I didn't sell my 50 gallon fish tank at my yard sale so I've decided to convert it into a terrarium.
I have never done this, and need some help
can I just put potting soil into the bottom of it and plant the plants right into the soil?
I have made a n order from www.blackjungle terrarium supply and have some plants coming, plus I have a jewel orchid here as well that I want to put into the terraium. I couldn't believe the aroids he has that are suitable for terrariums.
What kind of plants would be suitable for a terrarium. I dontwant to make anymore purchases, but maybe I have some things around here I could use.
I have some miniature ivys called duckfoot or something like that, can I use that? How long do I need to keep the light on it?
I am also affraid that the plants won't do well in the house. Has anybody ever left a terraium outside?
have a 50 gallon tank , need ideas
here's the right link
http://www.blackjungle.com/
Also, what's all the hubbub on the dart frogs for terrariums?
sorry, it's not a 50 gal but a 30 gallon.
That is still big enough that I think you could grow plants like Fittonias.............any of the Angel Exoticas are found in any Lowes..............great plants for 2.99 each........can't beat that!!.....I am tired tonight but will mark this thread and i can think better after a good night's sleep.............30 gallon ain't a shabby size!!!!!!!!!! sounds exciting.......
those are mighty expensive plants on that site!!!!!!!!!! Holy Moly.............
This message was edited Jul 10, 2007 9:35 PM
Hiya Kathy_ann,
A 30 gallon is a really nice size to plant . It gives you a lot of room to grow some taller or larger varieties. Just about any plant will grow in a terrarium.The important thing is that they have similar needs.
Light ,water & soil types... Yes I would definitely add drainage on something that large. I also caution you to be careful when watering the mix to start with just so you don't get it too wet...
Do you plant to have it fully enclosed? or partially open with the light kit that came with the set up??? Those 2 things will determine 1.) how often you water and 2.) the type of light you need...You can get an idea from some of the pictures and other post on the forum, too.
Here's a link to a pretty good web page that has pretty much all the info you need to read & get started...
http://www.terrariums.com/
Begoniacrazii has a link with a video ... http://stream.michaelholigan.com:8080/house/ram/5000/5739.ram
Hope this is a little help....
Have fun,
MsC
This message was edited Jul 10, 2007 11:21 PM
Let's see,
I have no natural lighting inside the house, I can't grow a single thing inside because of this . I'm really conserned about loosing plants in this terrarium if I put it inside the house too.
The fish tank, has a large top that completely encloses the lid. it has a light already too, but it's not one of those grow lights. it's just a light I picked up in the lighting section or fish tank section of walmart. Is that good enough?
I know those plants at lowes, some of them have really good foliage.
I know that site has some expensive plants LOL true, I'm an aroid collector so I was looking for those miniatures before I thought of putting them into the terrarium. do you think the aroids that site has would be ok in there? like the black magic and the dewey's reversa, they are small aroids, don't get tall at all.
I'm going to town today to pick up a bag of rocks for the bottom of the tank first.
I'm also concerned in the winter time, it will be sitting in the living room and close to the wood stove is the only place I can put it. Unless I put it in the greenhouse during the winter time.
I'm really getting excited about getting this all finished and set up.
I still would like to find out about the dart frogs that were on that web site.
do people normally put frogs into their terrariums? what about just frogs from outside? I have some unusual frogs i've seen around the yard. LOL
How many plants do you think would look good, I'd be wanting to over crowd it.
usually aquarium lighting and gro-lighting are about the same thing...........should work.......I think they are both full spectrum lighting........
good deal, seems I've tried this same fish tank before with some african violets, I didnt' plant them in side it, but put the pots inside it. I don't think they did bad, but I took them out for some reason, might have just cleared out the av's
I think my main concern is loosing those plants, like the jewel orchids and the aroids. I could always put it on the front porch I guess ha? if it doesn't do well inside. but I couldn't plug up the light on the front porch, but it would be protected from the rain. there is some sun that gets to the front porch, that's where all my begonias are.
I also checked through all my begonias for ones small enough to put into the terrarium, I have one I think , it's munchkin begonia, the rest are too big .
Kathy. tried to answer some of your questions...
I have no natural lighting inside the house, I can't grow a single thing inside because of this . I'm really conserned about loosing plants in this terrarium if I put it inside the house too.
All the more reason for :
1) adding a terrarium w/ light to your collection
~one reason is the light and humid conditions ,the plants will do well
~ nice place to root things or over winter tenders
2) adding a light shelf of some sort…
The fish tank, has a large top that completely encloses the lid. it has a light already too, but it's not one of those grow lights. it's just a light I picked up in the lighting section or fish tank section of walmart. Is that good enough?
~Yep should be unless it’s some kind of “full sun plant”
I know those plants at lowes, some of them have really good foliage.
~Yes they do and will do well in your terrarium..just remove a bit of old soil first.
I know that site has some expensive plants LOL true, I'm an aroid collector so I was looking for those miniatures before I thought of putting them into the terrarium. do you think the aroids that site has would be ok in there? like the black magic and the dewey's reversa, they are small aroids, don't get tall at all.
~Probable for a while.but be sure to compare their watering needs…if you want to do a mixed batch you can do an un planted terrarium and just set them on wet gravel.
I'm going to town today to pick up a bag of rocks for the bottom of the tank first.
I'm also concerned in the winter time, it will be sitting in the living room and close to the wood stove is the only place I can put it. Unless I put it in the greenhouse during the winter time.
~It will probable get too hot outdoors, too close to the stove or even in the greenhouse…so you might what to pop the top off on it or you might cook your plants.
I'm really getting excited about getting this all finished and set up.
~ GO Kathy Go~
I still would like to find out about the dart frogs that were on that web site.
~Research it first… had some…they eat crickets~crickets eat plants.enough said…LOL
do people normally put frogs into their terrariums? what about just frogs from outside? I have some unusual frogs i've seen around the yard. LOL
How many plants do you think would look good, I'd be wanting to over crowd it.
3 to five depending on size…or more????
Enjoy!
MsC
This message was edited Jul 11, 2007 1:47 PM
with a tank that size............i say go for 7 plants............anyway.........at least..........
LOL I have to do more than 3 I was thinking l0 LOL thanks so much for all the wonderful help.
I can't wait to get started, will have to wait for my plants to come in but I'll be getting the tank ready.
will post pics when I get it up and going
Haha...the operative word phrase was *depending on size*
3 larger plants or 10 small ...Remember they will grow and pretty fast...
Looking forward to the pictures
Good Luck
MsC
In my little bowl I made..............I put a mini av..........3 stolons of Pink Dreams and one stolon of another episcia..........and a dwarf pepperomia..........but you can grow bigger plants ................i would rather see them full and take out later what is 'too much'............30 gallons is a nice container.............I rooted up a lot of Swedish ivy as I want to use in these....and also Creeping Charlie .........they both do well in a terrarium setting............
I also love the rex begonias..........(a smash of color)..........and always Fittonia............here is a Angel Exotica that I took the tops off to root.......cute plant with so much personality.......I think it must be a kind of peperomia.....
******have to go take a quick picture.......flushed all my plants today and these were still in the kitchen sink....look down in the sink at the back at the light new Fittonia........
Kathyann: Oh how I envy you ..... a 30 gal tank to turn into a terrarium! Lucky gal .... I have a little 10 gal that I set up in March. For one as large as 30 gal's you can really put in a lot of plants, depending on their size of course! I would plant it full, probably overload it! With my terrariums I usually use pea gravel for the bottom (rinse very well with an old colander in my gardening stuff) .... then a good grade of potting soil that I mix half soil and half perlite. I use Miracle Grow Soil because that's the best I can find locally. After the soil is in, I plant it up. My 10 gal tank is just a Wal-Mart one that came with the hood and light. No special grow lights. I don't have a lot of light in my house either ... I think a lot of us have that problem. I turn the light on when I get up in the morning and turn it off before I go to bed at night. If we are gone for a week, the light stays off. I planted this one in March and it is doing very well. The Birds Nest Fern in the back right has really grown as has the Fittonia in the back left .... I might have to replace them if they get any larger .... don't want them touching the light! The hood on mine has a hinge so that you can open it at the top front and sometimes when a lot of moisture and heat is building up I will open the top to vent it awhile, mainly because I can't see inside with so much moisture on the glass! I sure hope you will post some photo's when you get yours all set up. I can't say anything about those frogs cause I wouldn't want them in my terrarium. The cats would be going crazy! Oh ... and those same Exotic Angel Plants that sell for $2.99 at Home Depot and Lowes are only $1.94 at Wal-Mart!! Here's a pic of my 10 gal:
I like your tarrerium that's nice.
I have put lava rock in the bottom on mine, to save money < I was going to buy pea gravel but I had the lava rock, it's big pieces, but I put alot in there.
DH said it's not a 30 gallon tank, I guess i'm gonna have to go to walmart to see which one it really is. here's a picture of it.
think it's 30 or 20?
kathy
I hope it's a 30 LOL,
That's a nice size tank....perhaps it is a 29 gallon tall???
I have a similar one...
If you are still gathering supplies you *might* want to add a piece of window screen or mesh type layer between the lava rock and soil you will add...it keeps the bottom of the tank a lil "cleaner" and your soil won't wash down in between the rocks..it's a personal choice but not a necessity.
It's going to be real nice when you get it planted!
MsC
This message was edited Jul 12, 2007 8:53 PM
Looks like a 29 tall or 30 to me too! Where do you buy lava rock and is that a good substrate for terrarium use? The plants are okay with it?
Great idea regarding the screen MSC. I think I read about that on another thread awhile back (probably your thread) ... I had never heard of that before but it is a great idea. I did it in one of my small apothecary jar terrariums and then totally forgot about doing it in the last two glass containers I planted. It really does make a difference keeping the soil out of the substrate!
Kathyann ... can't wait to see your finished terrarium. That is such a great size, you can plant taller stuff in the back!
Here's a large heavy glass 5gal water bottle that I've used as a terrarium since the 1970's! I cheated though ... it has a hole cut in the back for easy access. Many years ago I tried planting a terrarium bottle with a small neck opening, using long skinny tools ... too much work - pouring the pebbles in and the soil was easy ... trying to cram a plant into the small opening was hopeless!
I got the lava rock at walmart for another use. I haven't a clue if it's not suitable for terrariums, someone say so if I need to change out, not a problem, don't want to mess up my project LOL.
where would I buy the screen at.? that's a good idea. Holy cow, that terrarium looks like hard work LOL, I like it though.
Very Nice Lin! I love that old bottle...very 70's..you have such great terrariums.
Kathy,
the lava rock should be fine, it just doesn't give you much depth after adding soil on top but your tank is tall so it will be fine....the screen you could get at the garden centers or Walmart usually has some in smaller packs.
(Shh... I've used old pantie hose cut up in sections and laid over it...I think that 's a much better use than wearing them.)
Oh MsC .... that is too cute! I haven't worn panty hose since I quit working 15 years ago! And ... I don't miss them one bit! Great use for them. I've also used them cut in strips for wicking plants! :)
DH has some screen that you put on screen windows, I can take apiece of that. your right, lava rock takes up depth space.
Lin, I do have a pair of pantyhose designated for church and other functions I can't get by w/o but the rest have found their way to other usefulness....
Kathy, the lava rock should work ok for you, but the reason I mentioned a layer of screen was because the gaps between the rocks will kinda defeat the purpose of "proper drainage", those gaps may fill with your soil mix and allow for pockets of extreme moisture...you could make that work for you by planting plants that are water hogs in/ or around those pockets...then plant less plants that like to stay a bit drier above the them.
That does allow you to have a mixed planting that might otherwise not work with a simple "flat"layout....
There's so many techniques you can use to plant in a terrarium...you kind of have to "think it through" for your personal taste, plant design and plant needs. You are creating a mini environment or garden under glass...
I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished terrarium...
Have fun!
MsC
Kathyann .... Listen to MsC .... she is the "Terrarium Queen"!! You should see her photo's of all her planted glass jars & containers! They are Great!
Hey MsC .... can you post a pic here for us to see? I can't remember where that other one was posted awhile back! Would love to take another look see at all those lovely glass terrariums you have!
That would be great to see your pics MsC
kathy
Thanks Lin...terrariums have been a favorite of mine for a long time...
I have a collection of terrarium books that have served me well. I love just looking at lots of the old pictures to get ideas and studying different ways of planting them.
I will try to get some photos together and post...I have some old ones & can start there, if I can find them in my files...LOL
MsC
Ok ladies... I went digging and found a few you might enjoy...
Kathy you sk about "frogs'....here's a snap shot of my Fire Bellied Toad Abode...:) They were cute...sorry to say the crickets were NOT.
This message was edited Jul 14, 2007 3:59 AM
Something along the lines of terrarium in jars...
MsC
One of my favorites... Sweets...No calories.
MsC
This is an un-planted terrarium with a Episcia Kee Wee...pardon the platic lid it is sitting in inside, I was preparing to move at this point.
Terrairums can be a great way to transport plants,too.:)
Enjoy,
MsC
One of the oldest ones that did not survive the trip...it was left out over night in a light snow :(. It was a 29 gallon tall and I'm getting ready to set it up again,as soon as I find a spot in the house for it.
This pic was taken right after Iplanted it and it does not show the filled in growth...I can't seem to find that pic...
MsC
This message was edited Jul 14, 2007 4:05 AM
Thos e are nice looking, shame on the last one though
Ms.C, when they start to get leggy looking, why can't one just snip the tops off and let them fill out like we would on any Plant???
MsC .... Love the "Sweets with No Calories"!! Very cute. And, that 29 tall that did not survive the trip is so cute with the little items you have .... kinda tells a little story with the little girl in her garden! What a Great job you do with your terrariums! Sad that one didn't survive the trip but Please post another photo of it when you do get it replanted and all set up!
Gail, I have some Fittonia's that I've pinched back when they get tall and they seem to fill out. I have a Birds Nest Fern that needs to be removed though cause it's about to touch the lights and there's nothing to pinch back on that one. I guess there are some plants you can pinch and others that grow so in a way (like the B'nest fern) that have no branches to pinch. Oh I would love to have one of those tall aquariums to plant .... can use taller plants to begin with in those.
Lin, that is the fun of a terrarium to me...........take out what is toooooooo big and replace........or pinch back.........whatever needs to be done to keep it full and great looking.............you can always take the tops of the Fittonia and root again.........so easy..
Gail you ask??
Ms.C, when they start to get leggy looking, why can't one just snip the tops off and let them fill out like we would on any Plant???
There's no reason why you can't pinch some back, but like Lin stated above, with some plants there's no way to pinch em...they just have to be moved up to a larger size or replanted outside the terrarium, after being acclimated of course.
Some of my stock terrariums...the ones I keep single plants in are snipped & the cuttings planted back inside to do 2 things... make more lil plants and give a fuller look to the terrarium.
I am working on keeping cuttings of good plants for terrariums.......just for the purpose of what you are talking about.............works faster than cutting off the tops and just letting them fill in...........
a whole tray of Swedish Ivy for big ones.......
some are not for terrariums...........
Gail, It looks like you'll be doing lots of T's with all those plants..I look forward to see your beautiful creations!
Very nice,
MsC