Bio-Active Terrariums | Plant Species – Desert & Grasses

Authored by Jeremy Kosonic

Bio-Active Terrarium Plant Species|Desert Plants & Grasses

Desert/Xeric Plants

Cacti
Found almost exclusively in the New World, cacti can be a great addition to arid or dry forest enclosures if given enough light, and a soil that drains quickly.  Some people tend to worry about the spines found on most cacti; if you have an inhabitant that naturally occurs among them, there isn’t really a need to worry. Just make sure there is room in the enclosure to go around it without having to come into contact with it 24/7. There are some spineless cacti, such as Opuntia ficus-indica, which is also edible and a great staple for herbivores.

Native to dry forests and grasslands of Africa and SW Asia, (Sansevieria spp.) do well in both savannah/scrub tanks as well as tropical, high humidity setups. The key to keeping these plants happy is allowing the soil to dry slightly. Assuming this is followed, this plant is nearly bullet-proof. Most common species will outgrow enclosures shorter than 3′, but with the slow growth this plant exhibits, it can be relatively easy to control. Some of the smaller species include (Sansevieria cylidrica, S. trifasciata ‘Hahnii’, S. gracilis, S. horwoodii, and S. parva).

Haworthia spp. & Aloe spp.
Closely related, these two species are found in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula in savannah and desert habitats. Much like true cacti, these succulents prefer well draining soil, and intensely bright light. Most species would do well in arid enclosures such as Aloe vera, A. plicatilis, A. variegatus, young A. arborescens, Haworthia attenuata, H. fasciata, H.margaritifera , and H. tesselata.

Lithops & other Stone Plants
These stone-resembling plants are endemic to Southern Africa. In the wild they are found among rock and in stony soil. Because of this, they need extremely well draining soil, and are prone to rotting from too much water. I keep mine outside of tanks in either pure Turface™, or a mix of gravel/limestone/Turface™, and only water a few times a year. They can do well in with reptiles provided the immediate area they are planted in is well draining, or receives virtually no water for most of the year.

Grasses

Grasses are (in my opinion) one of the most unused, underrated, and underappreciated plants used in vivaria. No matter where you go; whether it’s the tundra, or the sand dunes of Northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, grass is usually found and is almost ubiquitous. Sometimes it’s the only plant found for miles. Between the three families (Juncaceae, Cyperaceae, & Poaceae) there is approximately 15,900 species. If you’re going for a biotopic enclosure for savannah or prairie species such as some Crotalus spp., Varanus spp., Agama spp., or Scincidae spp., grass should be the most abundant in the tank, if not the only plant. With being found in virtually every habitat possible, and usually easily bought at garden centres, grass really should be added to a lot of tanks.
The main con to using a lot of grasses, is that they tend to need a LOT of light — Often times more than what is possible in many terrariums. This can be fixed by adding stronger lighting such as T5HO’s, or by simply using more shade tolerant species. Most species tend to outgrow enclosures as well, however it can easily be trimmed, so this isn’t really a huge issue at all.
A huge benefit to using grasses, is that the roots tend to spread quickly, helping to stabilize the soil making burrows stronger. This can take a while depending on the species, so I tend to “cheat” a bit for arid tanks. After planting the main grasses and plants, I cover the top of the soil with cat grass/wheat seeds. Because this grass grows so quickly (often reaching a few inches tall in a matter of days), it sends out plenty of roots into the soil, making it stabilize quicker. Once the grass has been able to grow for a few weeks, and I start to see roots reach the bottom through the glass, I cut it right down to the soil line (and more often than not remove the seed hulls). This method does two things. First thing is it keeps the soil and any burrows dug more stable. Second thing is as the roots decay and are taken over by living grassroots, it breaks down and creates a source of nutrients for the grasses still in the enclosure.

For desert and tropical savannah enclosures, species such as (Pennisetum setaceum, Panicum repens, Boscia senegalensis, Cenchrus ciliaris, and Aristida pungens) would do well, given enough light. If you decide to use grass for Mediterranean or temperate grasslands, species that would do well include (Festuca glauca and Schismus barbatus). For aquatic/riparian/marginal setups, (Eleocharis parvula, Carex spp.,Typha spp. and Cyperus spp.) would all do well. (Hordeum jubatum) is another species that does well in a wide range of conditions.