All input welcome :)

[frenchy87128]

Hi all!

I have had this setup since August and was wondering if I could get any input/ideas as to how I could provide a better suitable environment within my $$ budget and to some extant ease.

I have 4 T12 (40W each full spectrum)and 2 T5 (25W each) (6500K, and 3100K) hanging about 8 inches from the plants depending on which plant it is. The temperature is around 80 degrees and the humidity is sadly no higher then 30%. Its been around 27% for the last 2-3 months. I've tried using wet towels, cups full of water but it only raises at most 5% for an hour or so.

All plants seem to be growing fine other then some slow seedlings of D. capensis and D. spatulata. I plan on placing some of these outside such as the S. 'Tarnok' and the larger Dionaeas. It seems like I'm keeping these alive but not giving them the best possible environment short of a greenhouse.

Here are the plants present in the pics below.

N. sanguinea
N. x miranda
N. ventricosa
N. rafflesiana (VERY stunted due to shipping, weather and TERRIBLE packaging)

S. 'Tarnok'
S. purpurea seedlings

Some sowed gemmae of different pigmies
Dionaea muscipula (regular)
Dionaea muscipula B-52

Ping. x 'Aphrodite' and some pullings



















Thanks again for any and ALL input!

[taz6122]

I have no idea what within your budget is but you need to place them in some kind of aquarium, box or simply make a plastic canopy or even better a mylar canopy. If it is in your budget buy a humidifier.

[williamg]

If you find a container to put your plants in, a cheap way to increase humidity and warm the tank for tropicals is to put a aqurium heater in a mason jar, plug it in and put it in the plant enclosure. Do you have a timer for those lamps?

[frenchy87128]

Yes I tried a 24 hr photoperiod for a while and they really seemed to like that. I just went back to using the timer this week as so better simulate 'nature'. I will try to see if I can find an aquarium as well as a jar and aquarium heater to up the humidity some. As far as lights go I believe there is enough as all the sundew seedlings are red rather then green. Other then humidity is there anything that I could 'obviously' improve on? Thanks again!

[taz6122]

If you are going to use an aquarium, just elevate your plants with a grate of some kind or just turn some empty pots upside down to set your plants on and fill the aquarium with 2 inches of water. This may be all you need to do. If the humidity is still not high enough then you can put the heater directly in the bottom of the aquarium. This works much better than using a mason jar. I use this set up for my neps and the humidity is at 90% with a full glass top. Some of your other plants don't like that much humidity so don't enclose the top or install a small PC fan or both.