Red Foliage Terrarium Plants

Bromeliads

• These plants from the pineapple family have robust, leathery leaves in a rosette growth pattern. Most are epiphytes, growing on tree branches in nature. Two groups in particular have striking red-colored leaves and are not too large for terrariums. Neoregelia has varieties such as "Fireball," "June Night" and "Ritzy Red." According to Anton Jones in his article on "Bromeliads in the Dart Frog Terrarium," epiphytic bromeliads should not be planted in the soil, but hung or mounted. Cryptanthus, or Earth Stars, are flat open rosettes that have soil-growing as well as epiphytic species, and are suitable for shorter terrariums. Cryptanthus bivittata "Ruby" has a strong, deep red color.

Begonias

• There are several kinds of hybrid begonias that offer leaf colors in shades of red or red combined with another color. Wax begonia, or Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum, has varieties with darker red leaves. Begonia rex hybrids incorporate red colorings in combination with other colors, such as green, silver and pink. Many named varieties are available with red as the dominant color. Examples are "Venetian Red" and "Stained Glass." Variety size is variable, ranging from larger plants that need pinching back in terrariums to miniatures suitable to a small terrarium.

Carnivorous Plants

• Pitcher plants, notably Sarracenia purpurea, have leaves that are strongly colored bright red to resemble flowers, especially in summer. These modified leaves or pitchers are pitfall traps for insects attracted by the lures of color and smell, as well as a sweet substance the leaf secretes that leads into the pitcher. These fascinating plants grow well in a wet terrarium. Venus flytrap, Dionaea muscipula, contains red in the leaves that are specialized as insect traps. Although native to just a small area of North and South Carolina, strains with greater red coloration in the trap, such as "Big Mouth," or the entire plant, such as "Royal Red," "Red Piranha" and "Akai Ryu," have been developed.

Other Plants

• The polka dot plant, or freckle face, Hypoestes phyllostachya, has long been familiar as a houseplant. There are two red-foliaged varieties available, "Red Splash" and "Red Confetti," both suitable for terrariums. Fancy-leaved or strap-leaved caladiums, prized for their vivid and intricate leaf coloration, can be used as temporary terrarium subjects. Growth comes from a tuber beginning in the spring, with dormancy in fall or early winter. Dig up the tuber and plant it again in spring. Fancy-leaved caladiums with red leaf coloration are "Postman Joyner," "Red Flash" and "Rosebud." Red-colored strap-leaf caladiums are "Red Frill" and "Rosalie."