Materials to make a terrarium
A terrarium is not very demanding as far as materials are concerned. Three strata, or layers, are required for a successful environment: soil, moss, and plants. To create your oasis of green you will need:
- A glass container or vessel suitable for the plants you chose, and deep enough for their root systems to grow easily. For an open terrarium, opt for a container with a large enough opening to enable sufficient air flow, such as a glass jar or bowl. If you choose to create a closed terrarium, the height of the container is crucial, since it must be adequate for the height of the plants you’ve chosen.
- Gravel and pebbles in various sizes.
- A substrate made up of equal parts earth and sand, or soil specially formulated for cacti.
- Living moss.
- A funnel to make it easier to add the soil required; you can also make a funnel out of paper.
- A small spoon or wooden chopstick to place and adjust the elements in your terrarium.
Prefered plant species
For your creation to remain a beautiful green, you must choose the plant species that will bring your terrarium to life very carefully.
Highly recommended:
- Succulent plants, which are wonderfully suited to a terrarium collection. Low-maintenance, succulents are available in so many different shapes and colours. Here are a few to consider:
- Echeveria;
- Crassula;
- Kalanchoe;
- Sedum;
- Adromischus;
- Gasteria;
- Haworthia.
- Plants that are adaptable for bonsai, like the Ficus ginseng.
- Exotic plants like fittonia
- Plants in the bromeliaceous family, such as tillandsia.
- Orchids
- Cacti
Follow these steps for a terrarium
- Cover the bottom of your glass container with 2 cm of gravel. This layer is important because it creates a drainage layer so that water settles in your terrarium without flooding the plants.
- Delicately remove the plants from their pots and carefully loosen the earth from around the roots.
- Add a layer of soil on the gravel.
- Position the plants on the layer of soil; start by putting the largest plants at the back.
- When you are satisfied with your arrangement, fill in the spaces between the plants with soil. Use a funnel to add the soil exactly where you want it.
- Gently tamp the soil around the plants with a chopstick.
- Spread a layer of fine gravel on the soil. Use the funnel as needed.
- Decorate with large pebbles.
- Water lightly – approximately the equivalent of a small glass of water – over the whole surface of the terrarium.
Maintaining your terrarium
The care of a terrarium is really very simple!
Watering:
- Keep it to once a month, watering in very small quantities from spring to autumn.
- Do your best to avoid getting water on the plants’ leaves.
- Make sure the water drains through and that the earth dries out between watering.
- During the winter months, the dormant period, put the terrarium in a cool location and stop watering entirely.
Fertilizers are not necessary. You may, however, fertilize once per year in the spring, using a fertilizer appropriate for cacti.
- Cut back plants as needed and cut branches that are either dead or too bushy.
Location:find a place where your succulents can enjoy lots ofindirect light from fall to winter and partial shade during the spring and summer.
- Put the terrarium near a window and rotate occasionally.
- Avoid direct sun; the sunlight through the glass will trap the heat and can scorch the plants.