Transcript Tips for Making and Maintaining a Terrarium

Tips for Making and Maintaining a
Terrarium-Table Top Garden
Terrariums are tiny enclosed ecosystems that are not only easy
to care for and maintain, but also they make a perfect option for
home decor creating astonishing displays full of delightful and
thriving miniature plants. Although they don't require lot of
maintenance, the following steps help you to ensure that your
terrarium stays healthy and successful.
Tips to consider while making your terrarium- table top
garden
Potting mix
Sterilized growing medium with proper drainage is essential to
ensure that the soil doesn't become over saturated, which may
lead to root rot and death of plants.
A thin layer of crumbled activated charcoal will help you to
clean the air of the fumes produced when the organic materials
begin to decompose and keep the soil sweet and efficient.
Selection of right plants
While selecting the plants, the size of the terrarium garden has
to be kept in mind. It is best to select plants which are relatively
small, adopts to moist soil, thrives in humid conditions and
grows well with indirect sunlight.
Plants need to be compact as well as suitable to the same
conditions as companion plants. For example, never mix
moisture loving ferns with drought loving succulents or high
light plants with low light plants.
The following list contains plants, which can survive together in
dry to moist conditions and they well suited to grow in an
indoor environment:
Alternanthera, Red Thread Joseph's Coat
Baby Tears, Green Soleirolia soleirolii
Breynia Disticha Nana, Dwarf Snowbush
Pilea glauca, Red Stem Pilea
Maintenance of terrarium-table top garden
Proper watering
For open terrariums, check for moisture levels regularly and by
using a spray bottle, water your terrarium just until the soil is
dampened.
A closed terrarium requires little or no watering. A spray of
water becomes necessary when no condensation accumulates on
the glass.
Watch the plants to ensure that they are not over-watered or
dried out. Appearance of mildew indicates that the terrarium
has too much moisture.
Using a fork, rake up the soil a bit, so that the moisture dripping
down will find its way to the roots.
Promote efficient air circulation
Good air circulation is essential for the conservatory which
helps to avoid fungal problems especially when flowering plants
are used.
For closed terrariums, the container should be left open for a
while until excess moisture evaporates and allows fresh air
circulation.
Requirement for light
Place the table top terrarium in diffused/ low to medium light for
the plants to grow nicely. Since the glass magnifies the sunrays,
it should be kept out of direct sun else the garden gets over
heated/ cooked up.
Need for fertilizers
As the potting mix already has enough nutrients to last for long
time, the need for fertilizer is not required.
Over fertilizing cause the plants to grow out of the terrarium too
quickly. If the plants appear malnourished add some plant food
and remember not to fertilize them in the winter and fall
months.
Pruning & pinching back of plants
Remember to prune your terrarium plants for keeping them at
desired size.
Keep checking for fungus and algae.
Remove the dead or rotting leaves that might gather. Otherwise,
they spread to other healthy plants.
By using paper towels and water, clean the glass container and
wipe off any condensation formed inside the terrarium
container.
Remember to clean the container and use fresh charcoal and
potting soil before adding new plants to the terrarium containers.
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