Over the past 12 months, I’ve been documenting the evolution of a large paludarium—from its initial setup to the lush, thriving ecosystem it is today.
In this article, you’ll find a behind-the-scenes look at the build process, how I chose and arranged the plants, and the ongoing care routines that keep the environment in balance.
Let’s start with a photo of how it looks now.
Initial setup and construction
This build was constructed with the intention of providing an enriching habitat for my Amazon Tree Boa. Given his arboreal nature, and love for a humid environment, I thought it was a good opportunity to incorporate a pond and drip wall.
Designing vivariums for large inhabitants can present unique challenges. I challenged myself to create a balanced setup that not only meets the needs of the a suitable environment, but also maintains aesthetic appeal while minimizing potential damage caused by the snake.
The design concept centers around loosely emulating the environment of an Amazonian habitat, with roots extending into a water basin.
Ghost wood was chosen for its durability and suitability for supporting his arboreal lifestyle. Unlike some snake species, such as Green Tree Pythons, Amazon Tree Boas prefer multiple points of contact for stability, making branching ghost wood an appropriate choice.
To facilitate water quality and filtration, a small designated land area was created in the vivarium's corner, utilizing stacked sponge mats to house the pump for the drip wall.
This arrangement serves as a natural filter full of beneficial bacteria, ensuring optimal water conditions for his well-being.
In preparation for maintenance requirements, an access area to the pump was constructed using black corrugated plastic sheets, providing convenient access for cleaning or replacement if needed (so far there has been no need).
In older builds, I've often used the expanding foam method for backgrounds. However, I've had challenges with background moisture retention to support plant growth, so I've wanted to try alternative approaches.
For this vivarium, I tested a new background comprising a blend of cork bark flats and fragmented carbonized cork sheets. Although the construction process was meticulous, I believe that this approach is more aesthetically pleasing, and more effective in supporting plant growth.
Materials and equipment used
Initial planting
Upon initial planting, you'll notice that this vivarium was sparsely planted.
I opted to try and exclusively use clippings from previous builds for this vivarium. This obviously offered financial savings, but I believe also contributed to a more natural aesthetic by allowing the plants to spread naturally.
While this approach requires more patience, I've enjoyed the process of watching it grow in, and feel the end result was worth the wait. Over time, I gradually added more clippings to speed up the process of filling out the vivarium.
I made sure to incorporate a few small pots during construction for easy planting. Additionally, I utilized the natural curvature of cork flats attached to the background to create additional planting areas, filling them with soil and topped with sphagnum moss.
In an attempt to achieve a lush green landscape, I prepared a "moss smoothie" and applied it across the background and main branches.
While the growth process was slow, I'm happy with the eventual outcome.
Plant clippings included:
Begonia ‘Tiger Paw’ (Begonia rhizomatous hybrid)
Ecuador Peperomia (Peperomia emarginella)
Fluffy Ruffles Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
Lemon Button Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia)
Oak Leaf Creeping Fig (Ficus thunbergii)
Philodendron 'Wend-Imbe' (Philodendron wendlandii/imbe hybrid)
Philodendron ‘Mini Midget’ (Unknown sp.)
Pitcher Plants (Nepenthes sp.)
Shingling Vine (Marcravia rectiflora)
Trailing Begonia (Begonia thelmae)
Trailing Watermelon Begonia (Procris repens)
Various mosses
The first few months
After patiently waiting for a couple of months, the plants began their grow more rapidly, indicating their successful acclimatization to the new environment.
Some clippings that I had casually placed on sphagnum moss had developed roots, firmly anchoring themselves. Upon closer inspection, small bits of moss had begun to sprout and emerge in various areas.
Fortunately, there was minimal die-off. The only casualty was one of the begonias, which wasn't entirely unexpected given its location. It appeared that the roots had become overly saturated and subsequently rotted.
To speed up the vivarium's greening process, I introduced additional clippings and some floating plants. The floaters didn't survive long term, and I believe it was due to constant trampling. Consequently, I relocated them to a different setup, where they are currently thriving.
12 months later
Fast forward several more months, and we've reached one year since the initial planting.
As the slower-growing plants began to fill in, I removed the Begonia thelmae. While it initially helps to fill in the space with its rapid growth and near-constant blooms, it has a tendency to overtake the setup, and its older leaves rot fairly easily.
One unexpected addition to the vivarium was the emergence of a large fern near the top.
It's not uncommon for random plants to sprout unexpectedly, but what's interesting is this fern didn’t make an appearance until around the 8-month mark, and now is extremely fast growing.
Most importantly, I think this vivarium serves as a comfortable and suitable habitat for my Amazon Tree Boa.
Overall, I'm quite pleased with the outcome of this build. Though, with all builds, there are a few adjustments I'd make if given the opportunity to start anew.
What I’d do differently next time
Increase the number of pots
In this build, I limited myself to only three main planting areas. Next time I will incorporate additional pots into the background during construction, providing more opportunities for easy planting.Start with more for plants
I knew that starting a vivarium with plant clippings was going to test my patience, so no surprises there. That said, I likely won’t go exclusively with clippings again in order to reduce time in the establishment phase.Sphagnum moss in the background
I would experiment with cramming sphagnum moss into cracks in the background to facilitate faster plant spread. Currently I have a couple of bare spots that I’m trying to fill in for a more lush and vibrant backdrop
Final thoughts
Whether you call this a terrarium, vivarium, or hybrid build—it reflects the same core ideas I bring to all my work: thoughtful structure, long-term balance, and a focus on living design.
If you're interested in something similar for your own space, I'd love to help.