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by Adam Fulford

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.

Image via Wikipedia

by Adam Fulford

Terrariums With Woodland Scenes

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)
• Club Moss Lycopodium
• Irish moss (Selaginella sp.),
• Maidenhead spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes), and
• Showy Plants
• Asparagus fern Asparagus plumosa
• Fluffy ruffles Nephrolepis exaltata
• Johnny Jump-ups
• Holly fern Cyrtomiun
• Maidenhair Adantium pedatum
• Norfolk Island Pine Araucaria - look for small bonsai
• Partridgeberry Mirchella repens
• Rabbitsfoot Davallia
• Table fern Pteris
• Selaginella

Soil For Woodland Terrariums

Option 1: Standard potting mix.

or

Option 2: Make your own mix.

• 3 parts ground coconut husks, soaked and rinsed in cold water at least three times to remove salt.
• 1 part chopped moss
• 1 part leaf mulch