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Terrariums
Grow a Micro-Ecosystem in a Jar
280 7
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description=Making
a micro-
ecosystem to set
anywhere in your
home is easy!)

Many of us remember the terrarium craze back in the 1970s the

standard shbowl containers with ferns and driftwood that our
parents or grandparents used to put together. In recent years, the
terrarium has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, but the new ones
are anything but replicas of the ones of past generations. They are
fresh, new takes on an old favorite, and the only thing they have in
common with their predecessors is that they comprise clear glass
containers and plants. It's almost like Guerrilla Gardening
(https://www.x.com/blog/guerrilla-gardening/) for your home!
Heres what you need to know to create your own mini glass-
enclosed ecosystem for your home or oce.

Containers
Clear glass containers are still the way to go after all, how else
would you get to enjoy the contents? But instead of reaching for
the standard shbowl shape, consider your other options. Start by
looking around your house for inspiration. Do you have mason
jars, clear empty wine bottles, even large light bulbs? Each of these
can serve as a terrarium container (for the light bulb terrarium,
check out these instructions (http://thehipsterho.me/2010/01/how-
to-make-a-tiny-terrarium-in-a-light-bulb/).

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Embed Image ()
Keep a lookout for new and unusual glass containers the next time
youre shopping at a craft store, home improvement store, or
discount chain store. They often have containers in more
contemporary shapes and sizes look for large and small squares,
cylinders, globes, and rectangles.

And have you ever heard of aeriums? These are terrariums that
hang, like a potted plant. They can be tiny 6 hanging spheres or
much larger glass teardrops both have side openings and can be
purchased online or at your favorite garden center.

Open vs. Closed

The denition is simple open terrariums have an opening with no
lid, while closed terrariums have a lid that encloses the mini garden
but the dierences are huge and can mean life or death for your
terrarium garden. Closed terrariums create a humid environment
and are perfect choices for those tiny tropicals, like ferns, while
open terrariums allow more air circulation for plants like succulents
and tillandsias (air plants). Try growing a succulent in a closed
terrarium and youll quickly have a rotted mess on your hands.

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Embed Image ()

Plants
When you shop, look for plants in 2 or 4 plastic nursery pots. If
your container is a much larger one, suitable as a focal point on a
table, you might be able to get away with using plants in 6
containers.

Next, make your plant choice based upon which type of terrarium
you are creating, open or closed. Plants for closed terrariums
include miniature ferns, begonias, mosses, African violets, prayer
plants, and babys tears. Great plant choices for open terrariums
include succulents, tillandsias, dwarf sansevieria, and cacti.
Remember that many of the plants that do well in the closed
terrarium can also be used in an open one; you may simply need to
water them a bit more. Check out the last illustration for tips on
plant selection.

Materials
There are some standard materials youll need regardless of the
terrarium size or type, and some specic materials/tools that are

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necessary if you choose particular plants like cacti or vessels like

wine bottles.

Activated charcoal: This is the base layer of your terrarium, and it

helps with drainage and maintenance. Activated charcoal is found
at the pet or aquarium supply store, and absorbs chemicals, toxins,
and odors in the soil, water, and air that can build up inside your
terrarium over time, damaging your plants.

Gravel: You can use gravel instead of the activated charcoal, but
youll need to be a little more on top of your terrariums
maintenance to avoid rotting and odors if you do. You can simply
use gravel as an additional decorative layer, which is part of the fun
in creating terrariums. Look for pea gravel, colored aquarium
gravel, small river rocks, or smooth moon pebbles. Smaller gravels
can also be used as topdressings in your terrarium to cover the
soil.

Embed Image ()
Soil: Choose a soil that is recommended for the plants you are
using, as ferns and cacti have dierent requirements.

Moss: Dierent colored mosses, available in the oral section of

your craft store, are textural additions to your terrarium. They can
be used to separate the soil from the gravel, as a stunning

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decorative layer, or as a topdressing for the more moisture-loving

plants like ferns. Avoid using moss around arid plants like cacti and
succulents.

Tools: While there are standard tools for terrarium building that
can be purchased in a kit, you can also use items found around
your home. Chopsticks are great for adding and moving materials
through the narrow neck of a wine bottle, tweezers are good for
handling spiny cacti, and long-handled teaspoons mimic a
miniature shovel or trowel when manipulating materials.

Decorative items: These are the items that make your terrarium
come to life. Look for tiny statuary (Buddhas, zombies, fairy garden
accessories), gnarled driftwood, seashells anything that makes
you smile, expresses your personality, or starts a conversation.

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Construction Embed Image ()

1. Start with a 1-2 layer of your base, either activated charcoal

or gravel.
2. Add another layer of either gravel or moss. If your base layer
is gravel, opt for a larger river rock for contrast, or moss.
3. Add a layer of soil recommended for your plants. The amount
of soil depends upon how large your container is as well as the
size of your plants, but should begin at 2-3 inches. If you are
using tillandsias, no soil is needed.
4. Carefully add your plants, one at a time, using terrarium tools
or items found around your home. Make sure the roots are
planted rmly into the soil.
5. Topdress with gravel, river rock, or moss.
6. Add decorative elements.

Maintenance
Most terrarium plants require bright indirect light, so be sure to
place your terrarium by a bright window. Keep an eye on your
plants health, though if leaves are turning brown, you may need
to move your terrarium to a less bright location in your oce or
home.

Watering with closed terrariums is simple and easy because the

lid creates humidity, these types of terrariums dont need weekly
watering. In fact, some can go a few months without added
moisture; be prepared to experiment to nd the best balance. Start
by watering every two weeks, using an eyedropper, spoon, or water
sprayer to add small amounts of water to your plants. If plants
begin wilting, its time to increase the watering schedule, but if
water begins to accumulate on the bottom of the container,
decrease watering immediately.

For open containers with succulents or cacti, water very sparingly,

just as you would with these types of plants in any container, and
keep an eye on any accumulated water. Remember, terrariums
have no drainage holes, so when they feature arid plants, try only
adding a dropperful of water at a time. Tillandsias will need to be
taken out of the open terrarium, soaked in water for 20 minutes
each week, then allowed to thoroughly dry out before theyre
returned to the terrarium.

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description=Making
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ecosystem to set
anywhere in your
home is easy!)

(https://www.x.com/blog/authors/jenny-peterson/)

WRITTEN BY
JENNY PETERSON (HTTPS://WWW.FIX.COM/BLOG/AUTHORS/JENNY-PETERSON/)
Jenny Peterson is a landscape designer and freelance writer who gardens on
a full acre of land complete with chickens and goats.
Jenny Peterson's Author Prole (https://www.x.com/blog/authors/jenny-
peterson/)
PUBLISHED ON December 2, 2015

TOPICS
Gardening (https://www.x.com/blog/topics/gardening/)
Green Living (https://www.x.com/blog/topics/green-living/)

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