Winter Projects: Terrariums & More

In winter, here in Kentucky, I need projects that will help me bring the outdoors inside.  I found working on my aquariums, terrariums and wabi kusa have been a lot of fun and a great way to bring a little green inside. Just seeing these little habitats take off and grow helps prevent cabin fever.

What is the difference between a terrarium, aquarium, paludarium, vivarium and wabi-kusa? The main difference is the amount of H2O in each habitat.

Aquariums

Aquariums are full of water with a mixture of fish and or plants fully submerged under the surface. Different types of ecosystems can be displayed in aquariums from fresh water to salt water. The Aquariums can be set up for displaying multiple fish and spawning or to showcase one specimen. My personal preference is when an tank is set up to capture nature. Many of these planted tanks are often refereed to as Aquascapes.

My aquarium

Colocasia Gigantea

Colocasia gigantea

It seems I need to add to this post. Colocasia Gigantea is now known by science as Leucocasia gigantea. It has been removed from the Colocasia group into it's own section.

Colocasia Gigantea (Thailand Strain) is a unique and large growing plant in the Araceae family (commonly called Aroids). The family consist of many unusual plants including Amorphophallus (voodoo lilies), Alocasia and Colocasia (elephant ears) and Spathiphyllum (peace lilys). 

Colocasia Maximus Gigantes PPAF

Colocasia Maximus Gigantes is one of a few new hybrids recently released in the Gigantes Series. This series is focused on a new type of Colocasia, they are an inter-genetic hybrid crossed with Leucocasia gigantea (Colocasia Gigantea Thailand Giant). These hybrids tend to be larger and more robust than regular Colocasia they also tend to show some new exciting traits not seen in other Colocasia hybrids. Colocasia Maximus gigantes produces leaves over 4 feet long and over 2 feet wide. Plants grow very large quickly. The below plant was grow in Louisville, KY in regular rich soil and in part sun. Plant was in 4 1/2 inch pot on May 10th and grew to this size by late August.

Colocasia Maximus PPAF

Colocasia "Black Ripple" PP26,151

Colocasia "Black Ripple" PP26,151 is one of most exciting hybrids to come out of our breeding program. The plants are vigorous and tight growing, which makes it very useful in every part of the garden from mass plantings to single plants in containers.


The leaves of Colocasia "Black Ripple" PP26,151are very dark and contrast well with light colored plants. The foliage has an amazing puckered/corrugated effect which gives it a 3D pattern not seen on any other hybrid. To top it off the beauty of this plants, leaves have a gorgeous sheen which reflects the light. The light that is reflected in the leaves causes Colocasia "Black Ripple" PP26,151 to look dramatically different throughout the day. Visitors to our trail fields have commented that Colocasia "Black Ripple" PP26,151 looks like it is out of this world, like it belongs on another planet. Dark red to black petioles contrast greatly with the robust dark maroon undersides of the leaves as they emerge and move in the breeze.