Anyone new to gardening, terrarium building, or growing plants in general, would probably be surprised by the number of options they have when it comes to choosing their soil. It’s just dirt, right? That’s what I thought at least. Turns out, it’s not that simple. The most common options for terrarium soil include potting mix, …
Terrariums are really cool enclosures that showcase the natural beauty of small plants. But one piece of the terrarium that is often overlooked is the bottom-most layer, the drainage layer. At the bottom of the terrarium is a layer of rocky material known as the drainage layer. While the drainage layer is technically not a …
Read moreHow to set up the bottom of your terrarium for success
So you’ve heard of these magical things called terrariums. Supposedly, plants are supposed to grow in a sealed container with no need for maintenance or interaction on your behalf. How exactly does a closed terrarium do that? A closed terrarium is a self-sustaining ecosystem enclosed in a small container. Inside of the terrarium, plants rely …
Read moreHow a closed terrarium works: explained by an engineer
It’s easy for people (myself included) to think a terrarium just needs the right plants and a bit of water and it’ll be set for life. But one question that I don’t see covered too much in terrarium building tutorials is where do you actually place your terrarium at home? Turns out, the answer to …
Read moreWhere to place your terrarium: here’s what the Pro’s say
Your terrarium container is going to be one of the first things that you’re going to need to figure out before building your terrarium. Probably the most important factor you’ll need to consider is the size of your container. But how exactly are you supposed to figure out what size you should use? A typical …
Read moreHow big your terrarium should be according to the experts
When I think of mold, pictures of fuzzy white stuff growing on bread come to mind. Yuck. Even worse when you see it on your plants. So how can you proactively prevent mold from growing rather than waiting for a disaster to happen? Terrarium mold can be prevented in several ways: Add springtails to your …
Read more9 ways to prevent mold from growing in your terrarium
Everyone who’s built a terrarium or grows indoor houseplants wants their little plant children to do well and last for a long time. Probably the most common metric people want to use to evaluate how they’re doing is how long their plants last compared to how long they’re supposed to last. The real question is, …
Read moreHere’s how long terrariums last: Results from my experiment
If you’ve done any research into caring for terrariums, you’ve probably heard people mention overwatering. But what exactly is over-watering and why exactly is that bad for your terrarium? That’s something I’ve been wondering about myself. Overwatering your terrarium plants is almost like drowning your plants. Plants need oxygen too. Some symptoms of cutting off …
Read moreHere’s what happens when your terrarium has too much water
So you put together your terrarium and now you’re noticing that it’s all clouded up with fog, tarnishing that piece of artwork that you work so hard to put together. Luckily, there are a few simple ways you can resolve this issue. Terrarium fog can be prevented by lowering the water levels, cleaning the container …
Read moreWhy Your Terrarium Fogs Up And How You Can Prevent It
So you’ve put together your terrarium. Now what? The answer is: occasional maintenance. Everyone wants the best for their baby terrarium and to give it the best chance of surviving and thriving. But how exactly are you supposed to go about doing that? What exactly does occasional maintenance mean? For most terrariums, occasional adjustments of …
Read moreTerrarium upkeep and maintenance: how to make your terrarium last