Caring for your Terrarium

This is the last of my three part discussion on terrariums. From my first article, you found out what a terrarium is. From my second, you were taught how to build one. This time, you will learn about maintaining it.

The five most important words when caring for your terrarium are Sunlight, Water, Pruning, Fertilizer and Neglect!

• Sunlight - Nestle your terrarium in a bright area with indirect sunlight. Indirect sunlight is necessary so that the plants inside your terrarium will avoid getting burned inside their closed system.

• Water - Never overwater. Dampen your terrarium once every few weeks, depending on conditions. As I mentioned in my first article, the terrarium has its own ecosystem, so it can virtually thrive without constant watering.

• Pruning – Because terrariums are enclosed in a glass and are miniature indoor gardens, it is vital for the plants inside them to be pruned. Trim fast-growing plants so they don't outgrow the terrarium.

• Fertilizer - Do not add any fertilizer to your terrarium as this will encourage rapid growth and overcrowding inside the container. Give your plants ample space to thrive.

• Neglect - Unlike ordinary gardens, terrariums do not require constant attention and regular maintenance. In fact, a properly maintained terrarium can go for weeks or months without needing watering and pruning. The most you need to do is to move it to another area if, in its current location, it is getting too much exposure from direct sunlight.

See, these are the five reasons why I love terrariums! Not only are they lovely but they are also very easy to build and maintain!


Related Article:
Terrariums: Glass Gardens
How To Build A Terrarium



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How To Build A Terrarium

Have you ever gone nature tripping? Would you like to capture some of nature’s loveliness and bring it indoors? Well, then, let’s learn how to make a terrarium!

We’ll start off with the simplest type of terrarium I found on the net.


Materials:

Clear glass or plastic container
Gravel or small stones
Activated charcoal (from aquarium or orchid supply store)
Potting soil
Plants
Decorative objects (optional)


Selecting your container:


You can use a clear glass jar with a wide mouth, old aquarium or fish bowl. Plastic 2-L bottle can also be utilized by cutting it in half, and sliding the top half over the bottom half to cover. It is important that your container has a wide opening for easy placement and arrangement of plants and other materials. It must also be big enough to house everything you need to place inside.


Selecting your plants:


You don’t need to buy plants for this project. In fact, it would be more creative and adventurous if you gather them from your yard, neighborhood or countryside. Just make sure that your collection belongs to the same plant community that needs the same amount of water and sunlight. The number of plants to install inside your container will depend on their sizes. As a general rule, keeping an odd number of plants is more pleasing to the eye.


Building your terrarium:


1) Sterilize your container by washing it with hot, soapy water. Rinse and dry completely.

2) Create a drainage layer by placing a thin layer (approx. 1 inch) of gravel in the bottom of the container.

3) Place a thin layer (approx. 1/2 inch) of activated charcoal over the gravel. This serves as a filtration substrate and keeps the water cleaner.

4) Place a layer of potting soil approximately 2 inches deep.

5) Dig small holes for the roots. Remove plants out of their pots, take out extra soil from the roots, and snip off damaged leaves if any. While the roots are still moist, carefully place the plants in the holes and pat soil over the roots. Taller plants should be placed in the back. Water the plants sparsely ( 3 or 4 ounces).

6) Add ornaments or decorations (optional)


VIDEO DEMO:

*to avoid loading interruptions while watching clip, play from beginning to end then click replay*





Related Articles:
Terrariums: Glass Gardens
Caring for your Terrarium



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Terrariums: Glass Gardens

By definition, the word terrarium means "a place of earth." In actuality, a terrarium is a miniature indoor garden under glass. It contains a collection of plants that belong to the same plant community and need the same amount of water and sunlight. If you wish to cultivate a terrarium, it is important to group the same plants that need the same conditions for them to grow well together inside a small container.

Within a terrarium’s space, biochemical reactions occur such as photosynthesis, carbon dioxide formation, and the water cycle. A terrarium, therefore, has its own ecosystem and can support other living beings like a small animal or two.

A terrarium is also considered as a plant hospital. If you put an unhealthy plant inside a covered terrarium, you will see how it would revive and survive. This is because the covered glass container keeps the plants from drying out and protects them from sudden changes of temperature. Hence, terrariums can also make for an excellent way of transporting rare plants from faraway places.

Like many important scientific discoveries, the idea of the terrarium was the result of an accident.In 1829, Dr Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward (1791-1868), an English physician who had a passion for botany, placed a chrysalis inside a glass jar with some moist earth to watch it develop into a butterfly. After a few days, he noticed that a fern began to grow in the moist earth. Inspired by the discovery, he began to experiment extensively by cultivating many varieties of plants in glass containers. Later on his glass gardens became popular and were known as the Wardian case, the direct origin of the modern terrarium.

Related Article:
How To Build A Terrarium
Caring for your Terrarium


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