Expert: Christopher Littrell - 5/7/2009

Question
hello i have a terrarium with cp's i have a layer of hydrton clay pellets and the plants are in indivual pots. my qeustion is can i place the pots  directly into the hydrton pellets and put a layer of live sphagnum moss over the hydrton, i would leave the pot about one inch above the moss.  and then add distalled water into tank so it acts like one big humidity tray , will this hurt the plants? would the hydrton cause problems with the plants, and finally do you think the moss would grow? the water level would be about halfway up the pots. thanks for any advice.

Answer
Hello Daniel,

While hydroton clay pellets look to be neutral and not much of a problem for carnivorous plants, your use of a terrarium to induce greater humidity might be a harmful environment for your plants unless they all require high humidity to grow properly. Not many carnivorous plants require high humidity and can be grown open pot in normal ambient humidity in your region as long as you are not living in a desert.

Terrariums tend to induce mold, weak leaves, and keeps the plants from getting proper light.

What species of plants are you growing? Venus Flytraps, Sundews, Sarracenias, most Nepenthes, Butterworts, and the like really do not require over 15-30 percent humidity to grow properly if they have been given enough time to adapt slowly to your ambient humidity levels. Some of those plants, like the Sarracenias and Venus Flytraps will need direct full sunlight outside to grow properly unless you invest in a large number of strong florescent light systems.

Christopher