Terrariums

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Terrariums

• By Angie Bush

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Introduction

• A terrarium is a living plant growing inside a
  sealed glass container. In this presentation I
  will explain all about planting, soil, tools,
  plants, containers, care and the history of
  terrariums. Terrariums are often a miniature
  landscape under glass in the form of a woodland,
  a desert, a tropical jungle or your own
  collection of plants.

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History of Terrariums

• In 1827 the terrarium was invented by Nathaniel
  Ward, a London doctor. He came over this
  invention because his outdoor plants would not
  live in the polluted air of London, he discovered
  that he could make miniature greenhouses which
  was then named fern cases.

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Indoor Wardian Case

• Horticulturists were able to bring back
  sensitive tropical plants in Wardian cases to be
  well-protected from salt, air, and changing
  climatic conditions during the long sea voyage.

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Accessories

• Rocks
• Gravel
• Wood
• Seed pots
• Bark
• Ceramic figures
• Frogs
• Mushrooms
• Snails

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Tools

• Only a few tools are necessary for planting the
  terrarium.
• Long sticks, either bamboo or ¼ inch dowling. The
  length depends on the height of the container
  being used.
• Large kitchen spoon for placing soil and drainage
  material
• Atomizer or bulb-type sprayer will be useful for
  watering the terrarium.
• A stick with a wire loop on the end will be
  helpful for lowering plants into large containers
  with small tops.

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Containers

• A terrarium container must be made from clear
  glass or plastic. Tinted or cloudy glass greatly
  reduces light and interferes with plant growth.
• Any type of clear container may be used
• empty fish bowls
• fish tanks
• brandy snifters
• old glass jars
• jugs
• bottles
• containers specially designed for terrariums.

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Containers Cont.

• All closed containers should have transparent
  covers.
• Containers with small openings are okay.
  Containers with large openings without covers can
  be used but will require more frequent watering.
• Open terrariums are drier and less subject to
  disease.

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Soil

• Soil for terrariums must be clean, well drained
  and high in organic matter.
• Potting soils sold at garden centers and
  nurseries where plant supplies are sold are
  sterilized and ready for use.
• To prepare your own soil, mix one part peat moss
  with one part rich garden soil.
• Make sure the soil is moist before sterilization.
  Place it in an oven at about 200 degrees until
  the soil is thoroughly heated.

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Plants

• Many plants are suitable for growing in
  terrariums.
• They are kept small in terrariums by cutting back
  the tips.
• Dont mix plants requiring widely different
  conditions.
• Cacti are less desirable for terrariums since
  moist conditions promote rot.
• Dont mix desert plants with moisture-loving
  tropicals.

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Plants That Can Be Used

• African violet (Saintpaulia spp.)
• Airplant (Kalanchoe pinnata)
• Aluminum plant (Pilea cadierii)
• Baby tears (Helxine soleirolii)
• Begonia (Begonia spp.)
• Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema spp.)
• Jade plant (Crassula argentea)
• Swedish ivy (Plectranthes australis)
• And many more

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Planting

• Place a ½ inch layer of small gravel in bottom.
• Sprinkle some activated charcoal on top.
• Fill to proper height with a good draining
  potting soil. If soil clumps when squeezed, add
  some perlite, or vermiculite to lighten it up.
• Install plants. The number will depend on the
  size of the plants, and the container. Dont over
  plant. Leave room to grow. Push the soil aside,
  place a plant in the depression, and firm the
  soil around it.
• Water lightly. (3 or 4 ounces)

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Making Your Own
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Different Terrariums
Snowflake terrarium
Globe terrarium
The teardrop
Bite terrarium
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Terrarium Tables

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Millennium Terrarium Pictures

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Height

• Since low plants are preferred, more emphasis is
  placed on small plants. Some of these are
  creeping or climbing vines that may grow tall,
  but with limited height in the terrarium they
  form a groundcover. Most plants over 12 inches
  need to be cut back.

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Light

• Most plants in the medium light category
  require good light near a window or less light
  from a window with artificial light. The
  terrarium should be placed within several feet of
  a bright window, but not in direct sun.

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Temperature

• Most tropical plants are suited for common house
  temperatures. At night 65 degrees is ideal, day
  temperatures normally should be about 75 degrees.
  
• Woodland terrariums should have nighttime
  temperatures about 50 to 55 degrees. Day
  temperatures also should be cool but are not as
  critical.

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Care after planting

• A closed terrarium will not need to be watered
  for four to six months.
• Do not replace the cover until the leaves have
  dried.
• Open terrariums need occasional watering not as
  often as houseplants.
• Watering should always be light.
• Its better to be a little too dry than too wet.
• Many plants out grow the terrarium.
• With a little trimming these plants can be
  brought into bounds.

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Care after planting cont.

• Frequently pinching out tips before a plant
  becomes too tall will result in more balanced
  growth than infrequent, more severe cutbacks.
• Do not plan to fertilize for at least a year
  after planting.
• If the plants are yellowish without any reason,
  fertilize very lightly with a water-soluble
  houseplant fertilizer at about one-tenth the rate
  recommended for normal houseplants.

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Replacing plants

• Occasionally it may be necessary to replace
  plants
• Some foliage plants that do well in a
  small-mouthed terrariums include creeping fig
  (Ficus pumila) Ti plant (Cordyline terminalis)
  Ribbon plant (Dracaena sanderiana) Earth star
  (Cryptanthus acaulis) Prayer plants (Maranta
  species). Do not use ferns they will take over a
  terrarium.

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Dish gardens

• Dish gardens are arrangements of flowers in a
  normal planting dish although there are many
  different decorative dishes. Open terrariums
  provide higher humidity for plants than dish
  gardens do.

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Conclusion

• In this presentation I explained how to plant a
  terrarium and take care of it hopefully you will
  use this information have more knowledge about
  plants and their habitats.