In winter of 2020/21 I started working on a TV project, it is still running in 2026. First I acquired an old television from 1959 through a second-hand marketplace; it is a KAPSCH StFS 58A/53.

Next, I had to remove the internal electronics in order to plan the following steps. It became clear that the tank fitting inside the TV can be at most about 60 × 40 × 40 cm (width/height/depth). After stripping out the components, the wood was sanded. To make the TV reasonably water-resistant, I protected the interior surfaces with epoxy resin, which should ensure the longest possible lifespan. The areas visible from the outside, on the other hand, were coated with a transparent clear varnish.

Shortly before Christmas 2020, the project was completed and the glass tank was installed. At the bottom there is a drainage system to prevent water from accumulating. As the lowest layer, I used only perlite, which is intended to ensure good water permeability. On the sides of the tank, I attached EpiWeb panels with silicone; behind them are ventilation slots to allow air exchange. There is also a 5 cm drilled opening on the top, just in front of the front pane, to prevent it from fogging up. A small Plexiglas plate sits on top of this opening so that its size can be adjusted.

This setup is intended to keep humidity inside the tank consistently very high (over 90%). However, water must not collect on the leaves of the begonias, as this would cause leaf rot. For lighting, a 15-watt Fluval Nano Plant LED was chosen. It can be controlled via smartphone using a Bluetooth interface, allowing you to program sunrise, sunset, and nighttime lighting, a very neat feature.

After a few weeks of cycling, quite a lot is already happening. The mature plants of darthvaderiana and dracopelta initially did not feel comfortable, so I relocated them for the time being. Meanwhile, young plants of both species have been introduced, and they are doing well.

The side walls are intended to be covered with a small-leaved Ficus. At the front there is plenty of Selaginella uncinata along with a few jewel orchids, including Macodes lowii. A dindhui has also been planted in the center, and in the back left a Begonia × negrosensis is growing.