Ardisia Black Type 1

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Marlberry; Coral berry

Environment

Terrestrial

Native to

Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos)

Habitat

Understory of tropical lowland and hill rainforest, growing in shaded, humid leaf litter and forest floor conditions

Sourcing

Captive-bred

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Moderate

Growth form

Upright

Max height

2 – 12 in (5.1 – 30 cm)

Spread

8 in (20 cm)

Growth rate

Slow

Placement

Background, Midground

Water

Temperature

68 – 80 °F (20 – 27 °C)

Humidity

75 – 95%

Planting

Substrate

Nutrient-rich preferred

Feeds from

Roots

Fertilizer needs

Low

Colors

Green, Red, Pink, Purple, Brown, Multicolor

Feeding & breeding

Propagation

Cuttings

Something wrong or missing? Submit a correction

Care guide

Overview

Grown from Southeast Asian rainforest stock, this cultivar carries rounded, teardrop-shaped leaves in dark green, brown, and red, with stronger light deepening the red tones. It is kept as a terrestrial background plant in humid terrarium or paludarium setups, never in the submerged zone.

Care

This terrestrial understory plant needs consistently high humidity and evenly moist, well-draining substrate rather than standing water. It does best under bright indirect light in a terrarium or paludarium land area, as direct sun tends to scorch the leaves while deep shade dulls their color. Growth is slow, so patience is needed before a cutting fills out into a mature specimen, and overwatering the base can lead to stem or root rot.

Planting & trimming

Plant in a well-draining mix such as sphagnum moss combined with bark and perlite, keeping the crown above the substrate surface and only the roots buried. Position in the humid, non-flooded land or background area of a terrarium or paludarium, never in the submerged aquatic zone, and allow newly received cuttings to acclimate gradually to their new humidity and light levels before making further changes.

Fertilizing

Because the sphagnum moss, bark, or perlite mixes typically used for planting are nutrient-poor, occasional light feeding with a diluted foliar or root fertilizer helps sustain steady growth. Deformed or stunted new leaves usually point to a nutrient deficiency, so a dilute balanced fertilizer applied every few weeks is a reasonable starting point. Avoid heavy dosing, since these plants grow slowly and can be sensitive to fertilizer buildup in a closed terrarium.

Propagation

Propagated from stem cuttings taken with a few leaves attached, which can be rooted in a humid, moist substrate such as sphagnum moss. Rooting is slow and cuttings should be kept in high humidity with indirect light until new growth appears.

Problems

Browning or crisping leaf edges almost always signal insufficient humidity rather than a pest or disease problem. Stunted, misshapen new growth points to a nutrient deficiency in the potting medium. Root and stem rot can develop if the substrate is kept waterlogged rather than just consistently moist.

Sources

1. Ardisia Dino — Buce Plant
2. Ardisia Silver — Buce Plant
3. Ardisia Rare Terrarium Vivarium House Plant – Glass Aqua
4. Ardisia sp Vietnam- Rare Plant - Jiffy Plants

Varieties in the catalog

Ardisia Black Type 2Ardisia BlueArdisia DinoArdisia SilverArdisia Sp GreenArdisia Sp Pink LineArdisia Sp Pink Line Type 1Ardisia Sp Pink Line Type 2Ardisia Sp Pink LipsArdisia Sp Tricolor Type 1Ardisia Sp Tricolor Type 2

More Terrarium plants

Begonia Arabian SunsetDipteracanthus ElasticaFittonia AlbivenisFittonia Albivenis RedFittonia Albivenis SkeletonHemigraphis Colorata / Purple Waffle