I am constructing my viv and have came to the top layer. I currently have peat moss and sphagnum. Do I have to choose one or the other or do I put the peat moss on top of the sphagnum? Any help would be amazing. Also I have plants to plant and do I need to add the soil they are in to the substrate or just shake the soil off and plant them just in the substrate?
For your plants you want to reduce the risk of pests and pathogens by bleaching. I rinse as much of the dirt out of the roots as I can, soak the plant for 10 minutes or so in water to make sure it is fully hydrated. Then I do a 10% bleach/water soak for 10 minutes. Rinse it really well. It is best if you can age the plant for 6 weeks to reduce the amount of systemics going into the viv.
Are you suggesting six weeks after the bleach treatment to put the plant into another pot/grow out area for the systemic issues-- ("in the plant's system-leaves and roots") before actually putting the plant into the vivarium.....? makes sense...
That's what I like to do Judy. After cleaning, I plant it in ABG mix and put them under a shop light fluorescent. Then, when setting up my viv, they are ready to go with no further treatment. I can plant them with or without the ABG "dirt ball" in the roots as it's already been cleaned. Alternatively, I can simply take a cutting of it and leave the rest there to continue growing out for the next build.
I completely understand the additional time for "grow out", but is it absolutely necessary. I don't have an extra tank for growing plants out, plus with a new build I will be buying a lot of plants at once and would need a rather large tank to do this. Can the plants be placed in the new viv right away? I plan on waiting a few months to add any kind of frogs to make sure the tank is stable anyways.
That's a decision you'll have to make for yourself. Some people put them straight in and others do not. I choose to age them for a minimum of 6 months whenever possible. Here is a good thread discussing systemics. http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/plants/59987-home-depot-question.html
Oh, and it has nothing to do with "grow out" time. I do it to let some of the systemic pesticide poisons wear off.
Oops, I meant 6 weeks or a month and a half. 3 months would be even better and I often do that.
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