What is this 😭
So I was doing my daily check of my one and only #Terrarium and I noticed this. My first thought was mould but it doesn’t quite look like mould?
My polka dot plants aren’t exactly thriving either, so I’m not sure if I did something wrong or if this is normal. It’s been maybe a week or two since I set it up. Thoughts?
(They’ve always been a bit droopy as they got taller so that’s not new btw)
#PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #PlantTherapy #PestControl #PolkaDotPlant
My polka dot plants aren’t exactly thriving either, so I’m not sure if I did something wrong or if this is normal. It’s been maybe a week or two since I set it up. Thoughts?
(They’ve always been a bit droopy as they got taller so that’s not new btw)
#PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #PlantTherapy #PestControl #PolkaDotPlant
6” pot with drainage
Last watered 1 month ago
24
This is probably true. Idk I'm just throwing out my thoughts about it. I'm probably completely wrong 🤣 let me add some hashtags so more people will see your question and can better help you than I can #happyplants #plantaddict #greggang
Oh boy! I love terrariums I have like 15 of them but I will let you know you are not alone. It is a steep learning curve. I’ve been doing them for a while now and learned a few things I will share.
1. She looks overwatered unfortunately. Once they are in a terrarium with the lid closed they need very little water. I check mine weekly but they only get water every 2-3 weeks and that is with only about 1 inch of soil.
2. My plants do better with the lids slightly cracked. I tried fully closed but then they fogged up and looked messy. I want to see my plants so I leave them just a teeny bit cracked , barely cracked.
3. When I water I have found it much easier to use turkey baster that way I can put a small amount at the base of the stem and then on 1-2 tbsp not much.
4. Avoid overwatering at all costs, once the water is in, it stays there if the soil is wet it stays wet and leads to root rot FAST
5. Distilled water only, also a must.
You have a deeper layer of soil so yours will take even longer to dry out.
Also, by the photos it looks like you are missing a drainage area you really want that so if you do accidentally overwater the water has somewhere to drain. I use leca for mine with some netting on top but really anything will work, marbles, stones etc.
1. She looks overwatered unfortunately. Once they are in a terrarium with the lid closed they need very little water. I check mine weekly but they only get water every 2-3 weeks and that is with only about 1 inch of soil.
2. My plants do better with the lids slightly cracked. I tried fully closed but then they fogged up and looked messy. I want to see my plants so I leave them just a teeny bit cracked , barely cracked.
3. When I water I have found it much easier to use turkey baster that way I can put a small amount at the base of the stem and then on 1-2 tbsp not much.
4. Avoid overwatering at all costs, once the water is in, it stays there if the soil is wet it stays wet and leads to root rot FAST
5. Distilled water only, also a must.
You have a deeper layer of soil so yours will take even longer to dry out.
Also, by the photos it looks like you are missing a drainage area you really want that so if you do accidentally overwater the water has somewhere to drain. I use leca for mine with some netting on top but really anything will work, marbles, stones etc.
Sorry I sent that too soon, my polka dot plants all do that, many of my other plants do as well and it’s completely normal. Since they are surrounded by humidity all the time it’s just a great environment for them to get little tiny roots (I think of them as Ariel roots they will attach to the sides sometimes.
So I take it back you might not of overwatered but I would stick my finger in the soil to make sure it needs water (remember little bits) before you water.💦 I can’t tell what you have for soil. But make sure it has some aeration to keep your plants happy long term.
So I take it back you might not of overwatered but I would stick my finger in the soil to make sure it needs water (remember little bits) before you water.💦 I can’t tell what you have for soil. But make sure it has some aeration to keep your plants happy long term.
@SuperbRaspfern I couldn’t find LECA anywhere at my local shops, so I used lavalite, which seemed like a halfway point between LECA and perlite? Not 100% sure icl 😭
Sometime small bits of mold will resolve on their own. It can be quite common in new terrariums as your plants adjust to their new environment. Just crack the lid a bit and it usually just sort of disappears. I honestly wouldn’t worry to much about it just make sure it is not spreading. And just a reminder a small lid crack will make a big difference.
@SuperbRaspfern thanks for all your help. I’ve pulled back the cling film a bit so hopefully that sorts itself out. Also, the top piece of stem that I thought was moldy has started to root as well? If those white strands are roots. Although there is definitely a moldy bit by the bottom. So I shouldn’t bother cutting it out if it resolves itself in a few days right?
I would probably leave it if it was mine and see if it resolves, it most likely will 💕.
But if you are looking to fill out your plant than it’s fine to prune it. Each pruned stem will give 2 new stems out of the node below it. Just be sure to cut off 2-4 leaves above that node. They also root really well, so if you just pop that cut part right back in the soil with a node buried it will root with in a week or two. I have dozens now because of that. It looks really nice, once it takes off you are going to be shocked at the rapid growth they put off in a terrarium! ❤️
You probably already know this, but the node is the area on the stem that the leaves grow out of
But if you are looking to fill out your plant than it’s fine to prune it. Each pruned stem will give 2 new stems out of the node below it. Just be sure to cut off 2-4 leaves above that node. They also root really well, so if you just pop that cut part right back in the soil with a node buried it will root with in a week or two. I have dozens now because of that. It looks really nice, once it takes off you are going to be shocked at the rapid growth they put off in a terrarium! ❤️
You probably already know this, but the node is the area on the stem that the leaves grow out of
@PiousWaterfern I totally agree with @SuperbRaspfern on the overwatering . I spray my leaves and moss only for my terrarium . Though you got great advice from the poster mentioned .
@ArrakisTeraform @PiousWaterfern
I do agree it can be challenging to have a fully enclosed terrarium, but it is not impossible. With the perfect balance it can be done. I do not, simply by choice.
But I will point to David Latimer who created a self sustained ecosystem that has not only been surviving but THRIVING. It has indeed been sealed and remained growing since 1960! He did open it one time in 1972 for a little bit of water. But it is alive to this day, having never been opened since 1972.
The idea is you want to have a self sufficient ecosystem that rarely needs attention.
Now that same terrarium is still with its creator at a whopping 64 years old it’s nearing 65 years. So that is proof it can indeed be done!
In fact this terrarium has no bugs at all added. The plant itself which was a spiderwort seedling at the time was simply added to a bit of compost. Today it is still alive with no care. I added the above photo.
This is he himself posed with his worlds oldest terrarium. It looks pretty darn healthy to me! @Lifeis2short @Araceae @ILoveMyPlants
I do agree it can be challenging to have a fully enclosed terrarium, but it is not impossible. With the perfect balance it can be done. I do not, simply by choice.
But I will point to David Latimer who created a self sustained ecosystem that has not only been surviving but THRIVING. It has indeed been sealed and remained growing since 1960! He did open it one time in 1972 for a little bit of water. But it is alive to this day, having never been opened since 1972.
The idea is you want to have a self sufficient ecosystem that rarely needs attention.
Now that same terrarium is still with its creator at a whopping 64 years old it’s nearing 65 years. So that is proof it can indeed be done!
In fact this terrarium has no bugs at all added. The plant itself which was a spiderwort seedling at the time was simply added to a bit of compost. Today it is still alive with no care. I added the above photo.
This is he himself posed with his worlds oldest terrarium. It looks pretty darn healthy to me! @Lifeis2short @Araceae @ILoveMyPlants
@PiousWaterfern hi Lizzie, I would like to suggest that you use a proper terrarium vessel for your plant. A simple glass jar with a lid would work just fine.
@SuperbRaspfern @PiousWaterfern @ArrakisTeraform @ILoveMyPlants
Creating successful terrariums can be a big challenge. You’ll definitely lose more plants than what survives LOL. Almost all of my terrariums are closed. Dealing with mold is a learn as you go process. I use alcohol and water to spray on the mold to kill it.
Creating successful terrariums can be a big challenge. You’ll definitely lose more plants than what survives LOL. Almost all of my terrariums are closed. Dealing with mold is a learn as you go process. I use alcohol and water to spray on the mold to kill it.
@YammieOf3 this is my first terrarium and since I’m still trying out the concept I thought I’d try and keep costs down. A vase with cling film should do the job no?
@PiousWaterfern so not recommended. A mason jar, pickle jar, spaghetti sauce jar will work. You can also find cheap glass jars at the Dollar Tree, Dollar General, or Family Dollar
@PiousWaterfern or any clear wide mouth glass vase would work too, if you have one. You can put a plate on top of the opening to seal it.
@SuperbRaspfern this is very cool! But compost is teeming micro organisms which will put nutrients back into the soil. Microorganism would have been a better word choice than bugs!