The Adventures of Dot and Mae

Today, Dear Readers, Dot and Mae are eager to work in the garden! They love to plant seeds and watch flowers grow - it’s such a magical thing to put the little seed in the dirt and water it, then slowly watch the little sprout grow and finally bloom! Dot and Mae love all kinds of flowers. What kinds do you like? The photo above shows Dot and Mae with some Hollyhock seeds that Big Girl Gabriella helped harvest last year. When these seeds get planted they will grow all different shades of pink Hollyhock flowers like the ones below.

Today, Dot and Mae thought they would tell you about a fun way to grow plants that are tiny like they are. They are called terrariums and they are easy to make and take care of. A terrarium is a container that is closed and is a miniature landscape with living plants and even sometimes small animals like lizards or turtles. Once you get the hang of making one, you can let your imagination run and create all kinds of interesting little environments. You can make simple ones like the one in the picture - or go crazy and make something like a Star Wars Dagobah Terrarium!

A terrarium is a container made of glass or other clear material, enclosing a garden of small plants. Terrariums are usually sealed, and therefore need little or no care. They water themselves. The containers don’t have to be specifically designed as terrariums. You could try a large glass cookie jar, a fish tank with a lid, decorative bowls with lids, or wine casks, water bottles or old olive oil bottles. Stand it up or lay it on its side. You are limited only by your imagination and the plants you want to put in it.

YOU WILL NEED

• Fishbowl or glass jar of any size
• Small stones
• Horticultural charcoal
• Potting soil
• Plants of your choice (see ideas at bottom)
• Scissors
• Distilled Water
• Decorative rocks and figurines

HERE’S HOW

• Wash the glass container in hot, soapy water. Rinse and dry completely.
• Create a one-inch (2.5-centimeter) layer of stones on the bottom of the jar.
• Add a half-inch (1.3-centimeter) of charcoal.
• Spoon in a two- to three-inch (5.1- to 7.6-centimeter) layer of potting soil. (Pile soil higher on one side to make plants visible from a side view.) Dig small holes for the roots.
• Take plants out of their pots, remove extra soil from the roots, and trim damaged leaves. While the roots are still moist, place the plants in the holes and pat soil over the roots. Place taller plants in the back. Dampen the soil. Do not overwater.
• Decorate with pretty rocks, animal figurines, or a garden gnome. Place in indirect sunlight. Add water when your terrarium gets dry.

TIPS

• Pick the right plants. Almost any houseplant will grow inside a terrarium.
• If your terrarium has a small opening, use chopsticks to position your plants.
• Prune fast-growing plants so they don’t outgrow the terrarium.

 

What Kind of Plants Will Work?

There are lots of dwarf plants available, and these usually will do fine. You can also purchase small, inexpensive baby plants from many garden centers. Make sure they do not need to be kept in a dry environment, however, as your terrarium will not meet that criteria. The environment is not ideal for most regular-sized plants, but many normal houseplants do well in terrariums and will just grow quite slowly.

My Tools Don’t Fit!

You will have to find or modify tools to fit through the neck of your container. With a fish tank, tools are not a problem, and that’s one reason many people start with one. If you’re not keen on the fish tank idea, however, or want a narrow-neck terrarium, you still need to dig holes, place plants, tamp plants in place and add water. There are fancy tool sets available if you have the funds, other wise you’ll have to make some up. One handy tool is a grabbing tool, formerly used to snag fallen screws from the inside of a computer. A funnel will be necessary to direct the soil to where you want it. The funnel can also be used in conjunction with a long, thin pipe, to direct water into the terrarium without creating a basin or washing out roots of a plant. Also consider the pipe and funnel combination to direct decorative sand placement, if that’s what you like. Include chopsticks in your toolkit, especially if you can use them properly.

Why Distilled Water

Our tap water contains a lot of chemicals, like chlorine and fluoride, and other things that you have likely heard about on the news. Using this water in a closed environment just intensifies things. If you can avoid it, why not err on the cautious side and do so.

How Many Plants?

For a small container, perhaps a one-half gallon jar or less, you should consider no more than one plant plus some ground cover and decorative elements. A container from one to five gallons in size could take 2 to 5 plants, and a large container will take even more. You will want to consider large you expect them to grow. Don’t crowd. You can always add an additional plant or two, once you get going.
It is not recommended that you try fuzzy- or furry-leaved plants. Because they hold the moisture, they tend to rot in the closed environment.

How Much Soil and Charcoal?

You will need enough soil to cover the bottom of your terrarium to a depth that will cover the roots of the small plants you will purchase. A soil-less mix is best, with humus, sand, peat and vermiculite. Most potting soils are made up of a combination containing these. There should be enough charcoal to cover the bottom of the terrarium to a depth perhaps 1/4 of the soil depth. Its purpose is to stop the soil from molding and to provide drainage so that your plants’ roots are not sat in water in the soil.

What Light, In Yonder Window Should Break?

Indirect light is what a terrarium most likes. It should never be placed in direct sun, however, or you will cook your plants in no time. Lots of light, behind sheers, would be fine.

Problems? What Problems?

- Until things settle down, and even then sometimes, you may get mold. Watch for it, and get it out as soon as you spot it.
- Initially, you may see too much moisture on the sides of the terrarium. Just take the top off and let some escape. Eventually, it will likely sort itself out. You don’t mind seeing some condensation, but you should ideally be able to see the plants, as well.
- Plants getting too much, or too little water will not do well. Monitor the terrarium until it gets settled down, and make sure it’s doing well. You may have to add more soil, or more water to get it going, or let it dry out a bit.

Vivarium Terrariums

When you’ve mastered the basics, you can think of new ways to make your terrarium concept more exciting, like adding an animal. A lizard is a good choice. The animal can breathe because, remember, the plants produce oxygen. Do some research to see what would make a home for your animal of choice.

For some more information and some really great ideas, Dot and Mae suggest you visit the Terrarium Man’s Website.

Another fun idea is to build a terrarium in a clear glass Christmas ornament - the hardest part of these ones are getting the materials into the bulb, but here are some pictures that show you some easy ways to do it:

Dot and Mae hope you have fun working on this project!