Why use a terrarium

Think of it like a miniature greenhouse you can park on a shelf, a bookcase, windowsill or any area of your home to have a beautiful indoor miniature garden. Nevertheless, sellers call them either:. Suffice to say, an open terrarium is just a bowl.

Or a bottle of Coke cut in half and used as an open top container. Whatever works. A closed terrarium, as in a real one is best for plants that thrive in humid environments, whereas, an open top container is best for succulents as they prefer air flow over humidity. You can watch the whole process unfurl before your very eyes. The idea is simple. When water and humidity are in the same zone, condensation happens. You can see that on the container walls. As the condensation rises, it trickles back down to water the plants, so the water is being recycled.

Another side effect of the closed terrarium is the water will go through two stages by passing between liquid form and gas. In terms of how the plants use that ecosystem to live, they get all the nourishment needed for photosynthesis light dependent , watering and oxygen. Terrariums need a bit of planning so you get the right types of plants, the ideal size of container for them and the base layers just right for sufficient growth and plant longevity.

The starting point for a self-sufficient terrarium is to decide on the types of plants you intend to grow. Keep in mind that terrariums are glass enclosures and glass filters UV rays.

The ones that prefer shade do best. When deciding on which ones you want to give a try, mix and match your plants from one list only. What not to do is take one from the open terrarium plant list and put it together with a plant type suited to a closed terrarium. The only other thing you need to pay attention to when picking plants is the size they expect to grow to.

Botanist, James Wong recommends a minimum terrarium size of 30 cm by 30 cm. As far as the types plants to grow, you can either go all succulents for an open terrarium or all humid-thriving plants that do better in closed terrariums. You need to mix your plants based on the growing environment they do best at. For a closed terrarium one with a lid on it you need humid loving plants.

While all humidity loving plants do well in closed terrariums, you should monitor the level of condensation. If it starts to show loads of condensation building up around the sides and seals, take the lid off it and let it air for a short time to reduce the moisture content. That will prevent the plants from becoming over-watered, which is the most common causes of terrarium failures.

What to remember with closed terrariums is that inside the container is a self-sustaining ecosystem that keeps the plants alive. But, while it should be self-sufficient, sometimes, depending on the conditions around your home, a little intervention is required to keep the moisture levels at a reasonable level.

Succulents are the best type of plant to use in an open terrarium. They thrive in open air and are super easy to care for, requiring just a misting of water to keep them nourished. In addition, Crotons are spectacular for brightening up an open terrarium. If placed in direct sun or extremely bright light, terrarium glass can act as a magnifier and burn the plants. Temperatures inside the terrarium can rise quickly and before you know it, the terrarium can become as steamy as a sauna.

Most plants can't tolerate this kind of heat, so it's best to keep terrariums out of the direct sun. While too much light can cause problems, most plants need at least some light to survive.

If your terrarium is not receiving enough indirect light, use grow lights or fluorescent lights to provide supplemental light or place the terrarium closer to a window that receives good, but indirect light. The heat generated by a radiator or heating vent can kill your plants quickly.

If you place your terrarium on or near a radiator or other heat source, most terrarium plants will not survive. Don't let terrarium plants become leggy and overgrown; you want to be able to admire individual plants and see the other decorative elements inside the terrarium. To keep your terrarium plants neat and tidy, trim them when they become overgrown and have crowded the terrarium, You can also prune their roots to keep them small.

If a terrarium plant looks like it might be diseased, is dying, or is not thriving, remove it immediately because its problems can infect other plants. Replace the plant with one of a similar size and the same moisture and light requirements. Be sure to surround the roots with soil, leaving no air pockets. Every once in a while, clean the glass of your terrarium both inside and out.

If the glass is too dirty or foggy, it will be difficult for light to reach your plants. What this moss does is provide even more of a way for moisture to be collected in the terrarium. It also keeps the soil from dropping down into the drainage system of the terrarium. Lastly is the layer of soil, the life of the plants. You have a couple of options here.

Many gardening stores have a premixed soil available for terrariums. This soil is rich in organic matter and has sand added to the mix. Your other option is to buy good quality organic soil and mix it yourself with coarse sand. You get to choose the plants for your terrarium. As I mentioned earlier, the type of plants you choose will depend on whether you have an open or closed terrarium. For both open and closed containers make sure the plants are compatible with each other and that you have the right soil for them to grow in.

Use plants that require the same amount of light and water, so they all thrive. For open air terrariums, choose plants that like circulating air and an environment that is more arid than humid. Good choices include:.

For enclosed containers, choose plants that like a closed space and do well with a lot of moisture. Every terrarium is interesting and unique. The possibilities are endless. Dried moss or lichen is another nice touch. A growing trend these days is to make a terrarium with a theme by adding small toys and figurines, pine cones, and little wooden miniature pieces such as mushrooms and fairies.

However, there are a few things you can do to ensure that your terrarium is happy. Here are some quick tips and tricks for terrarium care:. But if you see a lot of water condensing on the lid, remove it for a while, then replace it. Start with a layer of rocks, about one inch or so, at the bottom of your container.

Plant your plants. When you remove them from their little pots, carefully tease the roots apart and remove some of the old soil so they will fit nicely in the terrarium. Arrange them to look nice.