Common Terrarium Mistakes

Terrariums are incredibly easy to make and maintain. However, there are some common mistake which we make and can be avoided. 

Here are few pointers to remember while maintaining terrariums:

• Excessive lighting- Do you know that too much light can roast your plants in terrariums. The glass can act as magnifying glass and burn your plants. Before you know it, the temperature inside can get really hot or i should say hot as a sauna. Its best recommended to keep the terrariums out of direct sun.
• Minimum or no light- Light is an important ingredient for plants to grow. There are lots of plants which can survive in low light but no such thing like no light survival plants. So keep your terrarium in sufficient light to survive and grow well. 
• Heat: Too Close to Radiators - The heat of a radiator can kill your plants quickly. Think of how fast a car with the windows closed sitting in the sun can get hot. If you put your terrarium on or near a radiator that is what conditions will be like inside your jar and most plants won't like that.
• Letting plants get scraggly - Keep an eye on your terrarium plants and when they get leggy, prune them back. To keep plants small you can also root prune them.
• Leaving dying plants - If a plant is looking bad in your terrarium, get rid of it fast or remove dead or dying leaves. If the plant is diseased, take it out immediately as it can infect other plants. If a plant is just plain ugly, it can ruin the look of your whole terrarium so take that out too. Simply dig the plant out with a small shovel, terrarium toolor long spoon, being careful not to disturb the roots of other plants (as much as you can). Replace the plant with one of a similar size and light requirement, making sure to surround the roots with soil, leaving no air pockets.
• Over watering - It is easy to over water terrariums. One way to prevent it is to use a spray bottle instead of pouring water. It is easier to lightly water if you spray. If you do over water, try to absorb any extra with paper towel. Leave the top off your terrarium until it has dried out.
• Dirty glass - Every once in awhile you will want to clean the glass of your terrarium both inside and out. I use a damp piece of newsprint or a lint-free cloth. Do not use any harsh cleaning products on the inside of the terrarium because it may present a danger to your plants.
• Over fertilizing - Most terrariums do not need any fertilizer at all. Because you want to keep your plants small, you shouldn't feed them, which will cause new growth and the plants will quickly outgrow their confined space.
• Choosing the wrong plants - While it is possible to grow almost anything in a terrarium, it is important to choose plants that will thrive in the type of terrarium you are creating. If you are making a closed terrarium, choose plants that like to be moist. Also make sure to choose plants for the amount of light they will be exposed to. Low or medium light plants generally work best, but make sure if you get a medium light plant, you are actually giving it that light level.
• Growing succulents in closed terrariums - Succulents generally thrive high light and low moisture environments. If you put them in a closed terrarium, it is usually far too humid for most to thrive. You can solve this dilemma by simply creating a glass dish garden without a top. Note that even a large jar will be too humid - you want air to be able to circulate around your succulents.

Jar Terrariums

Terrariums are actually enclosed dish/Jar gardens. They are sort of mini greenhouse where plants thrive little care. A terrarium is a great eye catching gift to give some one who enjoys growing plants. Clear glass jar fish bowls, old fashioned candy jar that can be closed or covered with a clear material make good container.

Here is the list of tropical and native plants that grows very well in a terrarium:

Aluminum plant, Ardisia, baby's tears, Chinese Evergreen, Creeping Fig, Corn Plant, Dwarf English Ivy, Dwarf Kangaroo Wine, Ferns, Flame Voilet, Japanese Aucuba, Japanese boxwood, Josephls coat, Kenilworth ivy, Korean Boxwood, Marantha, Pellionia, Peperomia, Philodendron, Selanginella, Small leafed begonias, Strawberry Begonia, Swedish Ivy

Before starting a Terrarium check on the type of plant and container. There are varieties of house plant are available. Fast growing a tropical plants are not recommended for a small terrarium. Note that plants grows on one of the three ways - upright, rosette, or vinning. The corn plant grows upright, in rosette (cluster of leaves) like strawberry begonia, and the third are like long vine like Ivies. Thus place plants in the terrarium accordingly.

• In a terrarium always keep plants of one type either tropical or native. Secondly do not over crowd them. A small figure, a lichen covered rock, an interesting piece of rock, or a root can be a center of interest. A few plants pleasantly arranged are more satisfactory.

• Do not let water stand in terrarium. Remove the cover and let the excess water evaporate. Terrarium needs only one to two spoon of water in a month.

• Place terrarium in a light place and enjoy them all year round. Make sure keep them away from direct sunlight.

Assembling a Terrarium

1. First and fore most important thing is to choose a container to use. If you are planning to buy a second hand container, make sure it does not leak.

2. Mix Charcoal, gravel. Fill the container for about 1" inch, this would allow the oxygen go deep with the container.

3. Add a layer of coarse sand and soil. It is important for the oxygen to move around.

4. Now add the plants in your terrarium. Create little pockets t place the plants. Always place big plants before the little one.

5. Once you are finished by placing the plants just add one to two spoon of water to keep the soil moist.

6. Cover the terrarium by the lid. The water will recycle itself into the air. The transpired water will moist the soil.

Dish Terriraum

DISH TERRARIUM

Suggested Materials:

Small Plants and Flowers

Dish (any size but usually bigger is better)

Spaghnum or Spanish Moss (in bag)

Potting Soil (in the plastic container)

Small stones for drainage

Tools - spoon and fork are good

Place a layer of stones on the bottom of the dish. One to two inches deep is sufficient. If you are using a very deep bowl or dish you may want to go 3-4 inches deep. Just leave enough room in the dish for plenty of soil. This layer of stone will allow your terrarium to drain properly and will help to prevent overwatering.

Place a layer of Spanish Moss or Spaghnum Moss over the stones. This will allow water to drain down into the bottom while prohibiting the soil from settling down. This is optional but if you have very sensitive plants like some types of flowers this will help to avoid any root rot.

Before you start placing your plants in the dish you may want to place them together on a table and move them around to look for a pleasing arrangement. Imagine how they might look in the dish. Use the variety of shapes and sizes in your arrangement. A variety of heights and widths can make a very pleasant arrangement. Also, in general, you want to use plants in odd numbers. Three of five plants are usually better than two or four.

Remove a plant from its pot and tear it apart. This potted Palm has a variety of plants so we will use only a few of them in our terrarium. This palm is the tallest plant that we are using so I will place it in the back of the dish. This makes a nice background and will give us a pleasing arrangement. If the roots have taken up much of the pot use a pair of scissors to trim them down.

Place the plant in the dish right on top of the moss. I have chosen to place this plant in the back section of the dish. It will make a nice backdrop.

Continue placing your plants. Remember to trim them down and if the roots are out of control use a pair of scissors to trim the roots down too. Notice how I have placed the plants. They make a nice arrangement with the tallest in the back and the shortest in the front. The red Croton plant adds a nice splash of color to the arrangement.