Care of AlpiScapes-
The basics
LIGHT
These plants require indirect light. Never put in direct sunlight or outside. The glass will magnify the light and burn the plants.
WATER
Open Terrariums (this includes those with a replaceable lid for night time) - Pour water directly into soil to make the soil very moist (around half a cup): typically once every 7-14 days depending on season and climate (more in hot or dry weather, less in cold).
Keep soil moist between watering but not soaking wet. Don't let open terrariums dry out completely.
Check for water in rocks bottom of terrarium, 1cm is adequate, the rocks should all be wet but not submerged.
(If you are going away for extended time you can put a lid on it and this will keep it moist)
Sealed Terrariums - require little watering, check the soil is moist. When in doubt, it is always better to withhold water then to give too much. Sealed terrariums will fog up.
PRUNING
Many plants in a terrarium will gradually outgrow their limited space. A little trimming often promotes side shoots that fill out plants.
Be sure to remove all dead vegetation from the terrarium. You should also trim tips if they start to touch the glass.
Remove any plants that begin to rot.
Rot is often associated with too much moisture. Terrarium may need re-potting when root bound.
CLEANING
Periodically, the glass will need to be cleaned with a damp cloth to remove build up on glass.
Things to keep an eye on
Brown Leaf
Often indicates too much sun or dehydration.
Yellowing or Dropping Leaves
Too much watering, leave the lid off and let it dry out for a few days.
Extreme Reaching of Plant
Too dark, bring it to some indirect light.
The basics
LIGHT
These plants require indirect light. Never put in direct sunlight or outside. The glass will magnify the light and burn the plants.
WATER
Open Terrariums (this includes those with a replaceable lid for night time) - Pour water directly into soil to make the soil very moist (around half a cup): typically once every 7-14 days depending on season and climate (more in hot or dry weather, less in cold).
Keep soil moist between watering but not soaking wet. Don't let open terrariums dry out completely.
Check for water in rocks bottom of terrarium, 1cm is adequate, the rocks should all be wet but not submerged.
(If you are going away for extended time you can put a lid on it and this will keep it moist)
Sealed Terrariums - require little watering, check the soil is moist. When in doubt, it is always better to withhold water then to give too much. Sealed terrariums will fog up.
PRUNING
Many plants in a terrarium will gradually outgrow their limited space. A little trimming often promotes side shoots that fill out plants.
Be sure to remove all dead vegetation from the terrarium. You should also trim tips if they start to touch the glass.
Remove any plants that begin to rot.
Rot is often associated with too much moisture. Terrarium may need re-potting when root bound.
CLEANING
Periodically, the glass will need to be cleaned with a damp cloth to remove build up on glass.
Things to keep an eye on
Brown Leaf
Often indicates too much sun or dehydration.
Yellowing or Dropping Leaves
Too much watering, leave the lid off and let it dry out for a few days.
Extreme Reaching of Plant
Too dark, bring it to some indirect light.
Starring-
The True Mosses
Native Mosses -
Polytrichadelphus magellanicus.innovans
Calomnion complanatum
The Club Mosses
Lycopodium fastigiatum
Creeping club moss- Lycopodium scariosum
The Lichens
Pebbled Pixie Cup - Cladonia pyxidata
Coral lichen - Cladia retipora
Snow Lichen - Cladia retipora
Strap lichens - Ramalina
Devils matchstick - Cladonia floerkeana
Common Fructose Lichen - Stereocaulon corticatulum
Reindeer Lichen - Cladina leptoclada
The Creepers
Panakenake - Pratia Angularia
The Ferns
Bird's Nest fern, 'ekaha, 'ekaha kuahiwi- Asplenium nidus L.
Butterfly fern - Chamaefilix flabellifolium
Filmy Maidenhair - Adiantum diaphanum
Leather-leaf fern, Ngarara Wehi - Pyrrosia eleagnifolia
Kidney fern, Raurenga - Trichomanes reniforme
Puhinui, Tawatawa - Adiantum cunninghamii
The Fungi
Also, occasional overnight sprouting of mushrooms.
These will last from a few days to a couple of weeks depending on conditions inside the AlpiScape. Once you discover these little fruiting Mycelium, they will continue to visit from time to time.
The True Mosses
Native Mosses -
Polytrichadelphus magellanicus.innovans
Calomnion complanatum
The Club Mosses
Lycopodium fastigiatum
Creeping club moss- Lycopodium scariosum
The Lichens
Pebbled Pixie Cup - Cladonia pyxidata
Coral lichen - Cladia retipora
Snow Lichen - Cladia retipora
Strap lichens - Ramalina
Devils matchstick - Cladonia floerkeana
Common Fructose Lichen - Stereocaulon corticatulum
Reindeer Lichen - Cladina leptoclada
The Creepers
Panakenake - Pratia Angularia
The Ferns
Bird's Nest fern, 'ekaha, 'ekaha kuahiwi- Asplenium nidus L.
Butterfly fern - Chamaefilix flabellifolium
Filmy Maidenhair - Adiantum diaphanum
Leather-leaf fern, Ngarara Wehi - Pyrrosia eleagnifolia
Kidney fern, Raurenga - Trichomanes reniforme
Puhinui, Tawatawa - Adiantum cunninghamii
The Fungi
Also, occasional overnight sprouting of mushrooms.
These will last from a few days to a couple of weeks depending on conditions inside the AlpiScape. Once you discover these little fruiting Mycelium, they will continue to visit from time to time.
