December 6, 2024
Top Tips for Terrariums
Terrariums are amazing! With just a few key ingredients, you can take an ordinary container and create a unique miniature world, whether it’s a desert oasis, a dense jungle, or anything in between! They are fantastic for DIY projects for your own enjoyment and make incredibly unique gifts for any occasion! Wondering how to get started in this amazing plant creating world? Here are some of our tips to creating a gorgeous terrarium:
Location
What is its intended spot? In the world of gardening, knowing how much natural light the area will receive, and whether it’s direct or indirect, is one of the most important details to note before you start filling your shelves and windowsills. A south- or west-facing window that will blast your terrarium with direct afternoon sunlight means that cacti and succulents will love you, but your baby tears will shrivel. And a window that faces east, or even north, is great for low light loving varieties like spider plants but will starve those sun loving desert dwellers. In short, the location determines the plant varieties.
Choice of Container
Just about anything can be used for a terrarium, so long as it’s watertight. Old aquariums, glass vases, even Mason jars can be turned into miniature garden worlds. Your vessel should allow light to shine through (clear glass is best) with easy access for both planting and watering. A wide-open top will allow more air circulation, which is great for cacti, succulents, and other plants that prefer drier conditions. Closed or semi-closed terrariums (those that come with a lid or a narrowed opening) are ideal for keeping up humidity levels and are a perfect fit for ferns. Be sure to clean and sterilize any reused containers before planting.
Layering
Part of the beauty of terrariums is how each layer gets a share of the spotlight. Starting from the bottom, you’ll want to have:
- Stones for drainage – this layer is essential for holding excess moisture and to keep roots from sitting in water.
- Moss (preferably dense sheet moss, not loose sphagnum moss) or some other permeable material – this will keep the soil layer separate from the drainage stones, while still allowing excess water to filter down and away from the roots.
- Potting soil – all-purpose for most varieties, but choose cactus soil for cacti, succulents, jades, etc.
- Plants – more on these in a bit!
- Final decorative layer of your choosing – small pebbles, coloured sand, figurines, whatever you like!
Plants (the Main Attraction)
Terrariums allow you to pick multiple plant varieties and keep them in a single space, much like a living curio shelf! Here are a few details to consider when choosing your varieties:
– Go for small and/or slow growing plants; you don’t want them to outgrow their home too quickly.
– Keep the growing conditions consistent between all varieties: light setting, watering preferences, humidity levels, etc. Mixing up your plant worlds, like trying a fern-cactus combination, means that one will burn while the other drowns and no one is happy. Keep like with like for the best chance of success!
– Tropicals offer so many options and combinations! Some of the most popular choices include fittonia, polka dot plant, croton, peperomia, white butterfly, dracaena, and low-growing varieties of snake plant, but there are so many more–check out greenhouse #4, it’s filled with inspiration!
– Terrariums are more about size and texture and less about flowers, so go for plants that offer a range of shapes, sizes, and foliage colours for added interest.
Planting (Time to Play in Dirt)
All-purpose potting soil is typically best for any indoor planting. However, cacti, succulents, and other varieties that prefer a drier climate will need cactus soil for extra drainage. Make sure your potting soil is deep enough to keep all the plants’ original levels consistent; you don’t want any hills or valleys as this will affect your watering as well as the terrarium’s overall look. Using the back of a spoon is a great way to pack down soil in those tight spaces.
Watering (aka The Great Balancing Act)
Now that your tiny world is all planted you just have to water everyone in, which sounds easy but can get a bit tricky. You’ll need to moisten the soil and everyone’s roots but stop before your soil turns into a boggy mess – this is where those clear sides really come in handy! A small watering can with a long, narrow spout is a great tool for terrariums. Water gently around each individual plant to ensure that everyone gets a good drink.
Finishing Touches
There are some who appreciate the look of natural soil, and others who prefer a more polished look. For the latter, there are lots of colours and options available in small pebbles or sand; you can even add a further layer of life by adding a layer of moss to terrariums designed for high moisture and/or humid environments.
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