How to build your own terrarium

Terrarium

People who want to decorate their home with house plants or indoor plants, terrarium is the perfect choice for them. It is a collection of small plants which grow inside a transparent and sealed container. It is rather apt so be referred to as a portable garden for a small apartment. It is easy to grow and most importantly you do not have to spend lot of time on it. You can create these containers in different theme too, such as desert theme, topical theme etc. Besides this, you can personally witness different types of natural process such as photosynthesis, respiration and water cycle due to its transparent container. Beautiful and stylish terrarium will enhance the beauty of your house or office.

Difficulty level: Easy

Time required: 40-45 minutes

Resources required

1. Glass containers with or without tops

2. Gravel, sea glass or beach stones

3. Activated charcoal

4. Plants

5. Potting mix soil

6. Moss (optional)

7. Decorative elements

Instructions

1. Select appropriate container and create proper drainage

First you need to select a large glass jar or a glass container where you want to plant your terrarium. Before you start to make terrariums you must try to clean it well with the soap water so that you can keep the terrariums at your room or office and enjoy the transparent visual effect of these plants. Next vital work is to create proper drainage system in the container. Prepare about one inch of gravel or stone layer inside the bottom part of the container. Once the gravel layer is ready then you must make a layer further of half an inch of ground charcoal over the gravel layer. If the container has narrow opening then you can use a funnel for purring the gravel and the charcoal inside the container.

2. Prepare soil for growing plant and select plant

Now, add some mixture of sterilized fresh plotting soil to a height of about two to three inches over the drainage layer. When you pour the soil you must be careful that the soil and drainage layer must be filled up to ¼ th part of the container space.Next,while selecting the plants for terrarium you must try to consider that all the plants must be adapted to the same tropical environment and are equally drought resistant so that you can invest the same type of care.

3. Place the plant inside the container and water them

Once you have selected the plant for terrarium, remove the plants from their pots. Now shake off extra soil around their roots and cut off unnecessary branches. Next, make a hole in the potting soil with a stick or with your hand. Place the plants inside these planting holes. Cover the roots with soil. You must try to place taller plant at the back of the jar and the shorter ones at the front portion of the same so that each plant can be seen properly. Once the planting process is complete, give little water and wash the inside walls of the container. You must never give excessive water as that might damage the plant roots seriously.

4. Decorate terrarium as per your own theme

You can decorate terrarium in different ways, such as you want to give them a desert look. For that you must place some small stones inside the container and also select some rough succulents and thorny plants like cactus. If you want to create a tropical terrarium then you can place some green moss over the soil and you must select green leafy plants. In this way you can decorate your terrarium in innovative ways.

Frequently asked questions

1. Is there any particular time for planting the terrarium plant?

A. As such there is no particular time for the same since you can create your the terrarium with seasonal plants as well as those which grow throughout the year.

2. Can I use any plastic container for terrarium?

A. It is better to avoid using any plastic containers because most of the plastic container are not made from recycled material. Moreover, they are not eco friendly too. Besides this, such plastic container are not much durable.

Quick tips

1. You can arrange for terrarium plants and soil from any renowned local nursery.

2. If you do not have sufficient idea in this matter then you can consult some knowledgeable person and get vital tips in this regard.

Things to watch our for

1. You must never place these terrarium under direct sunlight. It is better to place the terrariums in areas with indirect sunlight such as windowsills.

2. You must never mix up the plants with different growing requirements inside a single terrarium.

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