Re: terrarium mantainance

Robert Allen (Robert.Allen@Eng.Sun.COM)
Tue, 25 May 93 09:00:52 PDT

>>I do have one concern with this structure and that is mold. I bought
>>a N. Reinwardtiana at the BACPS meeting this weekend and it looks like
>>it may be growing some mold. I've applied some Greenlight Systemic
>>Fungacide 50% (1-Benomyl, 2-benzimindazolecarbamate) to try to combate
>>it and insolated the plant. But, this raises my general worry about
>>mold. So, I wanted to pose a couple of questions:

I have a 35 gallon fishtank under lights. It's not completely sealed,
but there isn't much air circulation. I used to have a
submerged acquarium heater in there but don't right now.
With the heater I had problems with mold on seedlings. That
can be fought with benomyl W.P.. Aside from that I have no
problems. Twice a year I take the plants out and clean the
glass so it looks like a nice display, but aside from that
there's no maintenance other than watering the plants once in
a while.

I have the so-called "eggcrate" plastic grid material on the bottom
to keep the plants out of any accumulated water, 2 4' tubes, and 1
3' tube on top. Temps are 80 F days, 70 F nights. I'm hoping
to build a larger case soon which will have more lights, and
more space. Joe Mazrimas said that he used to produce HUGE and
vigorous N. rafflesiana with a similar case.

Robert