12 replies to this topic

[BugFinder]

So in addition to keeping ants, I also keep plants, and I've been wondering how I can incorporate live plants into an ant set up, like in the outworld or whatever.  I was thinking putting plants in the outworld would not work well because you would have to have soil in there, and that will cause the ants to nest in the outworld instead of in the nest.  

 

Then I realized airplants don't need any soil, and they are really cool too.  

 

Does anyone keep airplants in their outworld?

 

Has anyone else thought about this and come up with a different conclusion, or other ideas for keeping ants and plants together?

Edited by BugFinder, March 2 2021 - 8:56 AM.

[tdlnx]

I don’t have any advice for you, but wanted to thank you for opening up the rabbit hole into air plants. It looks like you may end up costing me some money in the future 

[BugFinder]

I don’t have any advice for you, but wanted to thank you for opening up the rabbit hole into air plants. It looks like you may end up costing me some money in the future 

 

HAHA that's funny - and you're welcome!

[BugFinder]

Check this out bud.  For $11 per month plus shipping, they will ship you one air plant and one succulent of their choice per month.  You can also just get a box that has one air plant without the succulant if you like.  I'm signed up for the air plant and succulant.

[gs5248]

I have not seen any air plants in outworlds, since you still have to keep the air humid.

[antsandmore]

I have not seen any air plants in outworlds, since you still have to keep the air humid.

yes. succulents may work though.

[Spazmops]

Small, slow-growing succulents could work well. You might want to go with a fully bioactive terrarium instead though. 

[Scherme]

I was working on a solution to keep live plants in an outworld and got sidetracked. I will get back to it. 

 

I need a few more things for the bio formicarium that I plan to put together, I have every intention to add some plant life to it. 

 

Working with "Turtle VIne" atm. I had given air plants, aloe, and cactuses some thought before too. 

[Canadant]

Ever thought about keeping the plants potted? I suppose they'd move into the pot though, lol. I keep lichen in my outworld. My crematogaster love crawling all over it when I moisten it.

[MysticNanitic]

How about a sweet potato or other plant that can root in water?  You may end up with a lot drowned ants depending on the species..

[antsandmore]

Small, slow-growing succulents could work well. You might want to go with a fully bioactive terrarium instead though. 

yes. they may end up moving into it if they are a species that can handle dry climates.

[NickAnter]

You would have to have a "gasket" or sorts, a material that the plants stem would plug, and make it so that the ants could not get through to the water. I have put considerable thought into this in the past, and its really rather complicated to do it properly. You would most likely need a 3d printer.

[UtahAnts]

 

I have not seen any air plants in outworlds, since you still have to keep the air humid.

yes. succulents may work though.

 

 

I know from experience that air plants don't need moisture in their enclosure. For proper care of an air plant, soak it once a week for an hour in filtered water. I get away with once every two weeks even though I live in the middle of a desert. Any outworld you make shouldn't have as much moisture as the nest itself, unless you are making a bioactive enclosure. I have seen a few people plant succulents, which are awesome plants by the way, in their outworlds. Succulents still need water though, although it varies from plant to plant. Obviously most ants prefer a moist digging medium to artificial nests, even if it is temporary. If the colony moves in around the succulent or plant, they might never come out again without your intervention. Unfortunately this has happened to someone I know and they lost a nice colony.

Another possibility could be propagation. Some succulent species can propagate through their fallen leaves. You could take one of these fallen leaves with both roots and new leaf buds and let it grow in your outworld with zero watering. Eventually though, the plant will run out and die, but I have had leaves last more then half a year without a growing medium. Personally I would recommend air plants that are loose in the outworld if that is what you do.