How To Make A Plant Terrarium

A terrarium is a miniature ecosystem. By ecosystem I mean that it is a self-contained, self-sustaining environment, though much smaller and more controlled than in nature. Another word for this enclosed ecosystem is biome. Though miniature, it has all of the complex relationships found in nature (microorganisms; soil; water cycle; sunlight; and organic matter). Over time, a complete water cycle will develop. When water in the soil and between the rocks comes in contact with sunlight, the water evaporates, condenses on the walls of the container, and eventually falls down as droplets of rain, continuously watering and nourishing the plants. This cycle will continue as long as there is moisture and sunlight.

Setting things straight: A terrarium is a plant ecosystem, whereas a vivarium is a plant and animal ecosystem. This article will therefore focus on creating a self-contained plant ecosystem. Reptiles may be added to your terrarium, but will not be covered here.

Terrariums are easy to make, easy to maintain, and are quite beautiful and intriguing! Depending on the container, mixture of ingredients, and plants, the terrarium can sustain itself for long periods of time--maybe even years!

Please see the bottom of the page for example photos of my terrariums.

1. Choosing the environment
2. Choosing the container
3. Purchasing materials
4. Purchasing plants
5. Making a plan
6. Creating the terrarium
7. Maintenance

Though easy to make, a good terrarium requires thoughtful planning, purchasing, and set-up. I will outline each step, below:

Rainforest and woodland environments are considered "true" terrarium environments. I have not added the desert environment to this list because it is better suited to a rock garden setting. However, if you want to make a desert terrarium, I suggest using an open container with a large opening to let all of the moisture out, and instead of a rich soil, use a sandy cactus soil.

1. Rainforest - tropical environment with tropical plants (bromeliads; ferns; moss; miniature palms; pothos; venus fly traps, etc). Requires bright, indirect light and warm temperatures (60-85F / 16-30C).
2. Woodland - woodland environment with woodland plants (ferns; moss; violets; wintergreen; wild strawberries, ginger, etc). Requires low to medium, indirect light and cool temperatures (40-65F / 5-18C).

When deciding which type of terrarium environment you'd like to make, consider what types of plants you'd like to grow, what ecosystem you're most interested in re-creating, and where in your home the terrarium will be placed. The rainforest will need more light, and the woodland will need less. Consider this when choosing the environment.

Now you've chosen your environment! The next step is to decide what type of container will suit your needs.

There are two terrarium types:

1. Closed - a "true" terrarium that is self-sustaining and does not require watering. By a "closed" container, I mean one that has a lid, or one that you can make a lid for. Some people use glass jars, glass cookie jars, or aquarium tanks. However, it's quite easy to make any tall or bulbous glass container into a closed one by using glass or clear plastic for the lid.
2. Open - requires water, but self-sustains to some degree. By an "open" container, I mean something like a bottle or a container that has no lid. The sides should be taller than the plants inside by quite a few inches to help retain moisture.

When choosing a container, keep in mind that you will need to plant plants at the bottom. Pick something equal to your level of patience and dexterity. Small-mouthed containers will require the use of long wooden stakes in order to plant the plants, while larger-mouthed containers may not. Remember that, even when you buy short or dwarf versions of plants, they will grow taller over time. Make sure your container is taller than your plants, preferably by quite a few inches to allow for growth.

Now you've chosen your container! The next step is to start purchasing materials.

All of these items are inexpensive and easily available.

• Glass container - as noted above, choose a container that will be appropriate both for the plants you intend to grow inside, as well as your level of commitment and patience.
• Pebbles - small stones or pebbles available at your local arts and crafts store or anywhere that sells aquariums. You can use your own, but make sure they are clean and free from microorganisms (use bleach, rinse well). Get enough pebbles to cover about 1/2 inch inside the container. This will be where the excess water drains.
• Activated charcoal - small, black pellets available at your local pet store. Make sure it says "activated," and that it's the granule kind, not powder. You will need an activated charcoal that is manufactured for water use rather than for air use. This will be in the aquarium section of your local pet store. Activated charcoal absorbs chemicals, odors, filters the water and air, and is very important in a closed environment. Get enough to cover 1/2 inch inside the container.
• Sphagnum moss - not the same as "sphagnum peat moss," which is a powder. These long strands of moss form a barrier between the charcoal and the soil, in addition to retaining moisture. The moss ensures that the soil does not fall down into the drainage area, so you'll need enough to form a mat on top of the pebble and activated charcoal layers. The mat of moss doesn't need to be thick, but it does need to be thick enough to make sure the soil on top of it will not leak through.
• Soil - do not buy soil that has added fertilizer! If it says "Miracle-Gro," don't buy it. We want the plants to stay small in their miniature environment. The ideal soil will be rich, meaning high in organic matter, but make sure the soil is sterile. If you're unsure of the richness of the soil available, mix it with an equal ratio of peat moss (1:1). If you wish, you can mix some vermiculite into the soil to help retain moisture. Soil should cover a minimum of 2 inches inside the container.

All of the above are necessary to every terrarium. Optional items are listed below:

• Sticks, wood, bark, rocks - . Sticks, wood, rocks, and bark are optional, and will be used as decoration and organic matter in the terrarium. Available outside or at your local arts and crafts store. Make sure they are sterile (wash with 1:1 water and bleach, thoroughly rinse and dry).
• Long bamboo or wooden skewers - these will be necessary if you need to plant through a small hole in your container (bottles, etc).

Now you've bought all of your materials! The next step is to purchase your plants.

The name of the game with terrariums is to buy dwarf varieties of plants, which means that they will remain small. Lots of dwarf varieties are now available; in addition, there are many non-dwarf varieties that are naturally small. From experience, don't count on greenhouse workers to do your research for you. I ended up with a plant that shot up a foot in the first few weeks, which isn't what you want in a small terrarium! Buying blind can work out, but why waste time and money if it doesn't?

I recommend doing some research online before hitting the local greenhouse or nursery. Have a basic idea of what you want to get, and bring a list of their common names and their Latin names. There are tons of websites dedicated to woodland terrarium plants and rainforest aka tropical terrarium plants. Then you can look at them and learn about their heat, light, and water requirements, which will be much harder to do in person. Here are a few plants that, with further research on your part, may fit nicely into your new terrarium:

Rainforest plants: Require bright light and warm temperatures (60-85F / 16-30C)

• "Aluminum Plant" Pilea cadieri
• "Artillery Fern" Pilea microphylla
• "Asparagus Fern" Asparagus plumosus
• "Bird's Nest Sansevieria" Sansevieria trifasciata hahnii
  
• "Croton" Codiaeum variegatum
• "Devil's Ivy Epipremnum aureum
  
• "Dwarf Bird's Nest Fern" Asplenium nidus
• "False Aralia" Dizygotheca elegantissima
  
• "Fireball Bromeliad" Bromeliaceae neoregelia
• "Java Moss" Vesicularia dubyana
• "Little Midge Dwarf Palm Sedge" Carex muskingumensis
• "Miniature Sweet Flag" Acorus gramineus variegatus
  
• "Nerve Plant" Fittonia verschaffeltii
• "Pitcher Plant" Nepenthes alata
• "Polka Dot Plant" Hypoestes phyllostachya
• "Pothos" Epipremnum spp.
• "Prayer Plant" Maranta
  
• "Sundew" Drosera spp.
• "Tropical Pillow Moss" Dicranum spp.
  
• "Venus Fly Trap" Dionaea muscipula
• "Watermelon Peperomia" Peperomia sandersii
  

Woodland plants: Require low-medium light and cool temperatures (40-65F / 5-18C)

• "Dwarf Maidenhair Fern" Adiantum aleuticum var. subpumilum
• "African Violet" Saintpaulia ionantha
• "Baby's Tears" Helxine soleirolii
• "Button Fern" Pellaea rotundifolia
• "Club Moss" Lycopodium spp.
• "Creeping Charlie" Pilea nummularifolia
• "Dwarf Bird's Nest Fern" Asplenium goudeyi
• "Dwarf English Ivy" Hedera helix cvs.
• "Foam Flower" Tiarella cordifolia
• "Irish Moss" Selaginella spp.
• "Kyoto Moss" Leptobryum pyriforme
• "Partridge Berry" Michella repens
• "Pipsissewa" Chimaphila umbellata
• "Rattlesnake Orchid" Goodyear pubescens
• "Shamrock" Oxalis spp.
• "Sheet Moss" Hypnum cupressiforme
• "Swedish Ivy" Plecanthes australis
• "Sweet Woodruff" Asperula odorata
• "Viola" Viola
• "Wild Strawberry" Fragaria spp.
• "Wintergreen" Gaultheria procumbens

Now you've bought the plants for your terrarium! The next step is to make a plan.

Now it's time to plan out your terrarium and figure out how you'd like it to look. Arrange your plants in an area the size of your container, but make sure to leave the plants in their containers so the roots don't dry out or get damaged. One way to do this is to get a piece of scrap paper or cardboard and outline the size/shape of your container. Then you can place your plants within the lines and arrange them and rearrange them until you get what you're looking for. Remember that nature is random; plants don't grow in rows! Once you've figured out your plan, it's time to roll your sleeves up and get to work.

Now you've got a plan! Next comes the fun part: Creating the terrarium!

Make your ecosystem interesting! Add hills and valleys, and play around with different looks until you get it just right!

1. Pebbles - layer the pebbles or stones in the bottom of your container. These should form a layer about 1/2 inch to 1 inch deep. I'd err on the side of an inch to ensure good drainage and to avoid root rot.
2. Activated charcoal - layer the activated charcoal on top of the pebbles or stones. Be sure not to mix the two, as we want the layers separate. The charcoal should form a layer about 1/2 inch deep.
3. Sphagnum moss - layer the tendrils of moss on top of the two layers of pebbles and activated charcoal. If there are sticks and bark in the moss, leave them. It adds to the organic mixture in the terrarium. This layer does not need to be thick; just make sure that it will form a consistent barrier to anything seeping through it from above.
4. Soil - pre-mix the soil before starting if you've planned on adding vermiculite or peat moss. The soil should be moist enough to form into a ball when you squeeze it tightly. Do not dump the soil directly into the terrarium, as this can disrupt the layers beneath and cause a mess. Spoon the soil in, or if your container's opening is small, use a funnel. Soil should form a layer thick enough to support the plants' roots--at least two inches, but a little more if you have the room, keeping in mind that the plants have to fit in the container as well!
5. Plants - trim dead leaves, take the plant out of its pot, and remove excess soil from the roots. Be methodical and work from the planned arrangement. Start at the back of the arrangement and work your way across, then forward. If the opening of the container is large enough, use your hands to plant. If the hole of the container is small, you may need to use bamboo skewers in order to plant. Have patience and enjoy yourself. After all, you'll soon have your very own terrarium!
6. Sticks, rocks, bark - when everything is in order and the plants are in place, you can now add any other natural items you wish.
7. Water - after planting, lightly mist the plants to wash off any loose soil. If the soil was moist at the time of planting, there is no need to water again. If the soil was a bit dry, mist it and then carefully and slowly trickle a small amount of water down the side of the glass container. The soil should clump when pressed firmly. Do Not Over-Water! If you can see water within the pebbles at the bottom, there is way too much water. Do Not Replace The Lid (if you have one) until all of the leaves on all of the plants are dry.

Welcome to your new terrarium! Now, just a short maintenance note:

From time to time your terrarium plants may need to be pruned (cut back) in order to continue fitting within the enclosed space. Usually this will result in the plant "bushing out" more, or growing outward instead of upward.

Other than that, there is really not much maintenance at all.

ENJOY YOUR NEW TERRARIUM!

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