Silk plants in your Ts terrarium(s)?

[-Sarah-]

Hi everyone,

I just had an idea and decided to post it and ask if anyone else has done this. Rather than using plastic (i.e. 'fishbowl plants') or real plants in your Ts terrarium, has anyone used those faux silk plants (made of the same material used to make those faux silk flowers)? I'm just curious if those are okay to use to dress up terrariums, and to see if anybody else uses them and/or has any comments on them. Thanks!

Sarah

 

[Michael Jacobi]

Hi everyone,

I just had an idea and decided to post it and ask if anyone else has done this. Rather than using plastic (i.e. 'fishbowl plants') or real plants in your Ts terrarium, has anyone used those faux silk plants (made of the same material used to make those faux silk flowers)? I'm just curious if those are okay to use to dress up terrariums, and to see if anybody else uses them and/or has any comments on them. Thanks!

Sarah

Yes. Although I primarily use live plants, I do use silk plants in smaller terraria such as gallon jars and deli cups. They're less expensive than the over-priced plastic aquarium plants, especially if you buy them at "dollar stores" as I do. As you will notice in many of the photographs posted on this site, many people use silk plants. (I wish they'd keep them out of photos though as they are so fake-looking and IMO ruin photos). Plastic plants are more attractive, but costly.

Cheers, Michael

 

[cacoseraph]

one thing i'd be very careful with when buying "craft" type plants. some of the interesting looking fake plants i considered buying from places like Michaels and other craft stores were quite "smelly" when i got them to my house. they smelled almost like perfume...

now perfume is usually alcohol to suspend the scent molecules in, and that sort of reminds me of the plant smell

i guess my moral or whatever is make sure there is no foreign stuff sprayed on any fake plants you might stick in your spider/bug cages

 

[pureabsolutevoid]

I use them all the time with zero problems... My versicolor loves webbing up in fake leaves, he goes crazy!

 

[MizM]

one thing i'd be very careful with when buying "craft" type plants. some of the interesting looking fake plants i considered buying from places like Michaels and other craft stores were quite "smelly" when i got them to my house. they smelled almost like perfume...

now perfume is usually alcohol to suspend the scent molecules in, and that sort of reminds me of the plant smell

i guess my moral or whatever is make sure there is no foreign stuff sprayed on any fake plants you might stick in your spider/bug cages

Good point. Also be very careful to trim any loose threads and bury or clip any exposed wire. It's not a good idea to use fake grape vines that have little "curlies" of plastic as the T could get caught up in it.

I thoroughly wash anything I use in enclosures before putting them in, and on an as-needed basis once installed.

Gosh MJ, I thought they looked so lifelike in all my photos.

 

[-Sarah-]

Thank you!

Thanks for the suggestions and help! I've noticed that certain craft stores have the scented plants and so I avoid them at all costs (Not only would they be unhealthy for the spider, they also smell rather nasty, anyway). I dug everywhere in that silly stack of flowers for some decent, real-looking leaves and found some, thankfully. I dislike the look of many fake plants because you can tell that they're fake (Well, they are, but many look so unbelievably cheap you wonder how they even sell some of them). I'm not going to make my T put up with a cheap-looking terrarium so I put some very realistic-looking plants in there for him Speaking of dollar stores, I work at a 'dollar store' part time (It's a fun first job and I absolutely love it). I got a few of the faux plants the other day and trimmed them down nicely to fit in my G. Rosea's terrarium. I finally managed to get my hands on some decent peat moss today and refurbished his little 'home' today, he's liking it so far Thank you again for all of your help!

Sarah

 

[MizM]

Thanks for the suggestions and help! I've noticed that certain craft stores have the scented plants and so I avoid them at all costs (Not only would they be unhealthy for the spider, they also smell rather nasty, anyway). I dug everywhere in that silly stack of flowers for some decent, real-looking leaves and found some, thankfully. I dislike the look of many fake plants because you can tell that they're fake (Well, they are, but many look so unbelievably cheap you wonder how they even sell some of them). I'm not going to make my T put up with a cheap-looking terrarium so I put some very realistic-looking plants in there for him Speaking of dollar stores, I work at a 'dollar store' part time (It's a fun first job and I absolutely love it). I got a few of the faux plants the other day and trimmed them down nicely to fit in my G. Rosea's terrarium. I finally managed to get my hands on some decent peat moss today and refurbished his little 'home' today, he's liking it so far Thank you again for all of your help!

Sarah

Dollar stores ROCK if you own Ts! I have found some of my best arboreal set ups there, tall plastic containers with plenty of room and clear as glass. They often have fake plants (I don't use flowers, just greenery) and potting soil... all KINDS of stuff to make gorgeous, inexpensive enclosures. Do you get a discount?

 

[Gesticulator]

I have also had issues with the color running off the silk plants. I bought many of mine from Crate and Barrel. I know that they look fake, but I like adding color to my set ups.

 

[snoflax]

I use silk plants for my aboreals, havent had a problem with them. I rinsed them first to make sure they were coloursafe. my Ts love them

 

[Fille]

Haven't had any problems with silk plants either. My genniculata just loves them, they're that much easier to puncture than plastic ones.