How To Make DIY Terrarium Kits - Australia

A terrarium can best be described as a miniature garden. This little garden is a small, often enclosed environment for specific plants. The terrarium is typically transparent and serves as a personal houseplant, which is much easier to maintain than the traditional garden. A terrarium is often used for small plants that do not adapt well to a typical home atmosphere. In addition to being low maintenance, a terrarium provides a novel way to own plants even when living in a small space.

One of the biggest perks of having a terrarium is that they are pretty easy to care for, making them a great addition to any environment, including business. This indoor garden, in a container, is capable of recycling water through the water vapour released by the plants and soil in it. If you are a first-time terrarium owner, a terrarium kit is always preferable, as this saves you much hassle as you don't need to shop around for supplies.

How To Create A DIY Terrarium

As mentioned, a terrarium kit contains all the supplies needed to make your own terrarium. These items often include the following:

• A glass or plastic container

• Pebbles

• Moss

• Soil

• Charcoal

• Coloured pebbles or stones (optional)

• Decorative sand and shell (optional)

• Succulent potting mix

• Assembly tools (e.g., spoon and long tweezers)

• Miniature or dwarf plants that won’t overgrow

Steps To Make The Terrariums

After getting all the supplies in place, here is a guideline for getting started.

1. First, lay rocks or pebbles as your layer in the glass or plastic container. These should cover about 2-3cm of the container.

2. Next, scatter the charcoal across. Charcoal helps keep the soil clean.

3. Add the sphagnum moss. However, make sure it is moist but not dripping wet.

4. Now fill in the soil mixed with sand and water in the glass or plastic container.

5. Make a hole in the middle of the soil for the roots of the plants.

6. Remove the plant from its container and gently position it into the hole created in the soil in the container.

7. Once in, add the second layer of soil around the plant. Ensure that the earth covers every layer of the plant's roots.

8. Lastly, this is your garden, so you don't have to hold back on account of anyone, which means your creativity can be at its peak. Therefore, decorate your terrarium with rocks, pebbles, sand, and other safe decorative objects.

The Benefits Of Owning A Terrarium

There are several benefits to owning a terrarium:

1. They serve as mini gardens that take less space.

2. They don't need to be watered as often as regular gardens.

3. A terrarium helps grow plants that are difficult to grow in dry air.

4. These mini gardens are low-maintenance and typically inexpensive.

5. A terrarium looks fantastic in any setting and helps purify the air.

Plants That Can Be In Terrariums

Generally speaking, you should only grow plants that can tolerate humidity in a terrarium. This is because these containers trap moisture, so not all plants are suitable for them. Additionally, you should also consider a plant that can tolerate low or indirect sunlight, and this also means going for plants that are small enough for a terrarium and don't overgrow.

Terrarium Plant Choices

There are several choices for terrarium plants, including:

 

Succulents and cacti

These are ideal for an open terrarium as they require a less humid environment.

 

Moss

Mosses are a common terrarium plant. They are easy to find and grow, and they require less work.

 

Baby’s Tears

Baby's tears, also known as "Angel’s Tears", are another excellent option for a terrarium. These tiny leaved plants do pretty well when planted in a terrarium.

 

African Violet

This purple-blossomed plant functions quite well in a warm, humid environment. However, the African Violet should only be planted in a closed terrarium.

 

Creeping Fig

The Creeping Fig gives your terrarium that forest kind of look. These plants are tolerant of indirect or low light and grow quite quickly.

 

Spider Plant

By absorbing toxins from the air, the spider plant improves the quality of air. Known as Chlorophytum comosum, this is one of the easiest houseplants to grow in a terrarium.

 

Ferns

The likes of Maidenhair, Birds' nest, and Button ferns can also be planted in a terrarium.

 

Other plants you can go for include:

Carnivorous plants: Venus fly traps, Pitcher plants, Dwarf palms

Airplants: Tillandsia

 

How To Care For Terrariums

Although terrariums are low-maintenance, they must be cared for. Here are a few tips to follow:

• Constantly monitor an open terrarium for pests such as mealy bugs or gnats and check for signs of infestation when flowers die.

• A closed terrarium occasionally needs some fresh air, so if you use one, remove the lid now and then to get some fresh air into the terrarium.

• When growing ferns, trim the leaves to prevent them from overgrowing.

• Ensure you remove yellow and brown leaves from the plants in the terrarium, as this is a typical sign of disease or pest.

• In cases of bugs, buy insecticidal soap from a gardening store and apply it to the infected plant.

• Use pebbles or rocks to deter gnats.

• Avoid over-watering the plants.

• If the plants in the terrarium get infested and nothing seems to work, it is best to remove the entire plant.

• Always check for bugs before buying a plant for your terrarium, as this could save you time and money.

How To Water A Terrarium

The closed terrarium needs to be watered on an average once a month; however, this often depends on several factors, including the type of plant in the container.

The open terrarium usually requires watering every 3-6 weeks. However, rather than watering on a schedule, you should check the soil to see if it is dry and in need of water.

 

Conclusion

A DIY terrarium kit makes the perfect gift for every occasion. There are a wide selection of this miniature garden to choose from, and each kit comes with instructions, so setting it up can even be a fun event for children.

In addition to being low maintenance, planting and taking care of a terrarium is a great way to unwind and de-stress, which makes owning one even more beneficial.