Vivarium Live Plant Master List

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ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 20, 2007
Messages
5,357
The purpose of this thread is to provide a good go-to list of plants that do well in terrariums. Hopefully this template will be useful for all to add plant info:

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Scientific name:

Common name(s):

Plant type (i.e. vine, bush, etc.):

Lighting requirement:

Water requirement:

Temperature requirement:

Growth speed:

Propagation method:

Photograph(s):

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I'll start:

Scientific name: Cryptanthus spp.

Common name(s): Earth Star

Plant type (i.e. vine, bush, etc.): Bush

Lighting requirement: Low-medium

Water requirement: Medium

Temperature requirement: Room temp (70-85F)

Growth speed: Medium

Propagation method: Rhizomes, tubers, corms, bulbs
 

Tim Benzedrine

Prankster Possum
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Joined
Apr 4, 2004
Messages
1,496
Scientific name: Epipremnum aureum

Common name(s): Pothos

Plant type (i.e. vine, bush, etc.): Vine

Lighting requirement: Bright Indirect light preferred, but are low-light tolerant. Can burn beneath direct sunlight.

Water requirement: Not too fussy. As a rule of thumb, water when soil becomes dry to touch approximately an inch below the surface.

Temperature requirement: Tolerant at ranges of around 60F to 85F, but is fairly forgiving.

Growth speed: Medium in good conditions, expect to trim back periodically.

Propagation method: Extremely prolific, you can propagate Pothos by placing cuttings in soil or directly un a container of water and probably in molten lava or hydrochloric acid as well, it's that easy to get started, ;)

Comments: One of the more popular "go to" plants for tropical/temperate vivarium plantings, the pothos is easy to obtain, grow and propagate. It is available in solid and variegated leaf colourations.
The plant is toxic to a degree so caution should probably be used when planting in vivariums intended for herbivorous specimens. Generally not considered a threat, but it is listed as toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA.

Photograph(s):Ceratophyrs cranwelli Tank planted with pothos, foliage detail.
Point of interest-Technically speaking the plant illustrated is approximately 35 years old , having been started by my mother in the mid 70's from a tiny cutting purchased at a yard sale for 10 cents. This makes it something of an heirloom plant as well as a testament to it's hardiness.
 

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dtknow

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 18, 2004
Messages
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Scientific name: Syngonium rayii

Common name(s):

Plant type (i.e. vine, bush, etc.): rosette/vining

Lighting requirement: low light ok.

Water requirement: prefers very moist soil. High humidity best.

Temperature requirement: Tolerant at ranges of around 60F to 85F, but is fairly forgiving.

Growth speed: Medium in good conditions, expect to trim back periodically.

Propagation method: Rosettes eventually produce a vine that sprouts plants along intervals. Very easy to propagate.

Comments: Great plant for rainforest terrariums. One of the smallest Syngoniums. In moist/wet soil in a humid terrarium it is nearly indestructable.

Photograph(s)

Scientific name: Monstera obliqua

Common name(s):

Plant type (i.e. vine, bush, etc.): Vine

Lighting requirement: Bright Indirect light preferred, but are low-light tolerant. Can burn beneath direct sunlight.

Water requirement: moist soil

Temperature requirement: Tolerant at ranges of around 60F to 85F, but is fairly forgiving.

Growth speed: Medium in good conditions, expect to trim back periodically.

Propagation method: cuttings

Comments: good small terrarium Monstera. Neat windows in leaves-stays much smaller in terrarium than the larger but similar looking "Swiss Cheese Plant"

Photograph(s)
 

zonbonzovi

Creeping beneath you
Old Timer
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Oct 20, 2008
Messages
3,346
Scientific name:

genus Phalaenopsis(many species & hybrids)

Common name(s):

Common orchids, Moth orchids

Plant type (i.e. vine, bush, etc.):

epiphytic, flowering

Lighting requirement:

indirect, bright sunlight (although I've had great success with them in terrariums under 70W daylight bulbs)

Water requirement:

More tolerant of standing water than other genera, but still not advised. Roots should remain slightly moist Daily misting with time allowed to dry completely works best. Fertilize with a time release fert. weekly in spring/fall. I've had great results with bat guano tea used in smaller amounts than commercial fertilizers.

Temperature requirement:

Comfortable house temps. fine

65-85F
Growth speed:

Sssssllloooowwwww. If using for cover, get a mature plant.

Propagation method:

Covered ad nauseum on various websites & a little too involved for a complete description here.

Photograph(s):

http://www.slipperorchid.com/gallery_phals.asp

Other: Most Phals reach large sizes and require larger tanks, although I have had one in a 10-gallon cube with no ill effects. Loose peat works fine for a substrate in lieu of orchid bark.
 

Louise E. Rothstein

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Feb 10, 2005
Messages
430
I grafted pothos with Monstera deliciosa.
I can't fruit a Monstera in this climate because a fruiting Monsera needs more room than I have.
So I grafted Monstera slivers into their smaller relatives...but the cells from these grafts dispersed throughout the pothos' bodies.
They produced two-in-one botanical chimeras with altered,interesting leaves...and I wonder...

Would they do that for you too...?
 

Shrike

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
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Jul 8, 2006
Messages
1,598
Scientific name: Philodendron scandens

Common name(s): Heart Leaf Philodendron, Green Philodendron

Plant type: Vine

Lighting requirement:
Low-Medium

Water requirement:
Medium, water when soil begins to dry out, will really thrive at higher humidity

Temperature requirement:
Room temp (70-85F)

Growth speed: Medium

Propagation method:
cuttings, layering

This plant will attach itself to a climbing surface such as cork bark.

18th October 2008 Philodendron hederaceum (2) (300 x 400).jpg
 
Last edited:

Shrike

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
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Jul 8, 2006
Messages
1,598
Scientific name: Ficus pumila

Common name(s): Creeping Fig

Plant type: Vine

Lighting requirement: Low-Medium

Water requirement: Medium, water when soil begins to dry out, will really thrive at higher humidity

Temperature requirement: Room temp (70-85F)

Growth speed: Can grow quickly

Propagation method: cuttings, air layering

This plant will attach itself to a climbing surface such as cork bark. I'm not sure if this would be a good candidate for a small terrarium as it has a tendency to take over it's surroundings.

ficus-pumila.jpg
 

grayzone

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
Jan 17, 2011
Messages
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this is EXACTLY the thread ive been lookin for.... guess the search function works afterall.... great stuff.. keep it coming everybody...
 

*Self_DeFenCe*

Arachnosquire
Old Timer
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May 21, 2008
Messages
66
Scientific name: Selaginella erythropus

Common name(s): Ruby red spikemoss

Plant type: Groundcover

Lighting requirement:
Low

Water requirement: High humidity, doesn't like dry air.

Temperature requirement: Room temperature.

Growth speed: Slow to get established

Propagation method:
Cuttings

Photograph(s):




Red underneath
 

Kazaam

Arachnobaron
Joined
Sep 6, 2012
Messages
591
Scientific name: Peperomia pecuniifolia

Common name(s): None.

Plant type (i.e. vine, bush, etc.): Groundcover, Vine.

Lighting requirement: Low/medium.

Water requirement: Low.

Temperature requirement: Room temperature.

Growth speed: Slow to medium.

Propagation method: Cuttings (extremely easy)

Photograph(s):
 

pitbulllady

Arachnoking
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May 1, 2004
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2,290
Scientific Name: Rhipsalis/Lepismium sp.

Common Name(s): (varies with species) Mistletoe Cactus, Seaweed Cactus, Old Man's Beard, etc. Many species do not have common names in English.

Plant Type: Epiphytic cacti; tend to be trailing, though some species are more upright.

Lighting Requirement: Medium/filtered sunlight; tend not to do well in either complete shade or prolonged direct sun.

Water Requirement: Moderate in summer and low in winter; in summer soil/substrate should not be allowed to remain dry for more than a few days, but in winter the plants require far less and can tolerate drying out to some extent.

Temperature Requirement: Average room temperature to 100 degrees+; also some species very tolerant of low temps in winter provided they are protected from frost. Mine winter on an enclosed porch and have survived temps in the teens(F).

Growth Speed: depends on season and condition; ranges from moderate to "HOLY______!"

Propagation Method: Cuttings, VERY easy.

Additional Info: Can be kept in traditional potting mix or as an epiphyte anchored to cork bark, etc. Many species exhibit short spines, especially on new growth, but spines are very soft and pose no risk to either humans or other animals coming into contact with the plant. Rhipsalis produce numerous small flowers and fruit in the form of berries. Berries are small but are considered edible.

Examples:

Rhipsalis baccifera horrida


Rhipsalis capillariformis-"Old Man's Beard"


Rhipsalis ewaldianna


Lepismium houlletiana(formerly R. houlletiana)


Rhipsalis elliptica


Lepismium warmingiana(formerly R. warmingiana)


Rhipsalis prismatica


Rhipsalis simmleri cereuscula aka "Rice Cactus"


Rhipsalis pilocarpa bloom


pitbulllady
 

Bliksoldaatjie

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jan 20, 2017
Messages
4
Hi all

Just have a question would thyme and coriander be possible in a Tarantula cage as neither really need water or light(have always died with light and water should run fine with misting of t cage)

kind regards
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
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Aug 8, 2005
Messages
11,044
You probably want to avoid thyme as it's oil is a pretty powerful biocide. That's a shame because it is a very hardy, attractive a nice smelling evergreen.
 

schmiggle

Arachnoking
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Nov 3, 2013
Messages
2,220
Also coriander is an annual, so you'd have to replace it relatively often (I don't know anything about toxicity)
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
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Messages
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Also coriander is an annual, so you'd have to replace it relatively often (I don't know anything about toxicity)
Yups. Something like 5 months tops. It's edible, by man and beast. If you keep veggy loving critters it may get mowed frequently.
 
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