Q: About temperature.
A: Different carnivorous plants like different temperatures. However,
most do fine with temperatures that do not exceed 38°C (100°F). It may surprise you to learn that if you
provide a terrarium with enough lighting, a result is that the terrarium may exceed the temperature
range. Then, if the humidity is too low, the plants yellow and crisp, the sundews produce no
dew, and in general the plants look terrible.
This may not be an issue with LED lighting, if the heat production from LED light-strips is not very high, like proponents of LED
lighting claim.
I recommend covering the terrarium top with a lid, nearly sealing the top but allowing some air circulation, then
supporting the fluorescent bulbs a few cm above the glass.
If you are handy with tools, buy a small AC-powered
computer fan from electronic stores (for a few dollars, or the equivalent) and
modify it to blow across the ballasts of the lights.
I describe all these tricks on my
page where I discuss building terraria (see the
FAQ library.) Be careful about placing
your terrarium near a window. Sunlight striking it can heat it to lethal temperatures
very quickly.
Page citations: Rice, B.A. 2006a; personal observation.