He also hides in my floating plants and has scared me a few times unintentionally since I didnt see him. Now I go looking for him everyday but im glad he likes the set up. Last picture is a photo of my pond as of today im working on the pump as I needed a new part for it.

Had to share these guys here too!

Its crazy to see how much this has changed in only 3 weeks! I added most of the plants within the 1st week and all the new growth I have is crazy! I've already posted the tiny toad but im sharing him again. This morning I was getting flowers out from my purple sage and the beef cake in the last photo scared the living daylights out of me!!!

Still no fish but may get them this weekend. So far I've had toads, birds, lizards, insects, and of course my dogs/cat all use this pond and I am loving it.

I love her little flower 🥰 and it matches the pot perfectly! Started as a small baby and has grown into this. Just showing off her new growth points and flowers.

Captured one of my first visitors to my new pond. It's a small water trough with a solar powered bubbler. I am letting my plants grow in before I add fish. Plus I am still playing with the set up of everything. He's just too cute 🥺

I know it is a Vanda not sure what kind but found this guy for $20 at an antique store! Do I have the room for him... absolutely not but couldn't pass him up. Any tips are welcome.

Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus

Loving her pink growth 💖