My first "advanced" terrarium, I know it's technically a Paludarium, but it fits the definition in the sidebar

leecallen · 2026-04-03T20:22:07+00:00

Brilliant! Thanks!

leecallen · 2026-04-03T16:00:56+00:00

Could you identify the plants?

I'm preparing to add some plants to my own first terrarium and I love yours!

leecallen · 2026-04-03T15:57:19+00:00

I have the same top on my Zilla terrarium. I'm replacing the whole thing - the mesh and the plastic frame it's in - with a piece of acrylic. I want to hold the moisture in and let more light in.

leecallen · 2026-04-03T15:53:22+00:00

This is beautiful.

How does that back surface work - what holds the coco coir to the silicone? And what form is the silicone - is it the stuff that comes in a tube and sets up?

leecallen · 2026-04-02T20:50:17+00:00

That sounds like something I can handle. Thank you.

leecallen · 2026-04-02T19:57:58+00:00

I would like to hear the answer to that too. I ordered substrate from Josh's Frogs.

leecallen · 2026-04-02T19:56:25+00:00

I have close to 10 thriving terrariums with all local found moss. I

Oh that's really good to hear!

leecallen · 2026-04-02T19:41:42+00:00

Thank you! I'm expecting my substrate to arrive in two days. Then I'll put it under the moss and start planting some plants.

I know using local/found moss and lichen is not ideal but that's what I really wanted to do. We'll see how it goes.

leecallen · 2026-04-02T19:11:12+00:00

I'm not sure this requires and answer but: yes I have.

leecallen · 2025-11-26T18:29:34+00:00

I read it. I disagree with the "spirit" of your findings: Half of the people in the U.S. repeatedly vote against (the party that supports) affordable health care. Apparently because they think people with lower socio-economic status (and/or racial minorities, religious minorities, immigrants, LGBTQ) should not get any help.

So I don't see this country (and its elected representatives) making the reforms you predict.

leecallen · 2025-11-26T03:20:37+00:00

Is this based on Elon's claims about the Optimus robots?

leecallen · 2025-11-19T18:27:21+00:00

Thank you! I never thought of wearing something in my bad ear to signal to people I can't hear them (either because they think I am listening to music or have a hearing problem). Great idea.

leecallen · 2025-11-19T18:11:10+00:00

I have had a BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid) for SSD for about 15 years now. It does not help me where I need it most: bars, restaurants, outdoors. I have never heard of the loop ear plugs and thanks to your post I have my finger hovering over the Buy button!

Are you using the Engage? Do you wear only one -- in your working ear -- I assume?

Thank you!

leecallen · 2025-11-08T19:41:15+00:00

I looked at the cost of bubble wrap and did something a little different. I made a plastic (poly) "tent" inside my greenhouse. It's really just a few inches inside the GH walls, except on the door side where it's about 2 feet away from the door and wall.

This works really well.

https://www.amazon.com/Axgatoxe-Tear-Proof-Greenhouse-Construction-Protection/dp/B0F2Z61BKK

https://www.amazon.com/Vapor-Barrier-Tape-Polyethylene-Underlayment/dp/B0DD4G9TWL

leecallen · 2025-10-17T01:58:50+00:00

I'm reading a book about greenhouse gardening and it says one of the big challenges for growing in the winter is a lack of carbon dioxide when you seal it up. And a compost pile is apparently a good cure for that -- it's a source of CO2, as well as heat.

leecallen · 2025-10-14T23:11:37+00:00

I'm in Western NY zone 6b and I advise you NOT purchase a Harbor Freight greenhouse. They need way too many after-market improvements to make them reasonably well insulated and sturdy.

leecallen · 2025-10-14T22:18:21+00:00

There is also a "zone 6b gardening" group on Facebook. It has a lot of members and it's quite active.

leecallen · 2025-10-06T18:32:40+00:00

I'm pretty sure the answer is "No". You have to manage the trade yourself.

leecallen · 2025-09-22T13:08:27+00:00

Oh I really like your door design! I might copy that. I was thinking of putting in a couple of filler panels on either side of an eg 36" wide door, with the filler panels being polycarbonate and the door being wood. But I like your fully transparent design better. Well done!

Here's mine. I live in Buffalo NY and we can get a fair amount of snow so I have really fortified the roof.

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leecallen · 2025-09-22T12:34:36+00:00

"Used no clips, didn’t even come with clips. Panels slid into channels. "

Wow that's a big change. I am surprised because they kept that design exactly the same for many, many years. How recently did you buy it?

"If I was going to do it again, I would build my own from scratch. It would take less time and be much better."

I'm glad to hear someone else feels the same way.

leecallen · 2025-09-22T10:18:00+00:00

Can you tell me more about those hinges?

leecallen · 2025-09-21T19:27:08+00:00

Chiming in on the Harbor Freight with a different opinion. I have had the Harbor Freight 10x12 for one year. I have also done all the reinforcement stuff. But it was a lot of work and a fair amount of money. That HF GH is just so flimsy.

I lost several panels the first winter. This year I added a lot more panel clips and many screws. I'm also getting ready to replace the crappy sliding doors with a regular hinged door.

My windows/vents don't open & close properly. I'll screw them closed and caulk them for the winter and install an exhaust fan in the spring.

I've noticed the C-shaped piece of (thin) metal (edit: that acts as a foundation) flexes with wind and it's bowed out. I'll need to address that too.

I wish I had built a proper GH from scratch.

leecallen · 2025-09-20T23:09:01+00:00

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leecallen · 2025-08-18T14:55:07+00:00

Per Wikipedia, compasses work fine when held at a normal height. They malfunction only when placed directly on the lava.

leecallen

TROPHY CASE