PanTerra's Box is literally a miniworld for your mantis; a living, breathing, dynamic ecosystem that is largely self-sustaining, but needs a little bit of TLC from you to sustain and thrive.
Lighting Requirements
The PanTerra’s Box kit comes with a live plant which needs moderate, indirect light, as well as occasional pruning to make sure it does not outgrow the box in which it lives. Do not place in direct sunlight, and avoid windowsills which may be too drafty. A simple desk lamp 3-6 inches away is usually sufficient.
Moisture
PanTerra’s Box is designed with limited ventilation in order to maintain more consistent moisture levels. For this reason, your PanTerra’s Box should only require a light misting every 2-3 days (two sprays every 2-3 days). If condensation is still present inside the box, skip a day and check again tomorrow. If the substrate itself seems dry or the plant seems a little droopy, just pour a shot glass full of water onto the substrate instead of misting more. Be careful not to over-water your PanTerra’s Box.
Use distilled or RO water only. Spring water is okay too, but is prone to leaving water spots, which can take away from the mantis viewing experience as well as the overall beauty of PanTerra's Box. DO NOT USE TAP WATER, CITY WATER, CHLORINATED WATER, OR WATER THAT HAS BEEN CONDITIONED IN ANYWAY.
PanTerra’s Box is not recommended for species that require high-ventilation, low-humidity environments.
Clean-Up Crew
Your plant needs no plant food. Instead, it will get all the natural fertilizer it needs from the microfauna (springtails & isopods) which break down decaying plant matter, mold, and mantis waste (including any food scraps they drop during meals), completing the biological cycle at work in your PanTerra's Box. The microfauna will live and reproduce in the soil for as long as you maintain PanTerra’s Box.
If a little mold is present in the box, be patient, as it can take up to a month for your mini-ecosystem to find its balance. If the mold gets unsightly, as a temporary fix you can usually mist the mold directly, and it will become less visible for the time-being.
What's Inside PanTerra's Box?
PanTerra's Box is literally a miniworld for your mantis; a living, breathing, dynamic ecosystem that is largely self-sustaining, but needs a little bit of TLC from you to sustain and thrive.
Lighting Requirements
The PanTerra’s Box kit comes with a live plant which needs moderate, indirect light, as well as occasional pruning to make sure it does not outgrow the box in which it lives. Do not place in direct sunlight, and avoid windowsills which may be too drafty. A simple desk lamp 3-6 inches away is usually sufficient.
Moisture
PanTerra’s Box is designed with limited ventilation in order to maintain more consistent moisture levels. For this reason, your PanTerra’s Box should only require a light misting every 2-3 days (two sprays every 2-3 days). If condensation is still present inside the box, skip a day and check again tomorrow. If the substrate itself seems dry or the plant seems a little droopy, just pour a shot glass full of water onto the substrate instead of misting more. Be careful not to over-water your PanTerra’s Box.
Use distilled or RO water only. Spring water is okay too, but is prone to leaving water spots, which can take away from the mantis viewing experience as well as the overall beauty of PanTerra's Box. DO NOT USE TAP WATER, CITY WATER, CHLORINATED WATER, OR WATER THAT HAS BEEN CONDITIONED IN ANYWAY.
PanTerra’s Box is not recommended for species that require high-ventilation, low-humidity environments.
Clean-Up Crew
Your plant needs no plant food. Instead, it will get all the natural fertilizer it needs from the microfauna (springtails & isopods) which break down decaying plant matter, mold, and mantis waste (including any food scraps they drop during meals), completing the biological cycle at work in your PanTerra's Box. The microfauna will live and reproduce in the soil for as long as you maintain PanTerra’s Box.
If a little mold is present in the box, be patient, as it can take up to a month for your mini-ecosystem to find its balance. If the mold gets unsightly, as a temporary fix you can usually mist the mold directly, and it will become less visible for the time-being.