Would I need drainage?

[TheBipolarBear]

Hey! I'm planning a 48x24x24 screen cage with a Perspex box in the bottom with live plants. If I'm hand misting 3 times a day, would that soil still need to be drained? Or would it be absorbent enough to be released back into the air as humidity?

 

[hosh11]

I'm new to chams. And don't have one yet but I've had my setup running for a few months and just hand misting I got a gnat problem because my plant pots didn't drain enough. I'm not saying that will happen to you. But I didn't think about it when I started. Others might be more help.

 

[Sticktongue]

Yes, you will need drainage

 

[SaintJimmy]

Yes, you will need drainage

Even with soil (small risk of impaction depending on what soil you use) it will still need some form of drainage, like ^ said.

I would look into some sort of drainage table.

 

[TheBipolarBear]

Yes, you will need drainage

Kind of thought so! Guess it'll be the old cupboard and bucket under the tank!

 

[grimjob]

It would be safe to have drainage just to stop any water collecting in the box, mine never dripped much but it did get some water coming through the drip holes

 

[Mike Fisher]

That would depend on the amount of water you use with each misting, how moist the soil is when you set it up, how absorbent that soil is, the relative humidity of the room you have the enclosure set that will determine the evaporation rate.

Even with all of that factored in, there is no way for any of us to know the answer to your question without doing some rocket science equations.

I think you are going to have to wing it and adjust accordingly.

Most have drainage just in case. You don't want to make your enclosure a stinky swamp.

 

[Sticktongue]

That would depend on the amount of water you use with each misting, how moist the soil is when you set it up, how absorbent that soil is, the relative humidity of the room you have the enclosure set that will determine the evaporation rate.

Even with all of that factored in, there is no way for any of us to know the answer to your question without doing some rocket science equations.

I think you are going to have to wing it and adjust accordingly.

This could be true..

Let me as you this.. How deep of soil are you planning on using?

 

[TheBipolarBear]

This could be true..

Let me as you this.. How deep of soil are you planning on using?

At most, 4 inches of soil, with the appropriate plants for that depth.

 

[grimjob]

These are my pics from before

 

[TheBipolarBear]

These are my pics from before

Thats pretty much exactly what I've started building over the last couple of days haha. My cupboard is a little bigger because I'll be using it as supply storage, but yeah. Thanks for the help!

 

[TheBipolarBear]

These are my pics from before

Quick question about your plants! How are they tied into place? Fishing line? I mean, if they're freestanding thats awesome. I'm just curious