Exploring Nature’s Harmony: An Interview with Stefan Krämer of Estebalius Plantedscapes

We are excited to share our interview with Stefan, a passionate hobbyist whose dedication to carnivorous plants, paludariums, aquariums, and biotopes has deeply impressed us. We’ve been struck by his commitment to creating natural, harmonious environments for plants and fish, and his mindful approach to the hobby encourages others to appreciate the beauty and complexity of nature in their own homes.

In this interview, Stefan shares his journey, philosophy, and techniques for designing sustainable setups that thrive in real-world conditions. Rather than creating purely for visual impact or social media attention, Stefan focuses on the health and longevity of his plants and setups, crafting small, natural worlds that can flourish for years. His thoughtful methods remind us that less is often more, and that real joy comes from understanding and respecting the ecosystems we create.

We are incredibly grateful to Stefan for taking the time to share his knowledge and insights with us. His passion is truly inspiring, and we hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did. Let’s dive into the wonderful world of carnivorous plants, paludariums, and the beauty of nature’s design!

In fact, it's quite amusing to be interviewed by a botanical shop today, because for most of my life, I had nothing to do with plants at all. Less than ten years ago, in my early 30s, I started a new degree, and during the stressful final exam phase, I was looking for something to clear my head. By chance, I came across carnivorous plants in a garden store and decided to take them home. Like most people, I always thought carnivorous plants were cool—who doesn’t find it fascinating that plants "hunt" insects?

As often happens with men, I became more deeply involved in the subject, reading everything I could find on the topic. The most helpful and important source of information for me has been the internet forum of the German Society for Carnivorous Plants (G.F.P.), which is still my primary resource.

The G.F.P. is a very active and supportive community, with its own member magazine and regular regional meetings, which I still enjoy attending. It was only after joining this community that I realised how diverse and complex the world of carnivorous plants is. As my interest grew, so did my collection of plants, quite rapidly in fact. However, I soon realised that quantity doesn’t always equal quality, especially since neither my wife nor I liked the sight of all those plastic pots on the windowsill, under the typical red and blue LED lights.

At some point, I came across aquascaping, although I had no prior experience with aquariums. Aquascaping is a highly artistic and stylish way of setting up aquariums, originating in Japan and developed by nature photographer Takashi Amano. It’s also known as the nature aquarium style. This method isn’t just about the heavily planted aquariums themselves, but also about their presentation. The goal is to combine lush, natural landscapes with the clean, simple lines of high-quality glass and stainless steel—creating a beautiful contrast that complements itself wonderfully.

Discovering aquascaping was the main inspiration for me to free my plants from their unattractive plastic pots and arrange them as miniature landscapes in glass bowls. Eventually, I began sharing my designs on Instagram, and to my surprise, I sparked a real trend in the aquascaping scene—one that is still widely copied today. This makes me incredibly proud and continues to drive me to constantly refine my style and develop my unique artistic approach.

But yes, that‘s the story of how I came more or less by chance from the desire to relieve stress to perhaps the most beautiful and varied hobby I‘ve ever had.

Carnivorous plants can be challenging to grow indoors. What are the most important factors to consider for keeping them healthy in a home environment?

As I mentioned, I never really had a green thumb before. One of the reasons I enjoy carnivorous plants so much is because they are incredibly simple to care for and, contrary to many fears, absolutely suitable for beginners. They are far from challenging.

That is, of course, if you follow a few crucial basic rules.

Firstly, it’s important to understand that not all carnivorous plants are the same, and some require distinctly different cultivation methods. The key thing to know is that, except for Nepenthes and Heliamphora, very few carnivorous plants grow in the tropics, where most people assume they come from. In reality, carnivores can be found all over the globe, except Antarctica. You can even find species growing here in Germany or in Great Britain, such as Drosera anglica, Pinguicula vulgaris, and Utricularia australis.

The vast majority of them thrive in bogs or near streams, in wide, sunny grasslands with nutrient-poor soils and low-growing vegetation. Many even grow in extremely dry coastal regions of Australia.

However, a few key rules apply to nearly all species:

• Lime-free water. Use rainwater or osmosis water, and keep it stored, as most carnivores grow in swampy environments and prefer consistently wet conditions.
• Lots of light. And by that, I mean a lot of light—similar to cacti, place them in direct midday sun from a south-facing window. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to supplement with plenty of artificial lighting.
• Nutrient-poor, acidic substrate. Ideally, use unfertilised peat.

Lastly, make sure you only keep plants indoors that can tolerate warm conditions year-round. For example, North American species like pitcher plants (Sarracenia) or the famous Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) should be avoided as houseplants, as they prefer a cold winter dormancy at temperatures below 10°C. These species are better suited to the garden or an unheated greenhouse. And yes, they can survive European winters outdoors, as they’re naturally exposed to snow and frost in their native habitats.

Your terrariums are both visually stunning and meticulously designed. Can you walk us through your creative process when building a new terrarium, especially with such unique plants?

First of all, a heartfelt thank you for the lovely compliment. I’m delighted to hear that you appreciate my little landscapes so much.

I would describe my style as a hybrid between aquascaping and biotope design. I pay close attention to the artistic rules of aquascaping—such as the classic principles of composition, like vanishing points, triangles, the rule of thirds, and the golden ratio. I also use high-quality glass bowls and lamps. At the same time, I like it to have a bit of a wild, untamed look, even with algae, much like biotope aquariums. It’s somewhat comparable to English gardens—seemingly natural and wild, yet clearly crafted and maintained. My aim is primarily to create impressions of nature using the materials and plants I have at hand, with a lot of artistic freedom. These aren’t exact replicas, but rather interpretations inspired by the natural habitats where my plants grow.

Before starting a new project, I regularly look at countless photos of these habitats, particularly those in South Africa, where the majority of my favourite sundews (Drosera) are found. Their environments are often simple, grassy steppes and rocky streams, with sparse vegetation—dry grass, a few shrubs, mosses, and not much else. This is the setting where most carnivorous plants thrive. I then try to recreate that raw simplicity in miniature, using stones, branches, gravel, and sand. For me, one of the most important design principles is: less is more. Have the courage to simplify. It’s better to have just two or three carnivorous plants, with some simple grasses and mosses that complement each other and could naturally coexist, than to fill a bowl with everything you can find in a garden centre.

Aquascaping tools can also be very useful for planting, as most aquarium plants are actually swamp and riparian species that spend half the year growing above water (emersed) and the other half submerged. These plants work perfectly in combination with carnivorous plants because they thrive in consistently wet conditions, with permanently moist substrates and roots.

What are your top favourite carnivorous plants for terrariums, and why do they work so well in these enclosed ecosystems?

In essence, it’s important to note that I don’t really design classic terrariums, as terrariums are typically closed setups. Instead, I create open paludariums.

For my style of design, nearly all sundews (Drosera) and Utricularia species from South Africa and Brazil are well-suited. These are plants that thrive in warm and sunny conditions year-round, but don’t require tropical humidity and can easily adapt to ordinary indoor climates. The most common and widely available examples include Drosera capensis, Drosera aliciae, Drosera spatulata, Utricularia sandersonii, and Utricularia livida.

In contrast, classic terrarium plants tend to be tropical varieties like Nepenthes and Heliamphora. There are also significant differences in how these plants are cared for, depending on whether they come from tropical highland or lowland regions. Additionally, Nepenthes are climbing plants and eventually outgrow most terrariums due to their height. Since I prefer to avoid setups that require a lot of technical effort, I focus on creating small, open paludariums rather than closed terrariums. This approach has become my speciality over the years, especially given the limitations of living in a small apartment.

Many people are drawn to terrariums for their aesthetics. What advice would you give to someone starting their first carnivorous plant terrarium, and what common mistakes should they avoid? 

I gave the best advice earlier: less is more. It’s best not to cram every space with plants, so each one has room to grow and receive sufficient light. This also gives a more natural appearance. Simplicity has its own elegance. As I mentioned, aquascaping originates from Japan, and we, as Europeans, influenced by the sight of perfectly symmetrical baroque gardens, can learn a lot from the Japanese approach. The beauty lies in the minimalistic, the simple, and the seemingly unfinished.

Then, of course, there are the basic care rules already mentioned: no calcareous tap water, plenty of light, and preferably no fertiliser—or at least very little, similar to how orchids are fertilised in very small doses. If you follow these guidelines, you’ll definitely succeed.

Since carnivorous plants are very sensitive to minerals, you should ensure that the materials used do not leach minerals into the substrate. This is especially important with stones. It’s best to start with something like lava rock, which looks attractive and won’t affect the substrate or water. And to answer a common question: no, carnivorous plants don’t need to be fed. In their natural habitat, they survive on very few nutrients and are highly specialised for this. In fact, they are more likely to suffer from an excess of nutrients than from a deficiency.

You've built a large following on social media with your planted landscapes. What do you aim to share with your audience through @estebalius_plantedscapes, and how can our readers connect with you online?

 

First and foremost, I’m just a regular hobbyist like anyone else. I don’t do this part-time or full-time, nor do I earn money from it. Aside from a few rare exceptions, I work without sponsorships, and everything I do takes place in my limited free time alongside work and family.

The most exciting project I’m involved in right now is a collaboration with other scapers. A few months ago, we formed the 'Aquascaping Summit Crew,' a group of highly talented aquascapers from Germany. We help each other with designing new aquariums or paludariums and actively network with others, sometimes even landing commissions for scapes or invitations to workshops. In fact, three of us ranked in the top 100 at the IAPLC 2024, one of the largest and most prestigious aquascaping contests globally, out of thousands of participants. It was an incredible achievement for our small team and a testament to the power of collaboration.

We’re also working on launching a website where we’ll share tips and advice through articles and tutorials in our respective areas of expertise. I’m really excited about what the Summit Crew will bring in the future, so I want to send a shout-out to this amazing group—the coolest in the German aquascaping scene! One of the greatest rewards of this hobby has been connecting with all the fantastic people I've met, both in aquascaping and carnivorous plant communities. It’s always more enjoyable when you can share your passion with fellow enthusiasts

Looking back, have you faced any particularly memorable or challenging experiences while working with carnivorous plants or creating a terrarium? How did you overcome those challenges?

In Germany, we have a saying: Es ist noch kein Meister vom Himmel gefallen. It literally means that Masters are made, not born—everything is a continuous learning process of failures and successes, falling down and getting back up again. Sometimes things go well, and other times, they don’t. I also lose plants for completely inexplicable reasons or have to deal with aphid infestations now and then.

If I had to pick a single project, designing an 180 cm paludarium was probably the most spectacular and challenging thing I’ve ever done. Especially since I had never worked on anything of that scale before. A few years ago, I was invited by the Scapers Lounge, an aquascaping shop near Frankfurt/Main, to create a show paludarium in their shop with Manuel Berg. It took nearly three full days to complete, and to my great joy, that scape thrived for many years. It was definitely one of the most exciting challenges I’ve ever tackled.

In fact, even this interview is now one of the most special moments I’ve experienced in this hobby. It’s incredible to reflect on how many unexpected, crazy experiences I’ve had with carnivorous plants over the years. That’s why my passion and enthusiasm have never faded, not even for a moment.

Dive into the world of greenery with Stefan at @estebalius_plantedscapes! We’re so grateful for his inspiring passion for plants and his incredible talent in creating stunning planted landscapes. Join us on this leafy adventure—follow him for a dose of botanical beauty and creativity! 🌿💚