(This article will be a short instruction manual how to build a terrarium. In other articles we will go into more details on plants, glass containers, soil mixtures, etc.)
There are two types of open terrariums.
Woodland/tropical/ forest floor landscape
In this terrarium you will use plants that like lots of water, like tropical plants, mosses, grasses etc. We use a growing medium that retains more water, and will water the terrarium regularly to maintain the landscape
Desert landscape
In this terrarium you will usually use succulents. With the wide selection of colourful succulents these plantings can be very striking. With a desert landscape we use a fast draining growing medium that will not retain too much water. Too much water will cause root rot and eventually kill the plants off.
Start with choosing what type of terrarium (tropical or desert) you want to make. This will determine what type of plants and decorations you will choose, as well as what type of growing medium you will need. We’ve chosen a tropical terrarium for the demo.
You will need:
A suitable glass container – We used a hand built glass container
These hand build containers are made specifically for use as terrariums and hand build with great care.
Drainage layer – we used leca
Growing medium – Use the right type of growing medium for your terrarium (Tropical/Desert) This is our tropical mix
Decorative items like rocks, wood, sea shells, gravel, etc.
Suitable plants – Mondo grass,
Spray Bottle/Mister – fill mister with distilled or reverse osmosis or rain water to prevent a buildup of chemicals
Building your terrarium
1. Make sure the glass container is clean before you start.
2. Add a suitable drainage layer in the bottom of the container.
This will help to keep access water away from the plant’s roots. (We pack our leca in long plastic bags to help with applying it to the terrarium. Cut one corner open to pour the leca into the right place)
TIP – Make use of a long handled spoon or scoop to place the leca, soil and gravel layers in hart to reach places.
3. Add your growing medium on top of the drainage layer
Do not mix the two layers. Creating ‘hills’ in your soil layer helps with creating interesting levels in your landscape. A helpful tool is a long handled spoon to place the growing medium in the right places.
Tip – Make use of a dibber to slightly compact and move the soil around. A paint brush helps to form the soil surface.
4 Place decorative items like rocks, wood, etc. in your landscape before adding plants
These items will influence where you place your plants.
5. Place your plants according to your design
Plant taller plants to the back of the terrarium to create depth and to act as a backdrop for the terrarium. Plants that are natural creepers can be used to cover rocks or wood. Mosses can be used to create open spaces (field) and decorative gravel can be used to create footpaths, riverbeds, etc.
Tip – The use of a tweezer and dibber to place your plants will help to reach difficult corners.
6. When you are finished with your landscape, water the terrarium thoroughly with a spray bottle/mister
Stronger jets of water will damage your newly planted landscape. Do not over water. Look at the growing medium layer to determine when it’s wet enough.
And there you have your terrarium. This shows just how little you need to make a basic terrarium.
Since its an open terrarium you will need to water it frequently, using a mist spray. The high humidity in the terrarium will help the plants to survive the transplant. Both moss and mondo grass is very hardy.
You can also read the following articles
Suitable plants and growing medium for a terrarium
