terrarium help...

[mom'sfolly]

Y'all know so much I thought I would ask here. I run the science lab at my kids school, and I want to set up some "habitats" but not necessarily with animals. I have wuite a few aquariums at my disposal, and one is already filled with rock and sand. I was thinking of a desert habitat and a tropical rainforest. Do any of you know about soils or plants that would work well? The desert aquarium is about three feet long and one high, and the tropical one will have to be a ten gallon.

Thanks...this is my volunteer job and I'm trying to get more curriculum tied things into the lab.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

For the desert one I would use the sand with possibly a layer of some small pebble stone over top. Then put your choice of slower growing cacti and succulents. Lowes usually have a nice selection. You could research and see what plants come from the same area or you could just buy a few that look nice together. Cactuses you could put more because they are slower growing (most varieties), but some succulents you will have to leave room for them to grow. Some stay small and those are the ones you want to go for. Some will just grow and grow and grow. I have one that just expands to whatever size container I put it in!

As for the rainforest one, it depends what type of plants you'd like to do. If you want to do orchid type plants, use the special bark type soil. Otherwise, your regular potting soil (though you might want to get it without the white foam) would be fine. You'll probably want to line the bottom of the tank with larger rocks before the dirt to help with drainage. I usually go to our gravel driveway and pick a bunch of rocks to make a nice layer.

 

[RabbitMage]

An idea for the tropical one-turn the tank onto it's shorter side, so it's taller. You can do what a lot of reptile people do and make a background with little pots for bromeliads and similar plants.

If you do a Youtube search for something like "frog vivarium background" you should come up with several instructional videos.

 

[mom'sfolly]

Thanks, I'm going to go look at some online. I think I want all the plants to be from one area, it would be cool to do one each of South/Central America, Asia and Africa.

 

[flgardengirl]

Check out this link for Black Jungle Terrarium. It has a learning center tab at the top with good info on starting your terrarium. They also sell plants or you can at least get some ideas from the stuff on thier site.
http://www.blackjungleterrariumsupply.com/