For gardening enthusiasts with limited space or time, terrariums offer the perfect solution. They’re space-saving, low-maintenance, and add charm to any home. However, without proper care, plants in terrariums may struggle to survive. In this blog, you’ll learn how to care for your plants effectively.
Light is the key component for your plant and terrarium health, but what kind of light should you use? The first one is a natural source and the other one is grow lights. If you use a natural source, you have to ensure that direct sunlight does not come to your plants. You can use grow lights by using warm white or daylight white light bulbs, which will work perfectly.
The second important task is watering, and you need to be careful while watering your plants. I highly recommend using distilled, deionized rain, or reverse osmosis water, as these have impurities and chemicals removed and will keep your tender tropical plants and moss happy. You can go to the aquarium store where they will give you a huge bottle of reverse osmosis water, or supermarkets stock distilled and deionized water in the car section. You don’t need to water very often, as terrariums are sealed glass containers and keep the moisture inside. If you buy a one-liter bottle, it will last you a very long time. If these options are not practical for you, the next best option is using filtered or bottled water. But don’t use tap water because it contains chemicals that build up in the soil and cause leaf stains on the glass. While watering, remember not to overwater; keep the soil slightly moist. If you are not sure about when to water, the soil is the best indicator. You can test this by observing the color of the soil. Lighter usually means it’s starting to dry, and darker means it’s damp.
Feeding terrarium plants, there is only one way I feed terrarium plants and that’s with vermicast. I add it to the soil, but that eventually runs out, and when it does, I top dress the soil with a generous layer and lightly water it in. The nutrients from the vermicast will be taken to the plant’s roots each time water passes through it. If your terrarium has moss in it, then it will require slightly different care. There are moss varieties. The key to their health is to keep them in a humid environment with good airflow. Mosses do not have a root system and take all moisture from their surroundings. Sometimes, depending on the shape of the container and the amount of immediate environment, this is a common question I am asked. Here’s the thing, terrariums are pretty stagnant places at the best of times, and mold will love growing in them. Here are a few ways you can prevent molding in your terrariums. Use cuttings and avoid introducing soil from potted plants into your terrariums as they can carry mold spores. If you use wood and hardscape features, then buy them from an aquarium store as these kinds of wood stand up to higher humidity better than collected or self-treated wood, or just avoid using wood altogether. Increase airflow. Mold will struggle to take hold where the airflow is good. Open the lid from time to time, or if the opening is small, leave it off permanently, though if you do this, you’ll have to keep a closer eye on watering.
This is a little further down the line, and it’s good to allow your plants to grow as it helps them develop vigor and become healthier. Eventually, they will need pruning, so here are a few extra tips. Try not to fuss over your terrarium; constant fiddling and moving plants around just delay their establishment. If things go wrong, don’t worry, it happens, so don’t sweat about it. I try not to get overly attached to terrariums that I build, and I know that’s difficult, so if things go wrong, I’m not totally gutted. Sometimes it’s just a matter of replacing a plant or a piece of hardscape material, but other times you’ll have to start again. View it as a learning curve on your terrarium journey. Clean the glass on your terrarium. It’s amazing how quickly dust can build up on the outside, and water stains can form on the inside too. I use regular glass cleaner for the outside and a damp kitchen roll for the inside. Don’t be alarmed if you see the odd leaf discolor or die. Plants often shed older leaves, and it’s a totally normal process. Placing a plant into a terrarium can be a stressful process, and it’s not abnormal for the plant to take a little time to acclimatize. So, that is my guide to terrarium care. If you think I missed anything or if you have something to add, leave a message in the comment section.