Made some headway on the interior by applying Great Stuff spray foam to the walls and around plastic pots. Plastic pots were hot-glued to the walls of the vivarium depending on where I wanted plants. Some plants are broad leaved and will grow upwards and outwards to hopefully provide egg laying locations over the lower aquatic portion of the cage. Smaller plants and those with a trailing habit will be placed in smaller pots higher up on the walls.



Here is the vivarium after the first couple applications of foam. Note how I've tried to create a trailing almost vinelike appearance with the foam. Later layers will be built up to achieve a multilayered look. Rather than going for a bubbly look, I'm hoping that applying the foam to different depths will ultimately acheive a more naturalistic look.







Here is yet another day and more foam applied. This day also saw the addition of three more pots bringing the total to 8 pots altogether. The three pots just are smaller pots placed higher up for the most part.







Here is a close up of one of the smaller pots that was added later. Once the foaming has been completed the drainage holes in the bottom of each pot will be punched through to allow water to drain out of the pots normally. Of course besides potted plants there will also be the addition of bromeliads which can be attached to branches with moss surrounding their roots thus allowing more live plants without needing more pots. There will also be live moss of a couple different varieties which will be grown on the larger surfaces around pots and on branches.







Right now construction is at a standstill because I have to wait for a drip irrigation manifold to arrive. This little piece will allow the addition of several water seeps throughout the vivarium. However, I can't move any farther forward because I have to lay in water lines of 1/4 inch vinyl tubing which will then be covered with foam.
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Matt Campbell



"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." John Muir

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