Building A Thriving Terrarium For Beginners In 14 Easy Steps!

311

Terrariums are a great way to spruce up your dull-looking living spaces all year round. With terrariums, you can mix your love for redecorating and gardening at once to revitalize your household with a fresh and fulfilling green outlook. But first, how do you make a terrarium?

To build a self-sustaining miniature ecosystem, you’ll need high-quality glass jars or vessels to contain the terrarium plants. Mason jars are a great alternative for beginners, especially if you’d prefer to not spend much on terrariums. After you’ve got the perfect glass jar, find suitable substrates, small plants, and figurines to build a thriving ecosystem!

Once you figure out the basics, the ways you can decorate a terrarium are practically endless. Hence, in this article, we’ll attempt to teach you how to prepare a terrarium in just 14 easy steps to kick off your career as an expert terrarium designer. Additionally, we’ll include a list of precautions so that you can avoid crucial mistakes as a beginner. 

What Is A Terrarium?

A terrarium is basically a self-sustaining ecosystem enclosed in a miniature container. Suitable substrates and low-maintenance plants are placed inside a sealed glass or jar to preserve the moisture and allow the sunlight respectively. 

The soil retains the water vapor collected from the plants through transpiration and recycles the chemical molecules including salt compounds to nourish the plants repeatedly. Well-crafted terrariums can survive for years on end without outside assistance as long as the container gets access to ample sunlight every couple of days.

Fun fact – the world’s longest-living terrarium has survived over 53 years with minimal sustenance from the outside world. David Latimer built it in 1960 and only watered the terrarium once in 1972 and it continues to thrive incredibly to this date. While the idea of an ever-lasting terrarium only exists in theory, this particular 10-gallon bottle garden might just end up outlasting all of us, if everything continues to go right. 

How To Build A Terrarium In 14 Easy Steps?

Terrariums may sound like a complex invention, but they’re fairly easy to create and manage. Unlike normal gardens or plants, they don’t require constant attention and care. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making a DIY terrarium in 14 easy steps –

Step 1: Decide On A Style

There are endless varieties of terrariums – moss, bioactive, glass, reptile, exoterra, frog, zoo med, exoterra, carnivorous plant, leopard gecko, orchid, desert, fish tank, cactus, lizard terrariums, and so on.

They can, however, be classified under two broad styles of terrariums – open and closed.

For a basic terrarium, decide between a simple open or closed terrarium first before taking on the advanced setups. Open terrariums are great for preserving desert plants that can thrive in a dry environment such as cacti, aloe, etc. Open terrariums are also great for raising succulents. 

With succulents, you’ll need to regularly spray water to provide moisture to the plants. Closed containers don’t require constant supervision as they can recollect the water molecules through condensation and recycle the air utilizing regulatory transpiration and respiration of the leaves.

Step 2: Choose A Suitable Container

You can use any clear glass bowls, jars, or containers for DIY terrariums. 

Mason jars and jam containers are two of the best options if you’re looking to repurpose old household items. You can also get decorative glass containers, bowls, etc. with geometric designs and special features for terrariums. 

Step 3: Choose Suitable Plants

Beginners can go for cacti, aloe, peperomia, and succulents like jade plants, echeveria, portualacaria, etc. for open terrariums in a dry environment. Alternatively, Fittonia, African violets, maidenhair fern, Chinese money plant, Begonia, Pothos, Selaginella, spiderworts, spider plants, etc. plants are great for closed terrariums with high humidity.

Step 4: Gather The Available Substrates

Dirt, gravels, stones, rocks/pebbles, compost, and in some cases, activated charcoal – these common substrates are needed for both entry-level and complex terrariums.

 They not only help to lay the groundwork for the plants but also provide the necessary nutrients by recycling the components.

Step 5: Thoroughly Clean The Container

Before placing the substrates and the plants, thoroughly clean the glass containers to get rid of any residual impurities. A terrarium needs a clean slate to filter out and recycle the essential chemical compounds to sustain the inner ecosystem.

Use a high-pressure water pressure washer to clean the insides of containers with narrow glass tubes. Refrain from using dish soap with caustic elements to clean the glass. 

After thoroughly washing the container with water, place it upside down to dry off naturally before making a terrarium.

Step 6: Place A Thin Layer Of Substrates

Lay down a thin layer of gravel, rocks, or stones for stability. A 2 cm layer is fine for small containers, but adjust the thickness based on the size of the container/jar.

Step 7: Place A Layer Of Compost

On top of the 2 cm layer of rocky substrates, place the main i.e. compost layer. The ratio of gravel to compost should be around 1:3 for maximum effectiveness. For instance – a 2 cm gravel layer should have a 6 cm compost layer and so on.

Step 8: Plant The Plants (Or Seeds!)

Use tongs, chopsticks, or tweezers to place the plants systematically in a decorative manner. Alternatively, you can plant the seeds in the compost layer. With seeds, make sure to regularly water the soil to help the saplings sprout faster. 

Step 9: Add Another Thin Layer Of Substrates

After placing the plants, add some more dirt and gravel to cover the roots properly. Use a spoon or a cork on a stick to press down on the soil for structural stability.

Step 10: Clean The Dirt/Compost Off The Walls

To preserve the aesthetic appeal of the terrariums, use a small cloth or brush to clean the glass before sealing it. 

Step 11: Lightly Water The Plants

Use a spray bottle to gently water the plants so that they can go on to recycling this moisture in the upcoming days. With open terrariums, spray the plants regularly, as unsealed containers can’t recycle the transpired water via condensation. 

Step 12: Add A Layer Of Moss Carpet

You can add a layer of moss carpet both for decorative and nutritional values. The green moss can help to retain water and nutrients in the soul while giving off a truly natural look.

Step 13: Add Decorative Figurines/Stones/Statues

After adding the essentials, it’s time to decorate the terrariums however you like! From dragons to dinosaurs, palaces to spaceships, place whichever figurines and statues you like to set up the terrarium of your dreams! 

Step 14: Find A Suitable Place With Indirect Sunlight

Last but not least, place your newly decorated bottled garden in a place with ample but indirect sunlight. Terrariums need bright sunlight but the plants can wither under the influence of harsh and direct sunlight. As glass containers retain heat, excess sunlight can suck the moisture out of the terrarium and cause the plants to wilt and eventually die.

As a general rule of thumb, look for places that get diffused light, especially during the afternoon. Also, make sure to keep the terrariums at least 6-7 inches away from the window to avoid accidental exposure to bright light.

A south-facing window is best for terrariums with tropical plants as the light will be bright enough to encourage photosynthesis inside but not as direct to damage the foliage. 

Building A Terrarium: Precautions You Should Follow

• While building a terrarium is mostly easy, the ecosystem can fail to sustain itself because of silly mistakes. Follow these precautions to ensure proper care of your lovely terrariums!
• After placing the substrates, make sure to use a spoon or a cork stick to press the layers evenly to ensure firmness.
• Don’t use colored glass containers for terrariums as they can block the sunlight partially or completely.
• Try to ensure that none of the plants actually touch the glass to avoid rotten leaves and stems due to excess moisture.
• If there’s too much condensation i.e. if the glass becomes too foggy, let out some of the moisture by leaving the lid open for a couple of hours.
• Get rid of weeds and dead leaves every once in a while to preserve the naturalness of the ecosystem.
• Use activated charcoal to avoid bacterial growth in the soil.
• While placing the plants, make space for the bigger ones first before placing the smaller ones.
• Make sure the terrarium soil level mimics the original soil level of the plants to ensure proper sustainability of the roots.
• If enough sunlight is not available, place artificial LED or fluorescent lights to promote photosynthesis in the plants.

Final Words

So, there you have it. Follow the steps to prepare your very first terrarium and the precautions to avoid unwanted complications with your lively miniature gardens. Don’t forget to show off your beautiful terrariums and stay with us for daily updates on plants, terrariums, and everything green.

FAQs: