Terrarium Plants

In order to have a healthy terrarium it must be well maintained and cleaned thoroughly.  If this is done on a regular basis, a terrarium will always look good and the plants maintain good condition. It is important to make sure that the terrarium surfaces are kept clean as dirty glass will limit the amount of light available to the plants. Using a damp cloth or paper towels, wipe down the outside surfaces of the terrarium to remove any dirt, fingerprints or other marks.

Sometimes it is necessary to wipe down the condensation on the inside of the terrarium.  This depends on how much condensation is being produced; too much condensation can cause mildew on the glass and the plants. The easiest way to remove condensation is to use a cloth or paper towel and simply wipe down the glass. This needs to be done carefully to ensure that the plants are not damaged during cleaning.

It is important to keep the plants well pruned. This helps to freshen up them up and takes away the stress of the dead foliage. Any dead foliage should be removed as close to the base of the plant as possible. Plants should be pruned as often as necessary to keep them in good condition. Any plants that have died need to be removed. Plants that are starting to outgrow their surroundings or pressing against the glass should be pruned and thinned as necessary.

It is a good idea to turn a terrarium around regularly, approximately once a week is sufficient. This helps to even out any variations in light exposure. It is important not to saturate terrarium soil; terrariums should only be watered when the soil surface becomes dry and the amount of watered added should be just enough to moisten the soil. Closed terrariums can be ventilated for a few hours once a week. Once the lid is closed again it is important to check that condensation begins to appear on the glass, if it doesn’t then a small amount of water can be added. If terrariums are being used to house small animals, it is important to remove animal waste and food scraps.

Choosing the right terrarium plants for your terrarium does not need to be a herculean task. After all, you are just going to raise plants in a lovely little glass sided box! However, several factors come into play which will guide you in your choices of the right plants for your situation.

First you need terrarium plants which are low light tolerant. Since they are indoors in an enclosed space they need to be shade loving. Plants which like low illumination are spider plants, pothos, snake plant, ferns, swedish ivy, and mosses. For flowers, the fuzzy African violet fits the bill as long as you change them occasionally. Small wax begonias will also survive in the terrarium setting if changed frequently.

Second, you have to consider how large the plant will grow and plan to move plants which get to tall and “leggy” in low light conditions. Plant smaller plants than you might want and let them mature. Arrange a layout that has height variances to move the eye and make your mini-world (terrarium) more “lifelike.”

Third, plan to move and replace terrarium plants in your design as they outgrow the setting or start to fail. Some plants might not due well in the humidity of closed container. Others simply will fail to thrive, so plan to replace items occasionally.

Fourth, you need to deal with fact that most terrariums are humid and not all plants can adjust to the humidity. Don’t over water and consider carefully plants which can adapt to harsh conditions. Or you can design a desert terrarium and use sand and cover with a screen to stop humidity.

Finally, consider the view. Look at your little world from the perspective of height it will be displayed and arrange a design that will please the eye. Create a tiny world all of your own making! Enjoy!