I'll be glad to update you all. Here's an update. I got the seeds several weeks later (no idea the seller was in China). Sprinkled them onto the medium consisting of granite grit and fine pine bark. They sprouted pretty fast, but I think the mix was too heavy because the shoots did not seem to be able to go in at all - they just grew above the medium. Some mold appeared soon after, not much, just here and there in the mix. I did nothing about it and it did not grow much. I watered by misting a few times into each hole, then I'd let it stand and percolate down, then judging by the mix color would often mist a few times more, wait again to percolate. The goal was to have the mix moist but not soggy at all times - it was difficult as expected, I needed to check more than once a day for sure because the lights would dry the small quantity of mix pretty fast. Even if the watering part was OK, without penetrating the mix the germinated seeds were doomed. And indeed the shoots dried up. Even though the mix would be slightly moist, the air right above may have been too dry under lights and the shoots desiccated. Small pockets of mold did survive. :-) So, the other day I emptied it all into the garbage. Lesson learned - need a lighter mix next time if doing something similar. Hey, here's an idea. Pirate Girl, you suggested rooting hoya cutting in water in these. While I am not a fan of water rooting because of the need to regrow soil roots later, BUT I do want to try semi-hydro method for rooting and growing, and I just thought maybe this container can be used. I'll need to use smaller particles than hydroton because I do not think it'll fit through the narrow openings. I'd fill the three globes completely, not partially, with the hydro medium and stick some compact small leaf hoya cuttings in there, defoliated in the mix but of course with leaves above it. To keep the water (fertilizer solution really) fresh, I'd hold the cuttings/plants with my fingers, turn the whole thing over to drain all the water, then refill just a bit or fertilizer solution to stand at the bottom for wicking. What do you all think?

I assume you're referring to Gynura aurantiaca? If so, no it's not at all rare, but don't let that stop you from admiring its beauty! As long as none of your critters are herbivores, no worries on that front. B est of my knowledge, its a terrestrial and does not like to dry out completely. Your biggest issues: 1) pruning will most likely be necessary (personally not a big deal to me but some folks don't like to bother with such things) 2) & this is the BIG one ... your lighting. From what you've said, it sounds like it will be totally inadequate. (One of the most surprising things to most people is the fact that just because the light seems bright to OUR eyes, that does NOT mean that the light will be bright by plant standards.) Heat lamps -- at least the ones I am familiar w/ do not produce enough lumens in the range plants require. Instead their output is typically geared for heat (obvious, I know). Your one fishtank light is unlikely to do the trick either but more info would be needed ... such as what is the wattage & lumen output, and is it the type of light used for corals? Also how far will the plant be from the light? W/out sufficient light, Gynura aurantiaca will lose its purple hairs (they're actually formed as a defense mechanism in response to high light levels to protect the foliage from sunburn) and will get weak and 'leggy' over time as it attempts to stretch towards the light.

Paul, thanks for the info. I have searched around a bit on the forums. So when you note that the media shouldn't have fertilizer added, I assume you mean that things like Miracle Gro potting mix would be out. Generally I've used that for other plants I've grown (houseplants, outdoor potted plants, etc.) so anything else is new territory for me. I honestly don't know what I would put a maidenhair fern and moss in other than a standard potting mix. That's the sort of information I'm trying to find, as I realize that giant thick layers of potting mix are going to lead to the fungi you mention. I should note that when I first started experimenting with terrariums, I got directions from interior design websites - which apparently did not have the best tips strictly from a plant care point of view.

The Mimosa would require a great deal of light to do well (they grow in full sun in dry areas here in the USVI) but the "banyan" might do alright. I don't know what species it is, but I've had good success with Ficus citrifolia... i glued it to the underside of an angled piece of driftwood and it immediately began wrapping roots around the driftwood and sending down aerial roots. Very exciting! I think Florida has F. citrifolia and F. aurea... both good stranglers. I would suggest looking in the cracks of old stone walls and on rooftops, etc... they like to germinate in such areas and yanking a little baby from there with some roots attached will make your life much easier.