What Are Terrariums?
A terrarium is a glass container that allows a bit of the wild outdoors to be brought inside. A terrarium keeps plants and even small animals alive inside the glass and can rest on a desk or counter. Terrariums can be closed or open depending on whether the owner wants careful construction and no maintenance or the other way around.
-
The Composition of a Terrarium
-
Terrariums begin with sand or large pebbles mixed with charcoal covered with an inch of growing medium that is high in organic matter. A suitable mix would include peat moss, vermiculite and perlite, according to University of Missouri Extension. Suitable terrarium plants include ferns, bromeliads, ivies and mosses.
Open Terrariums
-
Any glass container that is as high as the plants growing inside it can serve as an open terrarium. Open terrariums began in New England as places to grow strawberries inside the house using hand-blown glass bowls. Open terrariums work well with plants that don't require high humidity, such as sweet olive, earth stars, dwarf pomegranate and pepperomia. Open terrariums also don't do well in bright sunlight. If the best place for the open terrarium is in a dark place, put a 100-watt light bulb close to the container.
Enclosed Terrariums
-
Enclosed terrariums don't need to be watered for months or sometime years. They are a closed system in which water is used by the plants and released into the atmosphere, condensed on the top and sides of the terrarium and falls back to the plant. To make an enclosed terrarium, clean a glass container by washing it in hot, soapy water and drying it completely. Add 1/2 inch of coarse sand, pebbles or gravel, a layer of charcoal for odor control, a layer of moss to keep the soil and lower layer from mixing, an inch of fertile potting soil and rocks or landscaping. Place each plant in a small hole and fill in and tamp the soil to give it contact with the root system. Spray the soil with a few ounces of water and cover the top. Check the terrarium and add water if the soil looks dry. Plant the enclosed terrarium with ardisia, baby tears, miniature African violets, creeping charlie, and various mosses.
Terrarium Accessories
-
Accessories are items that help the terrarium thrive and generate interest, but that aren't alive. Rocks, small pieces of wood, ceramic frogs and other natural elements can add interest to the terrarium. Avoid any items with colors that don't belong in nature. A fluorescent orange pagoda, for instance, distracts from the peace and serenity of the plants. Use a spray bottle for watering, small scissors for pruning, long thin spoons and long sticks for planting and maintaining the terrarium and a substrate heater for keeping the terrarium at the right temperature.
-
Related Searches
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Ryan McVay/Lifesize/Getty Images
