hydrophyte
New Member
Quick Introduction - Forest Floor Terrariums
Hi Everybody!
I recently signed up here at Chameleon Forums as a site sponsor with my product line, Selva Terrarium. For some time I have been working on a more or less novel kind of terrarium planting system, the Selva Terrarium - Forest Floor Terrarium.
Forest Floor Terrariums use a sturdy plastic false bottom plate with numerous holes that hold planter pots. It resembles some DIY methods for terrarium planting, but the Forest Floor kits come complete with most of the items needed to plant in your glass terrarium enclosure.
This is the kit with false bottom plate, planter pots, fitted screen and airline.
I have a sequence of images here that show how to assemble the Forest Floor kit with a planted terrarium. This enclosure is a 30 X High fish tank (24" wide X 12" deep X 24" tall).
The false bottom is suspended above the enclosure bottom with cylindrical spacers (lengths of plastic pipe) situated in each of the four corners. The view above shows it sitting on top of the stand That I used for the whole terrarium setup.
Here is the enclosure with the false bottom assembly situated inside.
It is critical that openings to the void beneath the false bottom be well-covered. Livestock might fall through any gaps in the false bottom and become trapped beneath. The fitted screen is cut to dimensions slightly larger than the false bottom plastic plate and with holes to match each of the planter holes. When placed inside it seals the between the glass and the false bottom outside edges all the way around.
A most compelling aspect of this system is that it simplifies the terrarium culture of many kinds of terrestrial plants. I have been having a lot of fun researching aroids, palms and other diverse groups of plants and trying them out with this system. I've observed especially good results with various dwarf palms such as this Geonoma sp..
Since plant roots are contained with the planters, this system makes it easier to manage plants that can become too large or unruly within the terrarium environment. Plants can also be easily rearranged with the terrarium and the plastic assembly components can be reused many times.
The next picture shows the planting accessories with several plants in place and inside of the terrarium. The plants include two more dwarf palms along with a Schismatoglottis sp. aroid.
The several holes in the false bottom that do not hold plants will be plugged with planter pots containing the potting mix.
Here is another view. I also added a horizontal branch feature planted with several Neoregelia bromeliads.
After planting the false bottom and the whole planting assembly is covered with a natural forest floor leaf litter to create a natural scene inside of the terrarium.
I will have more updates on the way pretty soon. The Forest Floor Terrarium system can simplify terrarium planning, setup and maintenance and it promises new possibilities for plant selection and terrarium design.
Thanks for reading and please let me know if you have any questions at all.
Cheers,
Devin Biggs
Selva TerrariumTM
Hi Everybody!
I recently signed up here at Chameleon Forums as a site sponsor with my product line, Selva Terrarium. For some time I have been working on a more or less novel kind of terrarium planting system, the Selva Terrarium - Forest Floor Terrarium.
Forest Floor Terrariums use a sturdy plastic false bottom plate with numerous holes that hold planter pots. It resembles some DIY methods for terrarium planting, but the Forest Floor kits come complete with most of the items needed to plant in your glass terrarium enclosure.
This is the kit with false bottom plate, planter pots, fitted screen and airline.
I have a sequence of images here that show how to assemble the Forest Floor kit with a planted terrarium. This enclosure is a 30 X High fish tank (24" wide X 12" deep X 24" tall).
The false bottom is suspended above the enclosure bottom with cylindrical spacers (lengths of plastic pipe) situated in each of the four corners. The view above shows it sitting on top of the stand That I used for the whole terrarium setup.
Here is the enclosure with the false bottom assembly situated inside.
It is critical that openings to the void beneath the false bottom be well-covered. Livestock might fall through any gaps in the false bottom and become trapped beneath. The fitted screen is cut to dimensions slightly larger than the false bottom plastic plate and with holes to match each of the planter holes. When placed inside it seals the between the glass and the false bottom outside edges all the way around.
A most compelling aspect of this system is that it simplifies the terrarium culture of many kinds of terrestrial plants. I have been having a lot of fun researching aroids, palms and other diverse groups of plants and trying them out with this system. I've observed especially good results with various dwarf palms such as this Geonoma sp..
Since plant roots are contained with the planters, this system makes it easier to manage plants that can become too large or unruly within the terrarium environment. Plants can also be easily rearranged with the terrarium and the plastic assembly components can be reused many times.
The next picture shows the planting accessories with several plants in place and inside of the terrarium. The plants include two more dwarf palms along with a Schismatoglottis sp. aroid.
The several holes in the false bottom that do not hold plants will be plugged with planter pots containing the potting mix.
Here is another view. I also added a horizontal branch feature planted with several Neoregelia bromeliads.
After planting the false bottom and the whole planting assembly is covered with a natural forest floor leaf litter to create a natural scene inside of the terrarium.
I will have more updates on the way pretty soon. The Forest Floor Terrarium system can simplify terrarium planning, setup and maintenance and it promises new possibilities for plant selection and terrarium design.
Thanks for reading and please let me know if you have any questions at all.
Cheers,
Devin Biggs
Selva TerrariumTM
