Chris is a gardening writer and nature enthusiast. He graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2022 with an MA in Psychology. Chris works with the Leeds Green Action Society, helping their food cooperative by growing various fruit and vegetables on their two allotments in Hyde Park, Leeds.
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.
Contributions From KAREN LIEBREICH MBE
Karen Liebreich is a Gardener, Historian and Author whose works include ‘The Family Kitchen Garden’. She is the Director of Abundance London, a voluntary project aiming to reconnect people with nature - and also runs the Chiswick Flower Market. Karen was awarded an MBE in 2013 for services to horticulture and education.
IN THIS GUIDE
- What Is A Terrarium?
- How To Make A Terrarium
- What You Will Need:
- 1) Add Compost To Your Container
- 2) Dig A Hole For Your Plants
- 3) Add Your Plants
- 4) Firm Up The Soil
- 5) Add Aquatic Gravel
- How Do Terrariums Work?
- Sealed Terrariums
- Open Terrariums
- Best Plants For Terrariums
- Caring For Your Terrarium
- Dealing With Pests
- Treat Yourself And Build Your Own Terrific Terrarium
- References
Terrariums have been popular for well over a hundred years, and it’s easy to see why.
These gorgeous, compact gardens are fascinating to observe from week to week and make a fabulous living ornament for your home.
Terrariums reward you with gorgeous plants with little time and effort, as well as providing a unique insight into how they grow.
“It is quite easy to create a small terrarium from a wide-necked glass bottle, which will provide greenery indoors with absolutely no watering,” shares gardener Karen Liebreich.
Through the glass, you can observe the journey of the roots through the layers of soil, making it a great learning opportunity for adults and kids alike.
“Terrariums combine hobbycraft and horticulture, are great projects for young and old and can be personalised in any way you wish,” says Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly.
“If you get the location and watering right, they are also pretty low maintenance.
“They can also be a good way to engage children with what plants need to grow and where garden and house plants have come from.”
So, whether you have limited space, limited time, or simply want an ultra-low maintenance gardening experience – terrariums are the answer.
And, while you could buy one at your local garden centre, they are super easy and fun to make, and we are going to show you how.
What Is A Terrarium?
Terrariums are small, encased environments where certain plants can grow.
They are essentially mini-greenhouses and are typically made from transparent containers made from glass or plastic.
Terrariums were actually invented by accident by Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward in 1842.1Dr. Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward. (n.d.). PlantExplorers.com. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.plantexplorers.com/explorers/biographies/ward/nathaniel-bagshaw-ward.htm
Ward had an interest in observing insect behaviour and accidentally forgot about one of his many jars.
Inside a fern spore grew and germinated into a plant and thus the first terrarium was created, although back then it was known as a Wardian case.2Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward. (2019, June 4). The Linda Hall Library. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.lindahall.org/about/news/scientist-of-the-day/nathaniel-bagshaw-ward
The Victorian public was enamoured with this novel, glass-encased garden, and the trend soon took off.3Maylack, J. (2017, November 12). How a Glass Terrarium Changed the World. The Atlantic. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/11/how-a-glass-terrarium-changed-the-world/545621/
It’s safe to say they’ve stood the test of time: terrariums are still popular to this day.
How To Make A Terrarium
As you’d expect, open terrariums are just as easy to make as the sealed ones, and here’s how to do it:
What You Will Need:
- A glass or plastic container – no lid required for this one!
- Cactus potting compost
- Activated charcoal
- Your selection of plants
- Long-handled spoon
- Long tweezers
- Aquatic gravel (you can buy this in pet shops)
- Gardening gloves if you are handling spiky plants
- Decorative materials such as moss and rocks if you wish
Now that you have everything you need, it’s time to get started. Here are the steps to create your very own open terrarium:
1) Add Compost To Your Container
Spoon your potting compost into the container and sprinkle a thin layer of active charcoal on top.
2) Dig A Hole For Your Plants
Using the spoon, dig a small hole that allows adequate space for your chosen plants.
3) Add Your Plants
Remove the plants from the pots, use gardening gloves if required, and gently massage the roots to loosen them from the soil.
4) Firm Up The Soil
Place the plants in the hole and use the spoon to gently firm the soil around them to make sure they are securely in place.
5) Add Aquatic Gravel
Add a layer of aquatic gravel. We do not recommend using decorative gravel as this will not provide sufficient levels of drainage.
Top tip: If you find the plants in either style terrarium are covered in soil when you are finished, use a small paintbrush to gently brush the debris away.
How Do Terrariums Work?
There are two types of terrarium: sealed and open. Sealed ones have a removable lid while the open ones do not.
Sealed Terrariums
Sealed terrariums are pretty much self-sufficient.
The temperature in the terrarium will be higher than room temperature, meaning the plants and soil will produce moisture.
The moisture then evaporates and condenses on the side of the container, before trickling back down to the soil.
This cycle will repeat, essentially recycling the water indefinitely.
Being transparent, the container will also allow for photosynthesis to occur.
Terrariums are therefore self-nourishing so require very little care and maintenance.
Open Terrariums
As you would expect, open terrariums do not require a lid, and often the plants will grow up and out of their container.
Unlike sealed terrariums, open ones create drier conditions instead of a moist environment.
As they are exposed to open-air, these terrariums don’t have a regular water cycle so require watering frequently, usually once a week or when the soil becomes dry, and you notice leaves falling from plants.
Desert plants are ideal for open terrariums as they don’t require humidity and need access to more oxygen and humidity to thrive.
Best Plants For Terrariums
Creating terrariums is exciting, but perhaps the most crucial decision before you begin is choosing the right plants for your new pint-sized garden.
Where sealed terrariums are concerned, you are going to want to pick small, slow-growing foliage plants such as ferns, carnivorous plants and tropical plants that thrive in humidity.
You basically get to create your own, personal, tiny rainforest!
As mentioned, open terrariums generate dry conditions so you’ll want to include slow-growing air plants, cacti and succulents.
With open terrariums, you can build your miniature dream desert.
Caring For Your Terrarium
Part of the joy of terrariums is they require very little attention; however, there are a few things you can do to ensure they stay healthy and last for as long as possible.
- If you are growing ferns, you can trim them occasionally to prevent them from outgrowing their little home.
- Keep an eye out for and remove yellowing or brown leaves as this can be a sign of pests and disease.
- With closed terrariums, you can occasionally take the lid off to allow it to get some fresh air.
- With open terrariums, do weekly checks to see if you have any visible pests such as gnats or mealy bugs.
- Sealed terrariums can be watered once a month, although it will depend on the plants you have chosen to include.
- Open terrariums benefit from being watered every 3-6 weeks.
Dealing With Pests
If you begin having problems with pests, then we recommend using insecticidal soap on the infected plant.
However, if this doesn’t solve the problem quickly, it is best to remove the plant altogether to prevent further spread.
You can then replace it with a fresh, new healthy plant.
Top tip: Always check your plants before buying to make sure there are no pests or signs of disease.
Treat Yourself And Build Your Own Terrific Terrarium
As you can see, terrariums are a breeze to make and make such attractive decor for your home.
Once you’ve made your own, you can simply place it in a sunny spot and enjoy it.
They also make wonderfully unique gifts and are a great way to upcycle and repurpose old jars, vases and other household items.
Terrariums also give you the opportunity to grow plants you couldn’t ordinarily grow in your garden and are so rewarding for keen gardeners who just don’t have enough time or ample space to do traditional gardening.
Being so fun to make, and such low maintenance, terrariums can also provide a fantastic opportunity for children to learn about how plants and their ecosystems work.
So, if you are ready to reinvent the rainforest or redesign the deserts, then treat yourself and build your very own, terrific terrarium.
