Terrascaping a Fern Gully with Ferns and Plants

4th April 2015

The 5ft was a massive learning curve this time I will be Terrascaping a 375 Jebo Bow Fronted tank.

Here are two rough sketches of what I would like to do.

The backing will be the same shape as the front of the tank and, sloping top to bottom also tapered from the top.

I also intend to have a large ledge the width of the backing.





Next step full size drawings to see how it will look.

Keith

 

5.4.15

I will post more drawings later today as I have to go over them with a black felt pen.

Making that backing is going to be full of challenges but after the 5ft it will be a lot less brain power, I don't think I could have done this one first.

Keith "cathug"

 

5.4.15

Here are the very basic drawings of what I would like to do its a starting point


End view of building up the sloping backing, the two ledges will be built in to start off with.


Front view of the tapered backing.


The plan shape of the backing.

These sketches are not working drawings but they will be a very good guide in constructing the sloping and tapered backing.

I have not seen this in any Terrascape or Aquascape.

Keith

 

25.4.15

Tomorrow I hope to have the tank empty, filters sold and most of the bits and pieces I have collected over the years.

I have been buying up big with the plants, a few ferns on order.

Making the backing is going to be a slow job no garage only a roof over the carport and BBQ area plus its cold and wet most days.

The actual backing no final decisions made yet, been very busy painting and re carpeting the Man Cave as Marg calls it.

Keith

 

28.4.15

All aquarium stuff gone but still have the Shrimps & food, I hope to sell them in the next few weeks.

Adiantum tenerum `Pacific May' Maidenhair should be arriving later this week.

http://www.paraplants.com.au/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage-ask.tpl&product_id=906&category_id=6&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

Keith

 

Jason that is correct the 5ft was just too much for me particularly the weekly water change and the Jebo 140 lt was the two water changes per week, lifting the 10lt water containers was also starting to get too much.

Now I only have to do is mist every morning using a small plastic container.

I had a big open top plant container 12 years ago which I had made, I made the base and there are wheels underneath.

After a while the plants started to look sick and it started to stink.

One of the cats used it as her scratch box, there was only one way to fix that and I pulled it down.



If I had to blame any one that kick started me off again it would have to be Roy then Evelyn with her excellent knowledge.

All Terrascaping is growing plants in a container in a natural looking setting, its just an extension of Natures Design and Aquascaping.

Keith

 

3.5.15





This is the first very rough sketch more of a think tank drawing.

It has two mounds the larger have a large slop the smaller mound on the left the slope will be less.

The idea is the smaller mound will be behind the larger mound, if it works it will create a good perspective.

I have several ferns (photos) coming.

Next step will be to draw it full size.

I hope to make it in one piece first cut it in half vertically before I glue on the potting soil only as the medium.

Keith

 

6.5.15

Here are the plants I have so far.


1 Needle point Ivy Hedera helix.

2 Pacific Maidenhair fern Adiantum raddianum.

3 Basket/Pot fern Dryopteris crispa whiteside.



4 Maidenhair fern Adiantum venustum UK.

5 Rough maidenhair fern Adiantum hispidulm.

Now the hunt is on for the same hanging plants as in the 5ft Terrascape

Keith

 

7.5.15

I have just ordered 3 of each of the hanging plants.


Ficus pumila


Pilea glaucophylla


Keith

 

Evelyn


The Pacific Maidenhair fern Adiantum raddianum is semi tropical I could not grow it outside during our colder months.

Being in the Terrascape it should be OK.

Keith

 

Roy

Six backing plants on order but no hurry.


Still playing around with a few ideas even though I have done a rough full size backing plan.

To draw it up correctly it would take be a very long time because of all of the shaping.

Its going to be a create as I go along, I am thinking of rounding the backing flat work too easy after doing two I want another challenge.

Keith