|
|
Post by jamesh on Feb 7, 2012 2:03:17 GMT
I just got a couple of new Neps today and they are low land species. I am looking for tips on the best way to setup a terrarium for them. I have a 18 inch cube exoterra tank that I am going to be using right now and my though was to place the plants on a platform above a couple inches of water with an aquarium heater to increase the humitiy and temperature.
During the summer I should not have much problems keeping them warm but durning the winters here it gets just a bit to cold for them. If this idea sounds like it will work or if anyone has a better idea on a way to keep lowlander happy when the house temps dont get above 70 degrees I am all ears.
|
|
|
|
Post by bobtheglob on Feb 7, 2012 2:21:39 GMT
The only thing I can say is that putting water on the bottom doesnt really help. I once tried this method with bonsai (tropical trees) and it doesnt really affect the conditions.
|
|
|
|
Post by abenckendorf on Feb 29, 2012 3:11:47 GMT
It depends on what you will be doing. If you do the "greenhouse" style, you can have the neps on the elevated, like you said, wth water below. This should take care of the humidity. Does your terrarium have lights and a glass top? If so, this should also take care of temp and evaporation to keep humidity up. As they are lowland, the heat should not be a problem, but be careful not to let it overheat.
If you will eventually plant them in soil in the terrarium, which i do not reccomend, you should put rocks at the bottom, with a little activated charcoal, sphagnum moss, and a mix of coarse, airy materials.
For both, watch the water level, and keep it at about an inch, more if you leave for vacation or other. My only other concern is which plants are they? some species, like N. ampullaria and N. gracilis, stay small, while others, like N. bicalcarata grow several feet, if not more, and take up lots of space. And each plant had it's prefferences for temp and humidity.
|
|
|
|
Post by nepenthes99 on Mar 1, 2012 1:37:59 GMT
I agree, the minimum tank size should be at least 40 gallons. Lowlanders can get HUGE. I keep mine outside in the harsh new jersey summer where they grow very rapidly, then I cut the vine back and root the cuttings. By then it is manageable and can be kept in a terrarium in the winter, where it will form a shoot that will sprout and grow the next summer.
|
|
|
|
Post by joegriffin on Mar 6, 2012 1:34:33 GMT
You can get a larger tank to do the water thing, AND put an aquarium heater in the water to raise the temps.
Cheers,
Joe
|
|
