Terrarium for starting seeds

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I mentioned a year ago or so that I was going to set up this terrarium for starting seeds, and someone asked me to post a photo of it when I got it set up, and so here it is! The box is 36.5"W x 16"D x 17.5"H, and I used to keep an iguana in it that someone gave me. It has a heating pad in it (on the left, in front of the thermometer), and this keeps the air temperature at 82°. In addition to chocolate Habanero seed (some that I bought and some that I saved from chilies I grew last year), I also have lemongrass, summery savory, and miscellaneous seeds given to me by a friend, who will be able to identify the plants later, if they grow. Some of these may make hot chilies and some may make mild chilies, but he said that tasted good anyway.

In just three days, the lemongrass seeds have already sprouted. I'm going to be adding some more chili seeds later, when I receive them, but the chocolate Habaneros need to get a head start. Last year we were out of town the end of February/early March, and so I could not start my seeds until March, and I had a difficult time with them, as I was only using the covered box inside the terrarium, and perhaps it did not stay warm enough. Anyway, it took a while to get seeds started the old way, and I did not get chocolate Habanero chilies until early December, and I only had one good plant despite planting dozens of seeds. Fortunately I was able to buy some chocolate Habanero chilies at one of the farmers' markets here, but I very seldom see them. I made as much hot sauce as I could with what I had, but it is not going to last me very long. Plus I have to give some of it as a Christmas present each year.

Some of the seeds are outside the large box inside the terrarium, and I am wondering how I should handle watering them. I would prefer to spray them with water without moving them, as the containers start to come apart when I handle them too much. Should I get another container to hold them? What is the ideal temperature for sprouting chocolate Habanero seeds?

Featured Answer

Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)

5 years ago

I put a clip on desk fan plugged into a cheap fan speed controller in mine. Those AC fan controllers come in pretty handy.

Comments (8)

daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
5 years ago
I don't see any light. Does it have a light? Without light, seeds will start fine, but they won't grow.
Lars thanked daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
susanzone5 (NY)
5 years ago
Terrariums encourage dampoff disease due to lack of sufficient airflow.
Lars thanked susanzone5 (NY)
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daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
5 years ago
I guess if the whole purpose is just to sprout seeds, no light and high humidity is (usually) fine, and warmth is helpful. I just cover my seedling cups with recycled plastic tube bags. Once the seedlings emerge, I remove the bags. In fact, just to sprout seeds, you don't even need any soil.
Lars thanked daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
Lars
Original Author
5 years ago
The room that the terrarium is in has a skylight, plus it is close to sliding glass doors and across from a large window. So it does get some light, but once the seeds are sprouted, I will move them to an area that gets more light.

From what I have read, dampoff disease is more likely in a cooler temperature, and so the heat should help prevent that. I'll have to see whether that occurs or not, but thanks for bringing it to my attention.
daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
UCa extension says that higher temps promote damping off.

Penn State Extension says that both low, and high temps promote damping off

UMn extension says that low temps promote damping off.

Go figure. I can see reasons for both. Everything grows faster at higher temperatures, and for a given amount of water in the atmosphere, the humidity is higher when it is cooler.
Lars thanked daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)
5 years ago
You could always rig up a small computer fan to the top of the aquarium. I used an old cordless house phone plug wired up to a computer fan to use for my chicken egg incubator that didnt come with a fan.

They even have colored lights in some of the computer fans. They are cheap.

I put a metal lid a few inches under the fan to keep it from blowing down forcefully right on the eggs. You could do the same for the plants.
Lars thanked sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)
Lars
Original Author
5 years ago
The chili seeds are starting to sprout now, but the last ones to sprout are the chocolate Habanero seeds that I bought. The ones that I saved from chilies I grew seem to be doing better than the ones I bought.

I'll look into adding a fan later. For now, I'm going to leave it as it is. I've been taking the trays out every day or every other day to add water.