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Carnivorous Plants/Terrarium under lights
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Question
I want to set up a 10 gallon terrarium with lights. I would like to plant the plants into the soil not in pots. What lighting would you recommend and what plants would be good? Thank-you.
Hello Malachi,
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Using the right lighting is key to great thriving colorful carnivorous plants and I have found that using the 'philips plantes et aquariums' fluorescent tubes 18 inch size that are 15 watts each are the best fit for a 10 gallon aquarium size terrarium. You can found them at Lowes low price and do your best to fit at less four of them on the top of your tank. This will add up to 60 watts and then place what is needed in moss to move the level up to 10-8 inches from the top of the tank to move the light within the 8 inches to get thriving colorful carnivorous plants. Now you will need a timer and set it to give your carnivorous plants 12-14 hours of time in a 24 hour day. Don't forget the meter that needs to read 'humidity & temperature' and try to keep humidity about 75-80% and temperature within 55-84 degrees, and keeping the night time temperature lower like a drop to about 55-60 degrees if you can.
Now about what plants to plant inside your terrarium, if your are a beginner or even know some about carnivorous plants, the best I have found are the Early Butter 'Pinguicula primuliflora' a great and easy plant to grow so try two. Spatula Sundew 'drosera spatulata' are great plants and two of them would work well with two of the Spatula Sundew 'drosera spatulata'. Adding one subtropical Nepenthes like the, Nepenthes 'black knight' would be wonderful and add that dark black/red coloring everyone enjoys, just note most Nepenthes grow very large so check size before adding any plant to your terrarium for transplanting out of a carnivorous planted terrarium makes for problems in roots of other plants so keep this in mind when planning and planting in your terrarium!
This is what I'd start with for all these carnivorous will do very well in thriving and making a lot of little ones and know you can add a #pot# of Venus Flytrap inside your terrarium and but because of dormancy and the size of your terrarium tank you might not want to plant it in the moss. I have many terrariums with many species mixed and know it has taken me years to manage the balance to keep them all thriving and are able to but don't feel it's for everybody and the plants I have listed for you will thrive with little to NO problems. If I can ever be if help please let me know for I'm here for you my friend. Thanks Dan
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Answers by Expert:
Daniel Lee Bowen
Expertise
SOME HAVE CALLED ME THE TERRARIUM EXPERT BECAUSE OF HAVING OVER 50 YEARS IN THIS WONDERFUL HOBBY. NOW WITH MY GREAT TIPS ON HOW TO HAVE AND KEEP THE BEST LOOKING CARNIVOROUS PLANTS AND A LIST OF CARNIVOROUS PLANTS BEST SUITED TO USE IN YOUR TERRARIUM. IF YOU NEED HELP OR INFO. ON HOW TO GROW OR SET-UP YOUR OWN TERRARIUM THEN I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU. NOW WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS OF SET-UP WITH CARE STEPS OF GREAT INFO. AND THE RIGHT CARNIVOROUS PLANTS FROM GREAT GROWER YOU TOO WILL HAVE THOSE THRIVING COLORFUL PLANTS YOU HAVE ALWAYS WANTED INSIDE YOUR TERRARIUM!
Experience
I have been joying growing many species of carnivorous plants and in the study as to how best to get them to thrive in different kinds of terrariums set-ups. I have be in this wonderful hobby for well over 50 years now and I have faced all kind of problems head on and thru learning how to grow carnivorous plants with the right kind of lighting thru great set ups that support and protect long term care. I started this wonderful hobby by growing my first Venus Flytrap at the age of 6 and today at the age of 59 I now have well over 600 thriving carnivorous plants. I face questions and answers all the time with my friends on line and all of them tell me I should be doing this kind of support work and please note, I'm not here to sell anything but to give help to whom ever needs it. Please let me know if I can help, Thanks!
Organizations
I'm the host of "How to Garden Work Shop" Lowes at 7843 South Hw 35 San Antonio, Texas where we meet every Sat. from 11AM-1PM Also work as a Garden Pro. Wed. thru Sun. I'm starting the first 'Carnivorous Plant Club' in Texas with the great help from some kind garden clubs outside the state. Have it up and running by July 2012 so if you are wanting to join please sign up now for field trips and many work shops and how to shops with a lot of good stuff coming up soon.
Publications
Author of, 'A Carnivorous Planted Terrarium' found at 'Barns & Nobles' finer book stores rated my book at 4 1/2 stars. I have five other books under my belt and working on my next to be out in Oct. 2012
Education/Credentials
B.S. Math/accounting 1974
Owned D & R Design a large landscaping & Pool co. for 34 years
Carnivorous plants have been a big part of my life 1961-2012
Awards and Honors
I recieved "The Best in Swimming Pool Design" from 'Better Homes and Garden" with a four page layout and story in 1996 and again with story and layout in 1999
I also recieved "The Best in design of a Pond and Water fall" First place 'Better Homes & Garden' with a three page spead in 2001 and again in 2003 'First place' also for Best landscaping Design award with "The Mcallen Garden Club" for the following years, 1990,1992, 1995, 1997 and in 1999
Past/Present Clients
I have well over 20,000 past clients and all from Texas. I'm retired but still take on some pool, pond, waterfall, lighting and landscaping design work
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