I made a terrarium out of my son's 10 gallon aquarium last night and now I'm on a roll! LOL
I'd like to fill my smaller aquarium that sits on my computer desk with Mini AVs. I should be able to get a dozen or so in there. I have a regular desk lamp over the top of it with one of those corkscrew shaped fluorescent bulbs in it. I've got just regular Saran Wrap laid over the top of it right now, but am going to get a piece of glass cut to fit over the top. Would my Mini AVs enjoy living that, do you think? Suppose they'd bloom, too?
Oh, I hope all of you say yes! I'll plant them in there tonight! LOL
Jill, I put Midget Gumdrop and Winnie the Pooh in the terrarium I made yesterday. If I can ever post pictures, I'll do a whole thread of pictures on the Terrarium forum and link to it from here. If I get yes answers to my above question, Deer Trail will go in this one as well!
Thanks everyone! :o)
Are Mini AVs good for a terrarium?
In the longer run, I think they bloom better if they are in a pot (and you could bury the pot into the terrarium). In the shorter term, they'd be fine. So I guess it partly depends on how long you want to go before you do some maintenance in there....
I'm thinking through the winter til next spring, because it gets so cool and dry in my house.
But of course, I don't mind doing some mid-winter maintenance. It's not as if I want to plunk them in there and forget about them, I'd just like to have them here where I can see them better and I think they'd be happier in the dead of winter if they had the "coziness" of the terrarium. But, I don't know, so that's why I'm asking! LOL
well this is what happens to me. They go in the terrarium and are really happy and bloom a lot. Then, when the blooming cycle is done, they recuperate and then bloom again. This second round of blooms is never as good as the first round in the terrarium.
The same thing with sinningias.
Things with rhizomes appear to be worse - they send out roots all over the entire terrarium substrate and forget to make a single rhizome.... so when they go dormant, poof! No more plant.
I think there is some difference among AVs - some are better at the non-rootbound setup than others. I think other people here have more experience than me with AVs in terrariums, though....
Hmmm...so the rootbound thing is the major issue? I guess I could just plant them in little Dixie cups then, and cover the edges with something so they don't show. Maybe that would be a better idea...
We wrote a thread on this some where and I'm sure there's a lot out there. Av's Miniatures out of pots in or out of terrarium for long periods of time are not going to bloom or last long. Some people enjoy making terrarium or arrangments with blooming plants for a table fispkay, or Av show but long term not too good.
The enviroment can be too moist, not the proper flow, temps might get too high causing fungus or other viruses. Maybe pick some blooming ones up at HD to play around with.
Now Epsicas, and some other Gesneraids and terrarium plants would be more suitable for terrarium enviroments.
Well, I put plenty of Episcias in the first one I made. Some are just stolons, but they'll grow! :o) I do have four, I think, mini AVs in it, too. Here's a link to the post on the Terrarium board with pictures. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/652766/
Suppose the Mini AVs would do better if I didn't keep it covered? I could use my smaller one for Mini AVs only and just not cover it.
Great job Amy ! That is so cute.
Well like Key mentioned might be better to keep minis in small pots . watch and see how your first one does , you can always change it to plants that are a little more mature.
I do know some of the most important things needed for groing AV's if light, and air circulation ,
I think that potting them is a good idea, since AVs like to be fairly tight in their pots to bloom, and that'll make it easier to control the moisture around their roots. There are definitely some AVs that really love more constant moisture and higher humidity. As I mentioned, both 'Winnie the Pooh' and 'Midget Gumdrop' suckers that I put under a dome (salad container with a few holes) grew really well without suckering, which has been a big issues with these two. I don't think they get much air circulation under the dome, but they are also kept in soil that's just barely moist, enough to put just a puff or two of condensation on the inner surface of the dome. Also, I've noticed that the 'Allegro Appalachian Trail' plant that I put into a self-watering pot is growing well, without the tight centers that I see on the tray of AAT plantlets that get bottom-watered, so I think it might be an excellend terrarium candidate also. I'm less sure about 'Deer Trail' -- my plant seems to prefer to get a little dry between waterings, or it loses some leaves. If you put that one in, just keep an eye on it, and if you see any "wilting" just yank it out of there. :-)
Oh, and I just checked out your photos on the other thread -- what a fabulous landscape you created! WOW!!!
Good idea, Susan! I happen to have some very small terra cotta pots. I'll definitely try that! Maybe one in front of either side of the fence, behind the pond. I'm having a ball with this! LOL
If you do, I'd recommend sealing the pots with a couple of coats of polyurethane first, to avoid the various problems (salt build up, for one) that can occur with AVs in clay pots... or use a solo cup inside the pot as a liner.