My first planting

[Barrus]

Hello,

So I've built myself a vivarium. Im ready to put some live plants in there to see how they like it before I even begin messing with creatures. Could someone please recommend some common (forgiving) plants I should use?

Im hoping for some small/medium/large type plant recommendations. Ie; one fern type, one broad-leafed plant, maybe an orchid or one of those tube shaped carniverous plants.....

Also...a stupid question about moss...if I pick up the dry moss packs (exo-terra) from my local pet store, is that live moss? will it "re-animate" and grow once it has some soil and water to grow in?

Thanks in advance.

[froggsong]

I am getting so mad at my stupid computer, going back a page when I have just typed an entire post and then when you go forward again this has to be the only website left that hasn't saved your typing... Anyway, ranting aside...

I had this nice long post about the virtues of dieffenbachia, but frankly I don't feel like remembering it all, lol... Here it is in a nutshell:

Dieffenbachia, good, pretty, hardy, grows well in terrarium, stands up to claws, trampling and heavy fat frogs. Get some, grow it, make baby plants by rooting cuttings. Therefore, dieffenbachia = good plant for vivaria.

As for the frog moss, as far as I know it will grow, I haven't used any before because I am allergic (which I found out when I bought some and opened the bag and it gave me such a bad allergy attack). I did decide to put some in my new tank that I am building, wearing a mask of course. I certainly hope it grows, I'm putting it where I want live moss.

[JohnEDove]

Well I can’t help much with the plants but I did once have luck getting some dried moss to grow.
Take about a cup of the dried moss, not packed and throw it in your blender.
Add to that a cup of buttermilk .
Puree until it is just soupy glop.
Spread the mix on wood stone or dirt and mist to keep moist until the moss grows.
Do Not over mist or you’ll wash off the glop and waste the mix.

Edit; also add 1T spoon sugar.

[Barrus]

Thanks for the suggestions, ill see if those are available here.

If anything else occurs to you, let me know!

[smaug]

That stuff in the bag is quite dead.black jungle sells live tropical moss and it is of wonderful quality.I have a half sheet growing in my viv.It comes in a 10" sq sheet and Will easily do most of the floor in a 20 gal viv [it spreads].I wish I could help with what live plants to get,I have quite a few but I do not yet know how forgiving they are.black jungle also carries the pitcher plants you asked about and as a matter of fact carry pretty much all the plants you could ever want.Good luck.

[froggsong]

I guess I should have elaborated asto why I think the frog moss will grow. I have never used it in a vive, but my mom did use some in a houseplant (I didn't live in the house, so it wasn't an issue for me) and the moss started growing after it had been watered repeatedly. Also, I DID have some moss out of a houseplant growing in one of my vives once. It was quite dead when I planted it in the vive (it was around another plant that didn't survive) but after being in there for a little over a week (maybe two weeks) it started growing. I'm not sure if what was already dead started growing, or if it contains some type of spores (seeds?) and that is what grows, but I know it is possible.

[smaug]

Im sure there could be the smallest spark of life in a big enough clump of it.I dont doubt you at all.Live moss in a viv is really cool and adds a big level of realism .I highly recomend it.

[JohnEDove]

Originally Posted by smaug

That stuff in the bag is quite dead.

I agree that the moss itself is quite dead. It is the spores that you are bringing to life. The mix only provide a suitable growing base.

[froggsong]

Originally Posted by JohnEDove

I agree that the moss itself is quite dead. It is the spores that you are bringing to life. The mix only provide a suitable growing base.

What mix exactly are you referring to? I don't doubt the two of you, but my moss didn't come in any mix... I'm actually not even sure what type of moss it is. It's green and mossy looking (lol). It's that stuff on the landing in my tank log that looks like a tree stump, actually.

[Barrus]

Black Jungle seems to be a pretty comprehensive site for this hobby...

Can anyone share any feedback on ordering from them online? Timeliness, quality, that sort of thing. (I live in Canada btw)