Plants: Top 10 Beginner Vivarium Plants, and Tips for Incorporating Them into Your Design
Incorporating plants in a vivarium not only adds aesthetic appeal but also plays a crucial role in creating a balanced and thriving ecosystem. They contribute to the overall health and well-being of the inhabitants, provide natural hiding spots, and aid in maintaining proper humidity levels.
Additionally, plants help filter the air, remove toxins, and even contribute to the ecosystem's nutrient cycle. In this guide, we will introduce you to the fascinating world of vivarium plants, from processing and acclimation to selecting and caring for beginner-friendly plants.
plant processing before introducing them to the vivarium
Before introducing plants to your vivarium, it is smart to process your plants. Plant processing involves a series of steps aimed at ensuring the plants are healthy, pest-free, and free from any potential contaminants that could harm the vivarium's delicate ecosystem.
By taking the time to process your plants, you reduce the risk of potential problems and create a strong foundation for a thriving vivarium.
1. Quarantine
When acquiring new plants, it's essential to quarantine them before introducing them to your vivarium. This isolation period allows you to closely observe the plants for any signs of pests or diseases. Quarantine should typically last for a few weeks, during which you can monitor the plants' health and take appropriate action if any issues arise. This is particularly important when introducing new plants to an established vivarium.
2. Cleaning
Before placing the plants in your vivarium, it is essential to clean them thoroughly. Gently rinse the plant's leaves and stems under lukewarm water to remove any dust, dirt, or potential contaminants. Be cautious not to do too much damage to delicate roots foliage during this process.
3. Trimming
Inspect the plants for any damaged, yellowing, or diseased leaves. It is advisable to trim these unhealthy parts before introducing the plants to the vivarium. Pruning not only promotes healthier growth but also prevents the spread of diseases or pests within the vivarium.
By following these steps and tips for plant processing, you can reduce the risk of introducing potential problems into your vivarium and ensure the health and longevity of your plants and the overall ecosystem.
Healthy plants serve as the foundation for a thriving ecosystem
Starting with healthy plants is of utmost importance. Healthy plants serve as the foundation for a thriving ecosystem, providing the necessary elements for a balanced and sustainable habitat. Healthy plants are more resilient, better equipped to adapt to their new environment, and have a higher chance of flourishing.
Additionally, healthy plants contribute to the overall aesthetics of your vivarium, enhancing its visual appeal and creating a more enjoyable and captivating experience for both you and your vivarium's inhabitants.
Tips for selecting healthy plants
Visual inspection: When choosing plants for your vivarium, carefully examine their overall appearance. Look for vibrant, green leaves without any signs of discoloration, spots, or wilting. Avoid plants with visible damage or pests.
Reputable sources: Even the best plant nurseries will have mishaps, but by sticking with reputable sources it gives you the best chance at receiving healthy plants, especially when you are purchasing online and can’t inspect the plants first.
Avoid chemical treatments: Select plants that have not been treated with pesticides or other chemical treatments. These chemicals can harm the inhabitants of your vivarium and disrupt the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
Pest-free: Ensure the plants are free from any pests or signs of infestation, such as webs, holes in leaves, or visible insects. Pests can quickly spread and wreak havoc on your vivarium's ecosystem, even finding their way into your other vivariums.
acclimating plants to the vivarium environment
Plants, like any living organisms, need time to adjust to new conditions. The first 3 or 4 weeks are most important to minimize the risk of shock or stress, allowing the plants to establish themselves and thrive in their new habitat.
Tips for a successful acclimation
Lighting: Assess the lighting conditions in your vivarium and make any necessary adjustments. Different plants have varying light requirements, ranging from low light to bright indirect light. Ensure that the vivarium's lighting setup provides the appropriate intensity and duration based on the plants' needs.
Humidity: Evaluate the humidity levels in your vivarium and make sure they align with the plants' requirements. Some plants prefer higher humidity, while others thrive in drier conditions. For tropical vivariums, it’s important that the new plants never dry out while they are establishing their root system, as this could easily be fatal.
Plant placement: Vivariums naturally have varying levels of light and humidity throughout the enclosure. Light will be much brighter near the source, and areas of saturated soil will stay more humid than out in the open. Consider these micro climates while assessing where to place your plants.
Introducing inhabitants: Consider waiting a month or two before introducing inhabitants to the vivarium while the plants adjust to their new environment and put down new roots. Small animals like poison dart frogs or micro geckos may not do much harm, but I highly suggest waiting before introducing snakes or larger lizards.
Continued monitoring: After integrating the plants, closely monitor their progress, observing their growth and overall health. Make adjustments to lighting, temperature, or humidity if necessary. Regularly inspect the plants for any signs of stress, disease, or pest infestation and take appropriate action promptly.
By following these steps for plant acclimation, you provide the best possible conditions for the plants to adapt and thrive in your vivarium. Remember, patience is key during this process, as it may take some time for the plants to fully acclimate and establish themselves in their new home.
10 great Beginner Plants for your first Tropical Vivarium
These plants are highly recommended for beginners because of their adaptability, ease of care, and ability to thrive in the moist, humid conditions. You don't even need to have a green thumb to enjoy their beauty and benefits!
Creeping Fig
One of the fastest growers out there, it will quickly fill in a vivarium to make it feel lush and full. It’s a great plant to start with, and then you can trim it back as more of the slower plants begin to grow in. It also handles being trampled well.
Mini Oak Creeping Fig
Tiny, unique shaped leaves make this a staple in the hobby. It is bit of a slow grower, but can great beautiful carpets of dense, delicate looking foliage. It’s often used in small enclosed terrariums as well, because of it’s hardiness and small size.
Pothos
A common, indestructible house plant that will thrive in a vivarium setting. Because it’s such a common plant, it’s great for economical setups that are more focused on functionality rather than aesthetic appeal by providing lots of hiding spots.
Lemon Button Fern
Hardy and fairly fast growing, many ferns do very well in vivariums, just don’t let them sit in water as many species will rot. Lemon Button Fern, however, I’ve had grow even in heavily saturated sphagnum moss and did just fine after acclimating.
Kangaroo Paw fern
Another beautiful house plant that will quickly fill in any vivarium. It will eventually become quite unruly and create a lot of shade, but that can be the perfect setting for some inhabitants. It even handles snakes crawling over it quite well.
Trailing Begonia
Another fast grower with beautiful leaves, this plant is in near constant bloom, and who wouldn’t want a constant supply of small white flowers throughout their vivarium. The older leaves tend to die off, so I will trim them as they wither.
Watermelon Begonia
Slow growing, but with such beautiful patterns on the leaves we will give it a pass. The leaves are study and will tolerate a decent amount of trampling. This is a great addition to add a little variety in a vivarium because of the patterns.
Bromeliads
Bromeliads are very common in vivariums, especially with poison dart frog owners because many species will use the water to raise their tadpoles. They come in a very wide variety of sizes and colors. I prefer sticking with the smaller species.
Jewel Orchid
This is a beautiful terrestrial orchid, and it will produce small white flowers on long stalks. It is one of the easiest orchids to grow, and it thrives in moist, low light conditions. If you want to try orchids, this is the one to start with.
Java Moss
Fast growing for a moss, this stuff is indestructible as long as it stays damp or wet. It will even grow submersed in water, in a whole range of lighting conditions. This moss will eventually cover any damp surface in your vivarium.
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By incorporating these plants into your vivarium design and following the tips and guidelines outlined in this guide, consider yourself well-equipped to create a stunning and flourishing miniature ecosystem.
This is only the tip of the iceberg, with an endless variety of options. Embrace the beauty of nature within your vivarium and embark on a journey of discovery, learning, and enjoyment as you witness the wonders of plant life unfold in this captivating world.
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