Understanding the care requirements of a Vase Paludarium

The Urban Nemophilist

22 Mar 202404:11

Summary

TLDRIn this video, the creator revisits a neglected vase paludarium three months after its setup. The glass is fogged and the lid warped, but the plants, including Anubias Nana Petit and moss, are surprisingly resilient. The absence of nutrients is addressed with the introduction of DOOA Wabikusa mist fertilizer. Mold on the wood is cleaned, and unhealthy sections of moss and selaginella are trimmed. The Sphagnum Moss is replaced with aquatic Christmas Moss for better adaptation. The paludarium is relocated to a brighter spot, cleaned, and refilled with RO water. The creator plans weekly fertilization, water changes, and cleanups to ensure its health and growth.

Takeaways

🌿 The paludarium has been neglected for three months and needs attention.
🔨 The lid has warped, which can potentially harm the enclosed environment by allowing moisture to escape.
🌱 The setup lacks nutrients from the beginning, highlighting the importance of introducing liquid fertilizers for plant growth.
🍃 Despite the lack of nutrients, the Anubias Nana Petit has grown a new leaf and needs fertilization to prevent yellowing.
🪵 There is mold on the wood, which can be cleaned off, and the wood has naturally darkened due to tannin release.
🌾 The Moss has mostly thrived, but some areas have turned brown, possibly due to insufficient light or nutrients.
🌿 The selaginella has grown in most parts but has turned pale in sections, indicating a need for nutrients and light.
🌲 The Sphagnum Moss at the back has turned pale, likely from too much water and insufficient light, and will be replaced with aquatic Christmas Moss.
💧 The DOOA Wabikusa mist is chosen as the liquid fertilizer for the paludarium, also serving as a pest repellant.
🧼 The paludarium was cleaned, water refilled, and the glass wiped clean to improve conditions.
💡 The paludarium has been moved to a new shelf with brighter lighting and will be maintained with weekly fertilizer dosing, water changes, and cleanups.

Q & A

What is a paludarium and what is its purpose?
-A paludarium is a type of vivarium that combines both aquatic and terrestrial environments, typically used to house plants and sometimes small aquatic animals. It is designed to create a self-sustaining ecosystem that mimics a natural wetland or rainforest environment.
Why did the paludarium not receive the attention it needed?
-The paludarium did not receive attention because it has been sitting untouched in a corner of the shelf for three months, indicating a lack of maintenance and care during this period.
What is the significance of the dirty and fogged up glass in the paludarium?
-The dirty and fogged up glass is not only aesthetically unappealing but also hinders visibility and light penetration, which can affect the health and growth of the plants inside.
Why did the lid develop a slight warp and what are its implications?
-The lid developed a slight warp due to the common feature with thin acrylic sheets. This can cause trapped moisture to escape, which is detrimental as it can lead to an imbalance in the humidity levels necessary for the plants' health.
What is the role of liquid fertilizers in a nutrient-deficient setup like the paludarium?
-Liquid fertilizers are critical for nutrient-deficient setups as they provide essential nutrients to support plant growth, especially when the setup lacks natural sources of nutrients from the start.
How did the Anubias Nana Petit adapt to the paludarium's conditions?
-The Anubias Nana Petit adapted by attaching its roots onto the rock and even produced a new leaf, demonstrating its resilience despite the lack of nutrients and attention.
What is the natural process that caused the wood to turn darker in the paludarium?
-The wood turned darker due to the natural process of tannins release and wood disintegration, which is a common occurrence in environments like paludariums.
What issues were observed with the moss and how were they addressed?
-Some moss turned brown, likely due to poor conditions, and was brushed off. The Sphagnum Moss at the back turned pale, possibly due to water exposure and insufficient light, and was replaced with aquatic Christmas Moss for better adaptation.
Why was the selaginella showing signs of pale sections?
-The pale sections of the selaginella could be due to a lack of nutrients and insufficient light, indicating that it needs more care and possibly a change in its environment.
What is the role of DOOA Wabikusa mist in the paludarium?
-The DOOA Wabikusa mist serves as a liquid fertilizer, providing necessary nutrients to the plants in the paludarium. It also has a repellant effect on pests, helping to maintain a healthy environment.
What changes were made to improve the paludarium's conditions?
-The paludarium was cleaned, refilled with water, and the glass was wiped thoroughly. The floaters were removed due to their poor health, and the paludarium was moved to a new shelf with brighter lighting. A plan to dose with liquid fertilizer weekly, along with regular water changes and cleanups, was implemented.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Paludarium Neglect and Revitalization

This paragraph details the state of a neglected paludarium, a miniature ecosystem combining plants and water, which has been left unattended for three months. The author describes the initial setup using lava rock and epiphytic plants, the issues arising from lack of maintenance such as dirty glass and slight warping of the acrylic lid, and the absence of nutrients in the setup. The plants, including Anubias Nana Petit and moss, are observed to be in varying states of health, with some showing signs of nutrient deficiency and mold growth. The author plans to address these issues by introducing liquid fertilizers, cleaning the setup, and moving it to a brighter location for better plant growth.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Paludarium

A paludarium is a type of vivarium that combines elements of both an aquarium and a terrarium, typically housing both aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals. In the video's context, the paludarium is the main subject, with the creator discussing its setup and maintenance over the past three months. The video aims to address the issues and care needed for a healthy paludarium environment.

💡Epiphtytic plants

Epiphytic plants are those that grow on other plants for support, deriving nutrients and moisture from the air and rain, rather than soil. In the script, the creator mentions mounting epiphytic plants on a lava rock within the paludarium, emphasizing their importance for the setup's aesthetic and ecological balance.

💡Acrylic sheets

Acrylic sheets are lightweight, transparent plastic materials often used in place of glass for various applications, including aquariums and terrariums. The video mentions a slight warp in the acrylic lid, which can be a common issue due to its thinness and is important because it can affect the enclosure's ability to retain moisture.

💡Nutrients

Nutrients are essential substances that plants need for growth and development. The video script highlights the lack of nutrients in the paludarium setup from the beginning and the importance of introducing liquid fertilizers to support plant growth, which is a critical aspect of maintaining a healthy paludarium.

💡Anubias Nana Petit

Anubias Nana Petit is a specific type of Anubias plant, a popular aquatic plant known for its hardiness and ability to attach to rocks or driftwood. In the script, the creator notes that the Anubias Nana Petit has rooted onto the rock and produced a new leaf, indicating its resilience despite the lack of nutrients.

💡Mold growth

Mold growth refers to the development of fungi on surfaces, which can occur in moist environments like a paludarium. The video script mentions a slight mold growth on the wood, which is a common issue that can be addressed by cleaning and maintaining proper environmental conditions.

💡Tannins

Tannins are naturally occurring compounds found in plants, particularly in wood, that can leach into water and give it a brown color. The script describes the wood in the paludarium turning darker as part of the natural process of tannin release and wood disintegration, which is a normal part of the paludarium's lifecycle.

💡Selaginella

Selaginella is a genus of plants often used in vivariums and paludariums for their ability to thrive in humid environments. The video script discusses the condition of the selaginella, noting that while most parts have grown, some sections have turned pale, possibly due to nutrient deficiency and light issues.

💡Sphagnum Moss

Sphagnum moss is a type of moss known for its water-absorbing properties and is often used in terrariums and paludariums to maintain humidity. The script mentions that the Sphagnum moss on top is doing well, but some at the back has turned pale, likely due to water exposure and insufficient light.

💡Aquatic Christmas Moss

Aquatic Christmas moss is a type of moss that can thrive submerged in water, making it suitable for aquatic environments like a paludarium. The video script describes the decision to replace the pale Sphagnum moss with aquatic Christmas Moss, which is expected to fare better in the setup.

💡Liquid fertilizer

Liquid fertilizers are solutions containing nutrients that are easily absorbed by plants. The video script mentions the use of DOOA Wabikusa mist as a liquid fertilizer for the paludarium, emphasizing its importance for providing the necessary nutrients to the plants.

💡RO water

RO water, or reverse osmosis water, is water that has been purified of impurities and minerals. The script mentions that the RO water used in the paludarium lacks nutrients, which is why it's necessary to supplement with liquid fertilizers to support plant life.

Highlights

The paludarium has been neglected for three months.

Dirty and fogged up glass is affecting the paludarium's appearance.

The lid has developed a slight warp, potentially causing harm by allowing trapped moisture to escape.

The setup was devoid of nutrients from the beginning, critical for introducing liquid fertilizers.

Plants can support themselves with stored nutrients for a limited time.

Anubias Nana Petit has rooted and produced a new leaf, but needs fertilization to prevent yellowing.

Mold growth on the wood can be easily brushed off.

Wood has naturally darkened due to tannins release and disintegration.

Moss is mostly doing well, but some areas have turned brown.

Selaginella has grown but some sections have turned pale, possibly due to lack of nutrients and light.

Sphagnum Moss at the back has turned pale, likely due to water exposure and insufficient light.

Aquatic Christmas Moss will replace the Sphagnum Moss for better adaptation to the setup.

DOOA Wabikusa mist is chosen as the liquid fertilizer for its effectiveness and pest repellent properties.

Floaters are not in good health due to lack of nutrients and need brighter lighting.

The vase was cleaned, water refilled, and the glass wiped thoroughly.

Floaters will be omitted this time to improve the paludarium's health.

The paludarium is now placed in a new shelf with brighter lighting.

A weekly plan for liquid fertilization, water changes, and cleanups is established.