How to Build a Terrarium Using African Violets
African violets are popular flowering houseplants for good reason. Their good looks – blossoms that come not only in purple and lavender but also in shades of pink, red and white – make them a pleasure to look at, and their compact size makes them ideal for adding color to small spaces. Miniature African violets are also a good choice for terrariums -- covered glass containers that serve as self-irrigating miniature ecosystems for plants -- since they thrive in typical terrarium conditions. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Glass container
- Pebbles or gravel
- Charcoal
- Potting soil
- Decorative rocks or shells
Instructions
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Find and prepare an appropriate container. Any wide-mouthed glass container, such as an old aquarium or a large jar, can make a suitable terrarium. To prepare the terrarium for plants, line it with a 2-inch layer of gravel or pebbles (since the terrarium won’t have drainage openings at the bottom, the gravel or pebbles will keep the soil from getting waterlogged). Top the gravel or pebble layer with a quarter-inch layer of charcoal – this also helps facilitate drainage and absorbs odors from the soil. Place a 2-to-5-inch layer of lightweight potting soil on top of the charcoal. Sculpture the soil layer into hills and valleys to add visual interest.
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Add appropriate plants and decorations. Good plants for terrariums are those that have small leaves, grow slowly and are tolerant of humidity. Miniature African violets, which thrive in warm, humid environments, are ideal for terrariums, as are carnivorous plants such as Venus flytraps. Avoid plants that require arid climates, such as cacti. Decorations such as rocks or seashells can add flair to your terrarium, but avoid wood accents, which can introduce insects and fungi into the environment. Once everything inside the terrarium is the way you want it, moisten the soil with a bulb baster and cover the top of the container with a piece of plastic wrap or glass.
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Keep your terrarium healthy. Terrariums need little maintenance. Since they recycle moisture, they do not need to be watered often – only once every few weeks, if necessary. If condensation builds up on the inside of the glass, uncover the terrarium and allow the excess moisture to evaporate before replacing the cover. Terrariums do not need fertilizer; using it can cause plants to grow too quickly and outgrow the terrarium. Your terrarium should be kept in a warm place in indirect light, such as by a north- or east-facing window.
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Tips & Warnings
Terrarium plants grow slowly because of the limited amount of nutrition available to them. If your plants start to look tired, remove a thin layer from the top of the soil and replace it with fresh potting soil. This should provide your plants all the nutrition they need.
References
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
