Terrarium for Helis

[marvin1997]

Err,does anyone know how to make a terrarium exactly?Maybe I should post it in the 'All about carnivorous plants'?Nevermind......I was thinking about a one plant terrarium which is for my heli

Found this is in the web: http://www.pitcherplant.com/terrarium.html What about this??I think it is pretty good.And another: http://www.cpukforum.com/forum/lofiv...php/t4166.html
This uses a humiditifier and pump it in.ANd the one lower uses ultrasonic mister.

[marvin1997]

BUT of course,I want a planted tank.SHould I use the media in the first link?But what about light??Can you guys give me the specific place to buy it?

[David]

There's an article I wrote in the archive on building a terrarium. Hope it gives you some ideas... click here.

[marvin1997]

Thanks ,David.You don't need a humiditifier if you plant your plant in an enclosed ares,right?

[David]

You are right marvin. From the few lowland terrariums I built, no need. The humidity is about 60%-70% in the day and 90%-100% at night. Good for Nepenthes but not so good for Drosera. For Drosera you need to provide more air circulation or have a larger opening in the terrarium so that air can flow freely.

[marvin1997]

Ok,what about cooling them?Put ice in it?This is the old-fasioned terrarium I bought from Subang Parade.MY Heli doesn't look healthy.It doesn't has much roots.But I believe it will recover soon.Heres the pic:

[marvin1997]

CAn anyone help?

[funkychips]

Hi Marvin,
Your Heliam tank looks alright, but probably instead of using sand you might want to use gravel as it is more porous in my opinion compared to sand which its density is ideal for bacterial growth. But since you've used the sand I think we'll see if it does well. Other than that I think it is fine. I know a grower who keeps his heliamphora in an enclosed shed with acrylic sheets covering the entire sides. It is outdoors so it gets nicely humid after a good misting. So pretty much the same concept.

[David]

Here's a suggestion from Rob Cantley of Borneo Exotics... He said to place the pot of heliamphora in a bigger pot. Use clay pot with no holes in the bottom for this. Fill the space inbetween with stones and bury the entire pot in the ground. Fill water into the clay pot.

The groud is cooler compared to the air outside and the water and stones will cool the roots. It is more important to make sure the roots are cool.

If you just got this from Choong aka kltower, then it is best to speak with him on his set up and how he cultivated this heliam. Then copy what he does because that's the conditions that the plant has been acclimatised to.

[kltower]

Marvin,

I think you should give your setup a try. Basically, the sand/soil/spaghnum moss mix retains moisture. Just keep the mix moist.

As for my setup, I have small pebbles as base. The base is fill with water up to the pebbles level.

Choong