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[INDOOR-GARDENING:173] New Atrium garden needs big help

Hello indoor gardeners,

I recently joined your mailing list and it sounds like a great bunch of
experts out there.  I just started my atrium garden
(http://members.xoom.com/wandathomas/page3.html )
It is 8 feet x 16 feet and 18 inches deep.  I started with 3 inches of
gravel, a layer of peat moss, some charcoal, and the rest sterilized potting
soil.  I have a halide light mounted about 4 feet above the right center.
It also has a re-circulating pond with a waterfall.  Right now I just have
some basic houseplants in there but would like to get more color and
flowers.  The windows face northwest, so there is no direct light, but lots
of indirect light.  Here are some of my questions;

Can I get any pond plants to grow and if so how?

I have tried shade lovers like begonias, but they all lean towards the light
and are lanky.

I would like to have a ground cover under the stairs (where it is difficult
to get to) and have tried ivy but it doesn't seem to be spreading very well.
I also tried to start baby tears but they too are thin and spindly.

Should I keep the plants in pots and bury the pots or put the plants
directly in the soil?

Any ideas on climbers for the stair posts?  I tried a mandelvilla and it
climbed all the way up the stairs, but no flowers and leaves about 1 foot
apart.

Should I vary the hours on the light with the sun or leave it on a constant
time each day?  If so, how long?

Orchids are doing well in that location, but are just sitting in pots.  Any
ideas on how to incorporate them into the "landscape?"

Somewhere in all this, I have managed to introduce those little gray
rolly-polly bugs that love to eat the tops off of young tender sprouts.  Any
non-chemical suggestions on getting rid of them?

Obviously I need a lot of help; any and all will be appreciated....

Thanks,

Extinct is forever,

Wanda Thomas
http://members.xoom.com/wandathomas
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