terrarium stuff by pinprick
In the last post TheGardenLady wrote about bringing nature into your house with terrariums. In today’s post, she will write about how to build a terrarium.
TheGardenLady thinks that Mason quart canning jars will look interesting if you want to build your own terrarium, but you could use mayonnaise jars or spaghetti jars. You can use unused aquariums or whatever you find in your house. Of course, you can rummage around in flea markets, garage sales or markets for interesting jars, too. Or shop for jars in fancy nurseries or online. This is your creation, so use whatever you think will make a fine container. Then as you become more adept at making the terrariums, you can get more elaborate containers including terrarium Christmas ornaments (see here).
Once you’ve found the jar you want, make sure the glass is clean before you start building the terrarium- use soap, rinse well and dry with a soft, lint free cloth.
Now all you need are:
1) pebbles or pebble like items such as small Legos, leftover beads, pieces of glass to make the bottom layer which is for drainage. Approximately 1 -2 in will suffice.
2) ashes or crushed charcoal – about an inch or slightly more. Ashes can come from the fireplace. Charcoal can be bought at an aquarium. This keeps the soil “sweet.”
3) topsoil that you have watered and left to drain for 30 minutes before putting on top of the pebble layer – you want moist, NOT wet soil, so no puddles. You most keep the terrarium moist for the life of the terrarium. Be sure the soil you use is the proper soil for the plants you select. Some people add one part sand to the soil for excellent drainage- that is a mix of half sand, half topsoil. When the soil is ready, put it on top of the ashes and pebbles. You want to add enough topsoil or topsoil mix to fill 1/4 to 1/3 of the container for the plants. You are building the levels like a lasagne.
4) Some people prefer to use distilled water in the terrarium. (If you own a dehumidifier, save that water to use. (see here) You will be misting the plants from now on because you never want them to dry out.
Now comes the fun part. Picking the plants for your terrarium is what makes this an interesting endeavor.
African violets and ferns are often used as well as mosses. But there are many other plants one can choose. Consider small orchids. (see here) Also consider plants that are used in rock gardens or Alpine plants. These are little charmer plants. Make sure that each terrarium has plants with similar needs when you make your combinations of plants.
Many sites list their favorite plants for terrariums (see here or here). Just be sure to pick slow, growing small plants that will look the right size in the container you choose. You don’t want just one plant in the container that doesn’t allow another plant to be seen.
The rule of thumb is to have an odd number of plants in the container, like 3 or 5 to make the composition most attractive. But it is your garden, use the plants and the number of plants that make you happiest.
Most people cover the soil with some type of moss or you can create a terrarium completely out of moss. (see here)
And of course, you can decorate your miniature garden with a miniature “sculpture” or items of interest.
Now since you obviously cannot use garden tools in a small container, what do you use? Use anything that you think will work as a planting tool; look around your house, you don’t need to buy fancy equipment. Some suggestions are sticks, bamboo skewers, large kitchen spoon, ice cream long-handled spoon, several sheets of clean white paper, large tweezers (from a surgical supply store or craft supply), pipe cleaners taped to bamboo skewers to use to clean inside of bottle, and a small piece of foam stuck on a bamboo skewer to use as a tamper. Improvise. And you will need a mister.
TheGardenLady readers would love to see your creative terrariums. Please send some photos.