At Green Lab., we explore paludarium design through practical examples, sharing tips and techniques related to plant care, layout, and the creative process.

[Jewels of the Forest Floor]
At the center of this layout is the jewel orchid Macodes sanderiana. Its glossy leaf veins quietly shine like tiny jewels, giving it a subtle but striking presence. As it spreads through its offshoots, it brings a calming sense of time’s passage. The design places visual weight in the lower layer to create the feeling of a dense forest floor, while moss mats made from Wabi-kusa are arranged on the upper layer to convey peaceful open space. The contrast between light and shadow is carefully balanced so the leaf shapes naturally stand out. Warm-colored soil and stones create a cozy, inviting atmosphere.

DATA
Photo taken on: September 5, 2025
Creator: Naru Uchida (ADA SUIKEI CREATOR)
Aquarium: DOOA System Paluda 600
Lighting: DOOA Paluda Light II 600 (8 hours per day)
Substrate: DOOA Tropical River Soil, DOOA Jungle Base
Water supply: Once every 2-3 weeks via Mistflow Box
Drainage: High absorbent sponge (Once every week)
Humidity control: High absorbent sponge (Once every week), 5 minutes per hour with Circulation Fan 40
Time control: Power Code S-70

Plants
Macodes sanderiana
Ficus pumila ‘Quercifolia’
Davallia trichomanoides
Marcgravia umbellata
Actiniopteris radiata
Biophytum sensitivum
Wabi-Kusa Mat Riccardia chamedryfolia
Wabi-Kusa Mat Taxiphyllum sp. ‘Peacock Moss’
Wabi-Kusa Mat Taxiphyllum sp. ‘Spiky Moss’
Hypnum plumaeforme
Dicranum scoparium

Key Steps in Creation

① Preparing the base
Lay DOOA Tropical River Soil over the Jungle Base. At this stage, make sure to straighten the soil lines from front to back and side to side, as this affects the overall quality of the finished piece.

 

② Arranging stones
Imagine your ideal composition silhouette and stack Red Lava Stones (KUMU ST-08) like a stone wall. The warm tones of the soil and the reddish stones blend naturally for a unified look.

 

③ Placing cork materials
Pre-wrap plants with Teraline on cork pieces. This reduces the need to work in hard-to-reach spots inside the tank, increasing precision. The Red Lava Stones also support the cork, so fit them together like a puzzle.

 

④ Planting the main plants
When the layout begins to take shape, plant the jewel orchids in the cork gaps. Having a clear main focus makes it easier to balance the entire layout.

 

⑤ Adding soil
Pour soil into gaps between materials to firmly cover the plant roots. Filling gaps also helps keep everything in place.

 

⑥ Planting on the walls
Attach Wabi-Kusa Mats with moss and plants to the tank walls. Adjust depth and layering according to your design to balance the whole piece.

 

⑦ Finishing touches
Add ferns, mosses, and other plants to complete the look. Strategically place plants to hide artificial materials like peat moss and mats as much as possible.