A carnivorous plant terrarium is an amazing way to beautify your home with an exotic element from nature. These plants are vibrant, different and have captured our imagination because they are so original.
Let us remember that they do not feed on the earth, nor on sunlight, but they obtain their nutrients by collecting protein-rich insects, Therefore, growing them is a great way to have free pest service in your home.
the terrariums They are an ideal way to display them in a very original way, creating elegant and showing off these plants as different as if they were specimens imported from distant lands.
What is a carnivorous plant terrarium?
Terrariums are small gardens enclosed in glass or plastic containers that you can use as decorative elements. In many terrariums, there is a set of plants at the top and You can add some decorative objects in the form of rock or static.
However, a carnivorous plant terrarium is a little different. These terrariums use special soil and contain carnivorous plants predators that use traps to catch their prey.
It is important to imitate the natural conditions of these plants placing a swampy growing medium, without nutrients and with high levels of humidity. You have to create it in an open or closed container, you can also do it in a fish tank.
Below, we'll explore the key steps to creating a stylish carnivorous plant terrarium.
Materials needed for the carnivorous plant terrarium
To create it you will need the following materials:
- A transparent container (glass or plastic)
- Stones (not essential, but they help better drainage of the terrariums)
- Sand
- peat land
- Carnivorous plants
- Globe
Make sure you choose a container large enough for the plants you are including. This will give them more room to grow.
After you have gathered all the necessary materials, it is time to start laying out the carnivorous plants. The steps are pretty easy, and remember that this should be a fun process.
Steps to create the terrarium
First, choose the plant you would like to place in the terrarium taking into account the size of the adult plant, and the preferred growing conditions.
Choose the container you are going to use which must be the right size for the plant. Open-top glass globe containers, lidded jars, or large fish aquariums are ideal, but they should be clear.
If you decide on a closed terrarium, keep in mind that it will keep insects away. live, so you will have to feed the carnivorous plants another way if you choose this option.
It is very important to place the materials in order to assemble the terrarium since these plants need swampy conditions with acidic soil and few nutrients. So you can't use just any potting soil.
You need a drainage layer in the form of rock or coarse sand, a layer of moss to retain moisture and at the end a layer of soilless mixture made of peat or coconut fiber combined with perlite.
Water generously so that the soil is well moist. These three layers together will form the substrate of your carnivorous plant terrarium.
Next, select the carnivorous plants that you want to include in your terrarium. The plants you choose should fit well into the container.
It is essential to use distilled or rain water Never use tap or bottled water on carnivorous plants. Additionally, you must have a spray bottle for moistening the substrate in an open terrarium several times a week.
If your terrarium is closed, you must keep in mind that the humidity you add has to remain contained in the container.
When you finish it you must place it in a suitable place. Remember that these plants grow outdoors therefore they need a lot of light.
Place them next to a bright window, or provide light with a grow lamp.
Something important is that you should keep it away from direct sunlight because it can overheat and kill them.
Carnivorous plants for open terrariums
Venus flytrap: It is a carnivorous plant that uses its jaws to catch insects, does not require as much humidity as other plants and adapts much better to open containers.
Sarracenia: It captures insects in its cups that are filled with liquids or have tube-shaped structures, some of which can reach large sizes, making them ideal for open containers.
closed terrariums
Droseras: They are famous for their sticky and very colorful hairs that they use to capture their prey in the wild. They have a compact and smaller size so they are ideal for closed terrariums. These plants come from temperate and tropical regions and are easy to maintain.
Pinguicula: They look like small rosette-shaped carnivorous succulents. The leaves are usually small in bright neon shades that make them stand out.
They use the sticky part of their leaves to catch small insects. Their size is small so they grow well in a closed container or a small terrarium.
Maintain the terrarium of carnivorous plants
There are a few key steps to maintaining your terrarium properly. First and foremost, make sure the terrarium is in the correct temperature range for your plants. Again, check the needs of each plant to make sure they are getting adequate heat and light.
Regularly water the terrarium to maintain fresh and healthy plants. Too much water can cause your plants to drown, so be sure not to overwater. Keep the terrarium away from sudden changes in temperature, as this can damage the plants.
At first, you may have to adjust a few things to determine the best conditions for your plants. If the plants are of different humidity and temperature levels, you may need to have two separate terrariums.
Plant feeding
In open terrariums they can eat common insects if they are in the garden, but if you have the terrarium indoors, the food will not be enough. So, plan to feed them every two weeks with some of these options:
- Worms: They are good food for these plants.
- Crickets: They are a very important source of nutrition for carnivorous plants in terrariums. You can get them at pet stores.
- Fish flakes or granular fertilizers, is an option only for carnivorous plants. You place a single granule of fertilizer on one of the plants every two weeks.
Now that you've collected all the materials and planted your beloved plants, it's time to sit back and rest while you enjoy the beauty of your new terrarium!
A terrarium is simply something incredible and unforgettable. It's a unique and relaxing way to take some time for yourself. Additionally, carnivorous plant terrariums have a certain level of survival that is stimulating and adds a different and exotic touch to your home.