If you read last week's article about why terrarium gardening is a hobby you should take up, you're probably back for some tips on how to do it, what to use and what to plant. So let's get to it! As we said last week, a terrarium is essentially a miniature greenhouse that you keep inside (that's important!). There are main types of terrariums: open and closed. We'll be talking only about closed terrariums right now.
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| Image: Scribbit |
Getting Started
Since the idea of a terrarium is to create a cozy, moist greenhouse environment, almost any container that traps moisture will work. An old pickle jar with a lid can be a terrarium, it just won't be very pretty. If you want your terrarium to be lovely to look at, try using one of these items as your "case."
- Large apothecary jars
- Wardian cases
- Blown-glass pieces designed just for terrarium use
- Two glass cylinders balanced on top of each other (use a little ticky-tac to help them stick)
- Nifty plates or footed dishes covered with a cloche or bell jar
Picking Plants
Tropical, moisture-loving plants will flourish in your terrarium. That includes plants like begonias, mosses, African violets, or orchids. For a complete list, check here, here and here. (That last one is especially neat, since you can order directly from them, and they have a massive selection.)
Put It Together
It's super-important that you sterilize your container and any pots you put in your terrarium container. If you don't, get ready for mold city, baby. It's gonna be gross. Give everything a thorough washing and let it dry out. If you're using small pots instead of adding potting soil directly to your terrarium, use glazed ceramic or metal, which won't harbor mold and crud like unsealed terra cotta.
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Planting Directly in the Terrarium
The idea here is that you fill the bottom of your terrarium container with gravel for drainage, sprinkle in some charcoal (get it at a nursery) and top that with a light potting soil. Just like if you were planting outside, gently remove your plants from their pots, lightly knead the root balls, and place them in the holes you've made in your potting soil in the base of the terrarium. Pack the soil in around the roots so the plants are stable. You can top the soil with sphagnum moss, if you like that look.
The charcoal is to absorb stuff that rots (and smells) inside the closed area. If you're going with the plant-in-a-pot option, you can still sprinkle the charcoal over the pebbles at the bottom.
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| Image: Dallas News |
Planting in a Pot
You don't have to put your plants directly in the terrarium. In some cases, it might might make more sense to use small containers for planting, and simply use your terrarium like a display case. If that's the route you're going to take, you have to find pots for the plants. Egg cups are perfect for the tiniest of plants. Small bud vases are just right if you're rooting plant cuttings in water. Little ceramic pots were practically made for this use. Whatever you use, fill the bottom with some pea gravel and layer your light potting soil on top of that.
Keys to Terrarium Gardening
- Don't overwater! In a closed container, there isn't air circulation or evaporation on the scale that occurs in a dry, indoor environment. Test soil moisture with your finger before watering, and don't drown your plants!
- Use quality materials. Yes, you make have a pile of gravel in your back yard, or some cruddy old topsoil lying around. It's still a worthwhile investment to go buy some gravel or soil that's meant just for this kind of gardening.
- Use the right plants. If you try to grow herbs or other plants that require only moderate moisture or dry environments, they will die. Tropical plants grow well in greenhouses. Cacti will die.
- Air it out occasionally. For a few hours once a week or once every couple weeks, leave the lid off so your plants get some fresh air.
