Needed:
- A large glass bowl
- Blue rainbow sand
- Propagating sand
- Sydney sand
- Medium sized river pebbles
- Succulents
For the decoration you will need the following things:
-a paintbrush
-chopsticks
-small pieces of driftwood
-dead Rock
-Fish ornaments
Terrariums are consisted of layers from different materials:
- Gravel or perlite is put on the bowl’s bottom in order to prevent drainage since terrariums do not have drainage holes
- Horticultural charcoal needs to be on the top of the gravel so that the odor caused by the potting mix is prevented
- Sphagnum moss comes next and it helps the final layer of peat moss or the potting mix to maintain moisture.
Depending on the plants you choose, you may need different material. For example, the above mentioned combination is great for Hypoesthesia and African violets. However, if you choose cactuses or succulents for the terrarium, you will not need the sphagnum moss since these plants do not require moisture-retentive materials.
Taking care of the terrarium
- Mist the terrarium once per week, and bear in mind that under watering is a better choice than overwatering since surplus moisture is difficult for removal.
- Although the plants require brightness, do not expose them to direct sunlight. The best solution is to place them near a window and you can rotate the plant from time to time in order to allow its even growth.
- Remove dust or moisture from the glass, as well as any dead leaves to prevent fungi.
Choosing the plants
Pick out plants that thrive in a closed environment. Moreover, always choose plants that have similar characteristics. These are some of the plants you can choose for a terrarium:
- Succulents
- Cactuses
- African violets
- Baby’s tears
- Small ferns
- Hypoestes
- Fittonia
- Sansevieria
The making:
Step 1: Put the rainbow sand on the bottom of the bowl and spread a layer of pebbles around the edges of the bowl.
Step 2: Disperse the propagating sand, which needs to be at least 4 inches, all over the pebbles. Pack the sand around the edges using your fingers.
Step 3: When you have flattened the surface, the next thing to do is decide where to place the plants. Remember to always put tall plants in the back and the short ones in front. Plant them with chopsticks and then place everything you have chosen for the decoration of the bowl.
Step 4: Pour the Sydney sand on top of the propagating sand with the help of a funnel. Remove any surplus sand fallen on the plants with a paintbrush.
Source: Health Adore