Sunday, 25 March 2012

no-time terrarium tutorial

What is a terrarium?
A terrarium is an enclosed area for keeping plants, and are a lovely way of displaying such plants as succulents. They can be created using pebbles, soil and plants. They can be as large or as small as you want them to be. As they are in glass, terrariums can have their own little ecosystem however those made these days tend to be made more for their artistic and decorative appeal. In this tutorial, we will be making miniature terrariums using succulents.

Dirt, coal, glass (a jar, vase, etc), plants such as cactuses, succulents, ferns and moss, rocks, stones

Step 1: Pick a glass container that is going to be the vessel that houses your plants. This could be a jar, a vase, a bottle or even a light-bulb (the sky is the limit with your imagination). You can pick an open style container for a drier ecosystem or a closed container for a more humid, wet ecosystem.

Step 2: Pick your plants. This depends on the little ecosystem you are going to make. If you are looking to create a wet environment then pick plants that thrive in this ecosystem like ferns, lilies, herbs or moss. If you want to create a drier environment using an open container then perhaps pick plants like cactuses or other succulents. Make sure you pick plants that stay small and won't outgrow your terrarium.

Step 3: Place a layer of stones or pebbles in the base of your glass container. As there are no drainage holes in a glass container, the stones are there to help with water drainage. Your plants won't last long if they're in an excess of water.

Step 4: Add a layer of charcoal. This step depends on if you are creating an open air terrarium or a closed one. If you are creating a closed terrarium (with a lid) then add a layer of crushed charcoal over the layer of stones - this is to filter the air and the water to keep everything fresh and prevent the water from stagnating. We like to add this layer to the open terrariums also (just in case) however it is optional.
Step 5: Add a layer of soil. Put in enough soil so that your plants have enough room for their roots to spread. We like to use fresh potting mix as it is free from bacteria and keeps the terrarium fresh.
Step 6: Add your plants to the soil. This is the fun part! If the opening to your terrarium is quite small then it may be easier to add your plants using chopsticks or tweezers. Arrange your plants in a way that is appealing to the eye.

Step 7: Add some flair. This is where you can get creative. Add some more stones to the terrarium for decoration or perhaps some miniatures or ornaments.
Step 8: Water you terrarium lightly and 'hey presto', there you go! Your own little cute decoration for the windowsill or coffee table.

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