Date: Wed, 15 Oct 1997 15:22:04 +0200 (MET DST) From: Guy Van Der Kinderen <Guy.VanDerKinderen@rug.ac.be> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg3994$foo@default> Subject: Small fog system
Dear terrarium builders,
At our latest CP exhibition in Gent, Tepui and other moist-air
loving plants, were shown in a terrarium (a big aquarium in fact)
containing a small misting system. Several people seemed to be interested
in this self-build device. In general, data on how to construct a CP
terrarium, are regularly asked for. So I decided to put some information
about the misting system on the list.
The system was developed for fine misting in areas such as
terraria and small greenhouses, and to cultivate Heliamphora, tropical
bladderworths, Bromeliads, Nepenthes, and others. It may also be used to
raise ex-vitro plants. It consists of a special sprayhead, a plastic
lemonade bottle, some tubing, an air-brush pump, and a digital timer-clock
(or better, a humidity-sensor). The fine-misting sprayhead originates from
the chemistry lab, where it is used for spraying thin-layer chromatography
plates with reagents (for those who care). They are normally used in
combination with a 50 or 100 cc bottle and a (rather expensive) airpump.
The sprayheads however may be purchased in packages of six, from Merck
(Darmstadt, Germany) or its dealers: order no: 1.0854.1 (called 'Sprayhead
for TLC Sprayer'). Because this sprayhead also uses air to pressurize the
water for misting, it can only be used on a closed watercontainer.
Therefore, the original bottles are to small, and should not be bought. In
stead, one can use a 0.5, 1 or 2 liter plastic lemonade bottle, according
to the available space. The original small suction tube of the head may be
replaced by an appropriate length of other plastic tubing. The same tubing
is used to connect the air inlet, at the top of the head, with an airpump.
A good air-brush pump is very suitable (common small airpumps for aquaria
are not strong enough). The pump may be switched by a digital timer-clock
(or a humidity sensor).
The reanimation of a 'sleepy' Heliamphora nutans (you know, one
pitcher new, one pitcher gone), into a flowering healthy plant at this
moment (over a period of one year), may be mainly contributed to the use
of this misting device. Other CP's, such as Genlisea, Brocchinia,
epiphytic Utricularia and Cephalotus also appreciate these foggy
conditions.
Keep on growing,
Guy VdK
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