Pleiospilos in a Succulent Terrarium

Anything relating to Succulents that doesn't fit in another category should be posted under General.
Post Reply
Libbilish
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Dec 02, 2019 2:45 am

Pleiospilos in a Succulent Terrarium

Post by Libbilish »

Hello,
I am thinking of including a pleiospilos in a terrarium with other succulents that require a bit more watering. The plan is to keep the pleiospilos in it's own small container and bury the container to make a barrier to prevent over watering. I don't know that it would ever need to be watered directly due to the evaporation of water that will collect in the bottom rock drainage layer.

Is this a bad idea, good plan, or does anyone have other suggestions?

Thanks in advance.
User avatar
Aiko
Posts: 2397
Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2011 5:26 pm
Location: the Netherlands

Re: Pleiospilos in a Succulent Terrarium

Post by Aiko »

This sounds like a death sentence for any Pleiospilos, to be honest.
esp_imaging
Posts: 1503
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2015 4:27 pm
Location: England
Contact:

Re: Pleiospilos in a Succulent Terrarium

Post by esp_imaging »

Another vote for "bad plan", I'm afraid.
A small diverse collection of Cacti & Succulents
Based in the UK
http://www.edwardshaw.co.uk/cacti
User avatar
Edwindwianto
Posts: 497
Joined: Tue Nov 19, 2019 12:43 am
Location: Bangkok - Thailand

Re: Pleiospilos in a Succulent Terrarium

Post by Edwindwianto »

Libbilish wrote: Wed Dec 04, 2019 2:18 am Hello,
I am thinking of including a pleiospilos in a terrarium with other succulents that require a bit more watering. The plan is to keep the pleiospilos in it's own small container and bury the container to make a barrier to prevent over watering. I don't know that it would ever need to be watered directly due to the evaporation of water that will collect in the bottom rock drainage layer.

Is this a bad idea, good plan, or does anyone have other suggestions?

Thanks in advance.
Do you have a schematic drawing for your plan there?
It interests me...thanks
Libbilish
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Dec 02, 2019 2:45 am

Re: Pleiospilos in a Succulent Terrarium

Post by Libbilish »

Edwindwianto wrote: Fri Dec 06, 2019 11:35 am
Do you have a schematic drawing for your plan there?
It interests me...thanks
Drainage is created by a layer of sphagnum moss and rocks.
I want the little Royal Flush to live, so no terrarium community for this one.
SuccTerr.jpg
SuccTerr.jpg (101.63 KiB) Viewed 1488 times
Dodi Russell
Posts: 348
Joined: Fri Jul 19, 2019 4:20 pm
Location: Sri Lanka, tropical climate, high humidity( no winters)

Re: Pleiospilos in a Succulent Terrarium

Post by Dodi Russell »

Sphagnum moss for drainage. Doesn't that hold water and keep moisture. I use sphagnum moss for orchids which need a good amount of water and high humidity.

Edit: Does that glass tank have drainage holes to let water drain out ?
Location: Sri Lanka, tropical climate, high humidity( no winters)
User avatar
Edwindwianto
Posts: 497
Joined: Tue Nov 19, 2019 12:43 am
Location: Bangkok - Thailand

Re: Pleiospilos in a Succulent Terrarium

Post by Edwindwianto »

Libbilish wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2019 9:08 am Drainage is created by a layer of sphagnum moss and rocks.
I want the little Royal Flush to live, so no terrarium community for this one
I still dont get it, the build (the layering) and the purpose of this glass container...

Is it to create a micro climate, so that you dont need to water them forever?
But that kind of terrarium is usually in a closed container
esp_imaging
Posts: 1503
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2015 4:27 pm
Location: England
Contact:

Re: Pleiospilos in a Succulent Terrarium

Post by esp_imaging »

So it's not really a terrarium, that would be a sealed (or more-or-less sealed) container, it's a group container.

Glass looks nice when first planted, but quickly grows an algae film below the soil line, so doesn't look great.
With that combination of plants, I'd take the Pleiospilos out. This sort of arrangement can work well for a while, over time one or 2 plants tend to outgrow the rest and it well need some replanting.
A small diverse collection of Cacti & Succulents
Based in the UK
http://www.edwardshaw.co.uk/cacti
Libbilish
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Dec 02, 2019 2:45 am

Re: Pleiospilos in a Succulent Terrarium

Post by Libbilish »

esp_imaging wrote: Sun Dec 08, 2019 12:02 pm So it's not really a terrarium, that would be a sealed (or more-or-less sealed) container, it's a group container.

Glass looks nice when first planted, but quickly grows an algae film below the soil line, so doesn't look great.
With that combination of plants, I'd take the Pleiospilos out. This sort of arrangement can work well for a while, over time one or 2 plants tend to outgrow the rest and it well need some replanting.
That is a plan I got from the internet, I have a different combination of plants: gasteria, aeonium, aloe, haworthia, portulacaria, and delosperma. I realized it is not a true terrarium but was concerned that it would hold too much humidity for the Pleiopilos even with a barrier and specifically targeted/controlled watering. You confirmed my theory, I will heed the information you provided. Thank you!
Post Reply