Terrariums : Your Personalised Naturescapes.

 

“Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature is a help. Creating Terrariums is one such instrument of grace.”  

Do you have love for nature or gardening, but lack the space? Do you love plants, but don’t have patience to maintain them? Do you want to insert a bit of green into your homes or office spaces or simply wish to put smile on your friends face with a “living gift”?

If the answer to any of the above is an enthusiastic “yes”, then all you need is a homemade terrarium for yourself. These small sized mini ecosystems have a big impact on us & our surroundings.

Nowadays it is observed that people are having growing interests in Biophilic living and looking for the connect with nature. Let’s explore how these mini-ecosystems of terrariums could benefit us more…

What are Terrariums?

Terrarium are self-contained miniature green pockets created inside a clear enclosure (limited to a confined space) with no drainage hole that mimics an ecosystem by creating additional humidity through its own water cycle. Terrariums bring a touch of nature, enliven the indoor space and add greenery inside homes and offices. They are also known as gardens under glass. 

Known for their low maintenance requirements, terrariums work well for people with busy lives or those that struggle to keep plants alive due to lack of care.

Terrariums allow maintaining plants all year long by adding or eliminating them as per choice & requirements. Being container based, terrariums are limited to the amount of space you give them, never intruding into areas not intended for them.

The best part is that they don’t require water often and are great alternative to grow plants in low or no-light environments.

What do you need to build a Terrarium?

Terrariums require a container that will house the green plants. It can be made with empty jam jars, old fish bowl, old glass vase or bulky glass bottles etc.

The “terra” (earth/growing medium) part of the terrarium depends on the type of plants you want to grow, and can range from collected rocks, pebbles and sand to potting soil or compost.

Activated charcoal helps to keep the terrarium clean. Shells, small trinkets, old toys and up cycled waste materials can be added as decorative touches.

Terrariums can be made using your own hands with pair of gloves and some garden tools along with some patience.

What plants will you grow in your terrarium?

The plant you choose should be able to thrive in the ecosystem you create, they shouldn’t grow too large for the container, and that there are limits to root growth. Your local gardening shops or florist should be able to provide advice on suitable plants.

Following plants are most preferred for terrariums:

• Pilea involucrata (Friendship plants)
• Variegated spider ferns
• Watermelon peperomia plant
• Fittonia (Silver nerve plant)
• Spiderwort plant
• Air plant
• African violets
• Dracena borgata plant
• Hedra helix plant
• Pothos plant
• Pentas plant
• Spathiphyllum plant
• Chlorophytum plant
• Jade plant
• Syngonium plant

Tip: Choose plants which have a slow growth rate. Also try to choose plants of varying heights to add interest and texture to the design. Choose plants with similar light and water requirement

How to build your terrarium?

Once you have all your materials and chosen your plants, start filling your container in layers. First, create a drainage layer. Depending on the size of your container, the plants you have chosen and the type of terrarium you are creating, the thickness will vary, but you definitely want at least a thin layer of rocks, stones and pebbles where excess water can go to prevent drowning the roots. The activated charcoal goes on top, followed by soil.

How to plant your terrarium?

Making a terrarium is a fun-filled & an engaging activity, let’s explore more…

Create a concept/interesting layout by sketching your ideas on piece of paper for reference. Once you are set with particular layout, and then start with execution.

Setting plants in clusters with varying heights & sizes, colour combinations or textural qualities.

Leave in-between spaces well in advance to add decorative elements/accessories as a finishing touch. Accessories to make terrarium unique - Sea shells, rocks, ornaments, toys, trinkets, dried materials, and branches are all great things to add personality.

(Note: Be very careful with the tiny plants and plant them with soft hands into the soil.)

Try to create a real landscape by adding some green moss strips (काई in Hindi) often seen on wet walls or ground.

Make sure you don’t add too many elements into terrariums & make pleasing composition which offers variety and makes the eye to travel upon.

BENEFITS OF TERRARIUMS:

With increasing awareness about environment consciousness, back-to-earth or back to nature products like terrariums are increasingly preferred as gift items for weddings and corporate events.

Mostly preferred by people living in cities, terrariums is a good way to bring the beauty of nature into our home & develop the bond with nature back again.

People engaged with terrariums as part of their hobby or any other endeavour, helps them in both psychology and personal development.

Terrariums with variety of plants in indoor spaces could help in regulating the feelings of anger, tension, anxiety and depression. They can also help speed up the recovery & help promote healing of sick people. Many research studies have proven that plants have many therapeutic qualities which help to shift brain into more relaxed state of mind, thereby increasing productivity & scope for creativity to enhance.

Terrariums can act as a helpful learning tool for children and adults alike. These miniature ecosystems help to put science up close and personal for an audience, allowing them to closely observe how plants grow and how the water cycle operates through the system.

Making & taking care of terrariums as the act of engaging & nurturing something, enhances the feelings of compassion along with offering visual calming effect as well.

CARE TO BE TAKEN FOR TERRARIUMS

However, they do require occasional maintenance and to maintain a healthy environment for your plants, you should avoid making the following mistakes: 

Too Much Light

Due to the use of glass container for terrariums, it is advisable to keep it out of reach of direct sun as it may cause glass to magnify the light & heat from sun & cause loss of moisture for the plants. Also most plants can't tolerate this kind of heat & can cause death of tiny plants.

Too Little Light

Grow lights or fluorescent lights can provide supplemental light or by placing the terrarium closer to a window that receives well, but indirect light to keep plants surviving.

Overgrown Plants

Overgrown plants could spoil the aesthetic look of individual decorative elements inside the terrarium. Timely trimming of overgrown plants is advisable to prevent from overcrowding. Pruning the roots of these plants, may also help to keep them small.

Failure to Remove Dying Plants

As a part of maintenance, all the dead/diseased plants should be removed out immediately as it may infect other plants inside terrariums. Replace the plant with one of a similar size and the same moisture and light requirements. Be sure to surround the roots with soil, leaving no air pockets.

Dirty Glass

Every once in a while, clean the glass of the terrarium both inside and out. If the glass is too dirty or foggy, it could be difficult for light to reach the plants.

Over Watering

Looking at the scale of the ecosystem of plants, watering should be done very wisely. One way to prevent over-watering is to use a spray bottle instead of a watering directly. Remember, the terrariums doesn’t have weep hole/drainage hole like normal planting pots to remove extra water away. Add small splashes of water rather than flooding the entire terrarium in such condition.

Over Fertilizing

Since the plants used in terrarium are small & are to be inhibited to grow large in confined space, most terrarium plants do not need to be fertilized.

Choosing the Wrong Plants

Plants which can thrive in confined spaces/closed terrariums needs to be chosen wisely. Plants which prefer moist environments, low lights & low heat are most preferred.

The demand for Terrariums increases during Diwali due to higher pollution levels, so what are you waiting for…create your own terrariums, buy them or gift them as ideal gifting options to state We Care.

- Ar.Sujit Vasant Jadhav 

(Asst.Professor, TSAP)

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