Terrariums – Gardens within Glass

Would you like to create a miniature garden in a jar? Imagine a miniature garden in a crystal ball or a glass jar: a glass-enclosed oasis of a woodland scene, or a tropical garden, or an orchid garden. The plants would grow on landscapes that you make, could be little hills amongst rocks, lichen, or even seashells, or it could be a water world.

How Terrariums Work

Closed Terrariums don’t need to be watered much; they trap water inside. When the water evaporates, it condenses against the sides of the terrarium and falls down again. Terrarium plants can go for weeks, even months, without being watered. Most terrarium are best placed in indirect sunlight. Direct sunlight can overheat and harm the plants. Only desert terrariums should be placed directly in the sunlight. A well-placed and nicely set-up terrarium thrives with little maintenance and adds beauty to any setting.

History of Terrariums

Terrariums were discovered accidentally. In 1827, Dr. Nathaniel Ward, an English Physician curious about nature, wanted to learn about how sphinx moths emerge from cocoons. He had a sealed glass jar containing moist soil and moth cocoons to observe. To Dr. Ward’s great surprise, a fern started sprouting and growing within the sealed glass container. That fern went on to live within that jar for four years without being watered once! Ward had created the first terrarium. Dr. Ward put together other terrariums, for sale. They were a big hit and were popularly known as Wardian cases.

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Things You Need to Make Terrariums

Here is a list of the materials needed to make a terrarium:

• • Transparent Terrarium Container
    Terrariums can be made with glass or plastic jars. Or with fish bowls, aquarium tanks, or other transparent vessels. Even soda bottles! The container must be transparent and not tinted, so it lets enough sun in.
  • Drainage Material
    Gravel, or pebbles, or glass beads, or Terra-lite. This is for the drainage layer, which absorbs excess water. Drainage is essential for maintaining plant health. If the soil becomes saturated with water, it can become a medium for fungi or harmful bacteria that rots the roots.
  • Activated Charcoal
    Activated charcoal help terrariums fresh by absorbing gases and chemicals that could otherwise harm plants. Beware that you should NOT use barbecue charcoal since it usually contains chemicals that can harm plants.
  • Funnel
    A plastic funnel with an adequately wide opening or a one made with sturdy paper or some other material. Using a funnel to pour materials into terrarium containers helps keep the terrarium walls clean.
  • Mesh Or Screen
    The mesh prevents soil from shifting into drainage layers below. Many materials, cut to size can serve this function –spaghum moss, or muslin, or cheesecloth, or nylon screen, or gauze, or landscape fabric, or iberglass drapery fabric, or sheer drapery, or even pantyhose, or some other improvised material.
  • Activated charcoal
  • Terrarium Soils
    Standard potting mix usually is fine for terrariums but some kinds of terrariums may require particular soil mixes.

Materials Needed to Build Terrariums

History of Terrariums

Terrariums were discovered accidentally. In 1827, Dr. Nathaniel Ward, an English Physician curious about nature, wanted to learn about how sphinx moths emerge from cocoons. He had a sealed glass jar containing moist soil and moth cocoons to observe. To Dr. Ward’s great surprise, a fern started sprouting and growing within the sealed glass container. That fern went on to live within that jar for four years without being watered once! Ward had created the first terrarium. Dr. Ward put together other terrariums, for sale. They were a big hit and were popularly known as Wardian cases.