Imagine a miniature garden in a crystal ball or a glass jar: a glass-enclosed oasis of a woodland scene, or a tropical garden, or an orchid garden. Living plants will reside in the landscapes that you create, could be little hills amongst rocks, lichen, or even sea shells, or it could be a water world.
How Terrariums Work
Closed Terrariums don’t need to be watered much; they trap water inside. When the water evaporates, it condenses against the sides of the terrarium and falls down again. Terrarium plants can go for weeks, even months, without being watered.
Most terrarium are best placed in indirect sunlight. Direct sunlight can overheat and harm the plants. Only desert terrariums should be placed directly in the sunlight. A well-placed and nicely set-up terrarium thrives with little maintenance and adds beauty to any setting.
Choose plants appropriate for the type of terrarium you wish to create. This site describes some types of terrariums and lists plants that are suitable for them.
Ideal Plants For Terrariums
These are plants that are known to be well-suited for terrariums:
A woodland terrarium contains plants arranged to look like miniature forest scenes, with little plants of different sizes, often with undergrowth such as moss, ferns, and lichen. Many woodland terrariums are decorated and landscaped with lichen-covered rocks, acorns, or miniature logs, for a genuine woodland style.
Plants Good For Woodland Terrariums
Good ground cover for a woodsy appearance includesBaby Tears (Helxine soleirolii)
Between the tropical and temperate zones of the world are Earth’s sub tropical forests. Sub tropical plants have unique characteristics, making them well suited for terrariums. They can withstand a range of temperatures, from tropical temperatures to frosts that would destroy most tropical plants.
Many small sub tropical plants are hardy and ideally suited for terrariums
The best temperature for a sub tropical terrarium is 16 °C - 21 °C (60 °F to 70 °F), minimum 7 - 13 °C (45-55 °F), maximum 24 - 29 °C (75- 85 °F).
Create a tropicalterrarium: a jungle in a jar! Imagine staring into the lush plants and flowers of a miniature tropical landscape. Some jungle terrariums even have tiny waterfalls.
Some Tropical Plants Considered To Be Well-Suited For Tropical Terrariums
Tropical terrariums may need some sort of heating system: This is to maintain ideal temperatures for tropical plants. One way to heat tropical terrariums is with a fish tankheater for 10 gallon fish tanks, placed in an appropriately sized container of filtered water.
Behold a magnificent desert landscape within a glass case in your own room. What desert plants do you like — cacti, aloe, cotyledon? Would you decorate it with landmarks of your own design — a crystal, a dry bone, a spaceship?
Desert terrariums work best in large containers and need to be open enough for air to circulate and moisture to evaporate.
A List of the Materials Needed to Construct Terrariums, those Wonderful Gardens in Glass Containers
Transparent Terrarium Container: Terrariums can be made with glass or plastic jars. Or with fish bowls, aquarium tanks, or other transparent vessels. Even soda bottles! The container must be transparent and not tinted, so it lets enough sun in.
Drainage Material
Gravel, or pebbles, or glass beads, or Terra-lite. This is for the drainage layer, which absorbs excess water. Drainage is essential for maintaining plant health. If the soil becomes saturated with water, it can become a medium for fungi or harmful bacteria that rots the roots.
Activated Charcoal: Activated charcoal help terrariums fresh by absorbing gases and chemicals that could otherwise harm plants. Beware that you should NOT use barbecue charcoal since it usually contains chemicals that can harm plants.Funnel: A plastic funnel with an adequately wide opening or a one made with sturdy paper or some other material. Using a funnel to pour materials into terrarium containers helps keep the terrarium walls clean.
Mesh Or Screen: The mesh prevents soil from shifting into drainage layers below. Many materials, cut to size can serve this function -sphagnum moss, or muslin, or cheesecloth, or nylon screen, or gauze, or landscape fabric, or fiberglass drapery fabric, or sheer drapery, or even pantyhose, or some other improvised material.Activated charcoal
Terrarium Soils: Standard potting mix usually is fine for terrariums but some kinds of terrariums may require particular soil mixes. Other pages of this site go into further detail of the appropriate soils for terrariums.
Decorative Items For Terrarium Landscape
Select items that help create the effect you’d like the terrarium to project. All sorts of objects can enhance the appearance of a terrarium.
