QuestionQUESTION: For species such as cephalotus and heliamphora I can't possibly cool the terrarium because my room is usually heated at around 75F and from the windosill. Can I put one of those refreezable ice packs in there? And how much to put in there to really drop the tmemperature (for summer and then winter)?
ANSWER: Hi Taylor,
You don't need to refrigerate the terrarium. Temperatures in the 70's are just fine. It's also much easier to light a terrarium with fluorescent lights rather than in a window. When I was younger I killed more than my share of plants by leaving a terrarium in a window, leaving for school, just to come home and find stewed plants. If you are going to spend the money for plants like Heliamphora or Cephalotus, it well worth the investment to purchase a couple of fluorescent lights for the top.
With these plants I would strongly recommend fluorescent tubes and not compact fluorescents. Compact fluorescents generate too much heat. If your terrarium is an aquarium, you can often find used light units at second hand stores and garage sales for very cheap. Two on a 10 gallon aquarium would do the job.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hmm, there could be a problem. My terrarium is 12 inches high! although, it is an exoterra terrarium and there are accesories such as flourescent tubes and bulbs and also a light canopy. Would those work?
AnswerHi Taylor,
Use one of these: http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/compact_top.php When I recommended not using a compact fluorescent I didn't know what your terrarium was like. The Exo Terra terrariums have a nice design on their hoods for compact fluorescents. Use the Repti-Glo 2.0 26 watt bulb. If you want to save some money on the bulb, just go to a hardware store and use a daylight compact fluorescent of similar wattage.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
