Terrarium, image taken from http://melbourne.concreteplayground.com.au/news/109363/ten-ingenious-ways-to-fill-a-terrarium.htm
My last Go Green post was “Five Easy Ways To Go Green At Work”. In that post, one of the tips listed was to live healthier and a way to do that is to add plants to your work space or home. From this I have decided to dedicate this post to doing just that – adding plants to your working and living spaces.
Our outdoor gardens are slowly getting smaller and alternative ideas for utilising space within our work and our homes is becoming more and more popular. One example of this is the simple terrarium. Terrariums are low maintenance indoor gardens that can be made out of any glass or plastic container. Indoor gardens such as terrariums are very beneficial as they, like outdoor gardens absorb pollutants that are in the air, they refresh the air and are aesthetically pleasing. They also have the added benefit that they are perfect for people with limited room and limited time. Terrariums allow people to recycle old containers and other materials, they require very little water and they improve the air and environment of our homes.
But how do you actually create a terrarium? Below are the instructions on how to make a terrarium and below that are a couple of websites and web articles on terrariums. I hope that you enjoy this.
Materials
- Any container – glass or plastic
- Pebbles, small rocks or gravel
- Activated charcoal pieces
- Sphagnum moss
- Potting soil
- Terrarium appropriate plants
1. At the bottom of your container place a layer of pebbles, small rocks or gravel; this layer will allow the water to drain to the bottom.
2. On top of the first layer, place approximately 2-5 cm of activated charcoal pieces.
3. Place a layer of sphagnum moss over the activated charcoal layer; this will stop the soil from draining down into the rocks.
4. Mix the remaining activated charcoal pieces with the potting soil and then fill your container so that it is approximately 1/4 to 1/3 full.
5. Plant your plants, making sure the roots are completely covered, that there is enough room between individual plants and that the plants don’t reach or don’t sit too far above the top of the container.
6. Water and place in a well-lit area. Future watering will depend on the plants and the environment that they are growing in.
When choosing plants for your terrarium, choose plants that:
- Stay small
- Prefer shade
- Tolerate humidity (especially if they are going to be in an enclosed terrarium)
When choosing a container for your terrarium there is no limits. Everything and anything can be used; fish bowls, plastic bottles, light bulbs, plastic food containers, cups, vases, etc.
Sources:
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/houseplants/care/make-a-terrarium/
http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s3301070.htm
http://containergardening.about.com/od/floweringcontainergarden/ss/Terrariumht.htm
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Terrarium
http://www.stormthecastle.com/terrarium/
http://decorating-creativedesign.blogspot.com.au/2011/05/benefit-of-terrarium.html
