Terrarium Care Instructions

TERRARIUM CARE

You have heard of terrariums and know it’s all about growing plants in a transparent container, usually made of glass. But just how does a terrarium work?

Terrariums have been around for over 150 years, but they’ve become really popular in recent years. They let you grow a little world of plants inside a glass vessel. And best of all, these little miniature worlds are easy to care for. These mini gardens are ideal in your home, in small apartments, or to brighten up your office. Let’s find out exactly how a terrarium works and what it takes to put one together. 

How Does A Terrarium Work? 

Terrariums fall into two different categories – open and closed. Each type works quite differently. Let’s have a closer look at how each type works and the differences between them. 

Closed Terrarium

The workings of a closed terrarium are simple. A closed terrarium creates an isolated ecosystem within a sealable, transparent container. Plants within a closed terrarium will have everything they need to thrive.

• Soil provides nutrients for the plants. These nutrients are constantly recycled as plants grow, taking up nutrients from the soil, and then dying, returning them to the soil.

• Water within the terrarium sustains the plants by creating a miniature water cycle.

• Both the plants and soil in the terrarium release moisture and water vapor. This condenses against the walls of the terrarium and falls back into the soil to be used again.

• The cycle of moisture rising and falling is much like our own ecosystem – moisture rising during the day when temperatures are warmer and falling at night when the temperature cools.

• The cycle of water and nutrients is ideal for plants to grow and flourish, and with the constant supply of water, requires very little care from you.

• The only thing that needs to be added to a terrarium is light for photosynthesis to let the plants grow. Terrariums need indirect sunlight, which provides plenty of light, and also warmth for the plants.

• Direct sunlight is normally too intense, as the glass walls magnify the light and trap too much heat due to the greenhouse effect of a terrarium.

• A closed terrarium can take a bit of trial and error to achieve balance within the system. You may have to open the lid to adjust moisture levels within the system from time to time. There are also plenty of people who have had success with growing plants in a completely sealed terrarium for long periods of time.

• Plants that do best in enclosed terrariums are those that love moisture, such as ferns and moss. Choose compact plants that don’t need a lot of pruning, unless you want to be constantly opening the lid of the terrarium to prune them back to a decent size.

Open Terrarium

• Place in a bright, well-lit spot [keep away from direct sun] 

• Mist regularly 

• Maintain water level (find balance, water once a week) 

• Remove any yellow or dried leaves.

• If your terrarium stays too humid or stagnant for too long, you might see signs of mold or fungus. To kill off mold and fungus, you can apply a 1:1 mix of hydrogen peroxide and water up to three times.