Photo: Stan Shebs · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Gasteria
Gasteria bicolor
Tongue-shaped speckled leaves. More shade-tolerant than most succulents, but still wants dry, open air.
- Terrarium type
- Open
- Terrarium size
- Small
- Light
- Medium to bright indirect
- Care level
- Easy
- Growth habit
- Upright
- Pet safety
- Non-toxic to pets
Growing Gasteria in a terrarium
Where to place it
More shade-tolerant than most succulents, so medium to bright indirect light suits its tongue-shaped, speckled leaves. Still an open-terrarium plant.
Watering & humidity
Water sparingly once the substrate has dried out. It stores water in its thick leaves, so it forgives underwatering far more than overwatering.
Watch out for
Despite its shade tolerance it still wants dry, open air — a sealed humid setup will rot it. Soft, yellowing leaves mean too much water.
Reference: Gasteria bicolor on Wikipedia.
Gasteria FAQ
Can Gasteria grow in a closed terrarium?+
No. Gasteria (Gasteria bicolor) needs airflow and drier air between waterings, so a sealed, humid jar will cause it to rot. Grow it in an open terrarium instead.
Can Gasteria grow in an open terrarium?+
Yes. Gasteria (Gasteria bicolor) is well suited to an open, unsealed terrarium where air moves freely and excess moisture can escape — exactly the conditions it prefers.
What size terrarium does Gasteria need?+
Gasteria suits a small terrarium — jars & bottles. It has a upright growth habit, so plan its position with that in mind and trim or divide it if it starts to outgrow the glass.
Is Gasteria easy to care for?+
Gasteria is rated easy to care for in a terrarium. Tongue-shaped speckled leaves. More shade-tolerant than most succulents, but still wants dry, open air. Despite its shade tolerance it still wants dry, open air — a sealed humid setup will rot it. Soft, yellowing leaves mean too much water.
How much light does Gasteria need?+
Gasteria does best in medium to bright indirect light. Keep it out of direct sun, which magnifies through glass and scorches leaves. More shade-tolerant than most succulents, so medium to bright indirect light suits its tongue-shaped, speckled leaves. Still an open-terrarium plant.
Is Gasteria safe for cats and dogs?+
Gasteria bicolor is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs; unlike its aloe relatives it isn't on the ASPCA toxic-plant list.
