We are sharing some points for the Terra Base maintenance in this article.

By closely observing plants every day and feeling small changes, we often feel excited by even just one growing leaf. Things that cannot be noticed easily in nature, can be re-discovered in Neo Glass Air. The important points are “Daily Observation” and “Frequent Maintenance”.

Lighting Control

In order to grow healthy plants, regular maintenance is important.
First, turn on the light at a fixed time every day. Although turning ON-OFF can be done by hand, timer management is recommended in order to prevent you from forgetting to turn ON-OFF. The specifications of Magnet Light G are based on the prediction that commercially available timers will be used.

Humidity Control

Humidity control in Neo Glass Air can be done by adjusting the opening and closing width of Glass Cover for Neo Glass Air.
When the inside of Neo Glass Air is dry, moss gets dry too. If the tips of the moss are getting dry, the Glass Cover should be opened only a little.
Wabi-Kusa Mat is sold in a container with sufficient humidity. At the initial setting up stage, plants on Wabi-Kusa Mat cannot adapt well to sudden environmental changes, and it is easy to get dry. Therefore, it is necessary to observe the plants carefully until it develops new buds. You need to be especially careful with moss on the top edge of Terra Base.

And filamentous mold may form on the surface of moss.
This occurrence indicates that the air circulation is not sufficient because the Glass Cover is closed too much.
By washing off the mold with water once and adjusting the Glass Cover position, the mold can be prevented from re-forming.

Wabi-Kusa Mist

Supply nutrients to plants with Wabi-Kusa Mist. Basically, it is recommended to give the nutrients every day. As a guide, spray the entire Terra Base 5 pushes per 10×10㎠. Because it contains mint essential oil, it also has the effect of insect repellent.

Removing Withered Leaves and Deadheading Flowers

When there are withered leaves, remove them with scissors or tweezers.
Mold is likely to grow in a high humid environment, frequent maintenance is important. Dead flowers should be removed in the same way.

Maintenance for Moss

When moss is grown, new buds are all out on the surface. As a result, the beautiful moss can be enjoyed. However, if the moss grows too thick, the light doesn’t reach the deep part of the moss, and consequently, new buds don’t develop well after the moss is trimmed. If the volume seems to increase, prune the moss frequently.

Drainage Management

The water in Terra Base gradually seeps out from the inside of the Terra Base to the outside over a week.
Because it is easy for the water to accumulate at the bottom of Neo Glass Air, the water needs to be drained and add more water to the Terra Base.

And it is recommended to pour water in the center of Terra Base at this time, and it is even better to have the running water overflow for a while.
Supplying fresh water to Terra Base can make plants revitalized and remove sludge. If the overflowing process is done inside an aquarium tank, the water needs to be drained again. So, this task should be done in a sink, and then put the Terra Base back in the aquarium tank.

That’s it for the maintenance points.

As mentioned in the beginning of the article, the important points are “Daily Observation” and “Frequent Maintenance”. Because you nurture plants with a lot of love, it is an exceptional feeling when new leaves come out, and flowers bloom.
You may find new beauty and charms from nature through the experiences of enjoying Terra Base.

This week’s Terra Base

【DATA】
TERRABASE M
【Plant】
①Anubias barteri var.nana golden
②Anubias barteri var. nana
③Coelogyne fimbriata
④Dinema polybulbon
⑤Vesicularia montagnei

This Terra Base was created with easy to grow plants that we evaluated highly in advance.
Coelogyne fimbriata and Dinema polybulbon are considered to be hardy and easy to bloom species among the ADA Jungle Plants series.
Coelogyne fimbriata bloomed in last fall, and after that, Dinema polybulbon started blooming at the beginning of the year, and it is still blooming right now. The 2 species had bloomed for almost a month since the time they started blooming.

However, the main attractions of these orchids are not only their flowers, but distinctive bulbs at the base of their flower buds are also must-see. The bulbs of healthy Coelogyne fimbriata are transparent like Muscat, and the fresh look is delightful.

When those bulbs are dry, they start developing wrinkles. To prepare for dry conditions, Terra Base has a structure that retains nutrients and moisture. This environmental change is probably within the expected range for the orchids. What do you think what orchids wanted going so far as gaining the bulb form in order to endure dryness? It might have been light. In terms of the amount of light, the top part of Terra Base has more advantage.

If there isn’t enough light, plants cannot produce nutrients on their own, and their roots don’t grow well. Take a close look at the roots near the leads (tips). When the lighting condition is fulfilled, the growing roots can be confirmed.  In general, when roots are in contact with their target to be attached to, they grow flat along the target. If once the roots are removed from where they have been attached to, the roots will lose the rooting ability. Roots growing from the tips will be able to take root again, but it will be far from the natural appearance.
When Anubias was attached to the middle of Terra Base, its roots grew fast and are well-adapted.

To be continued.