A glass terrarium is a wonderful decorative statement for your home. Even if you don’t use your terrarium as a habitat for indoor plants, the case itself can lend a nice touch to your home’s interior design and can color it with class and personality.
However, a glass terrarium can be a functional vessel for indoor plants just as much as a statement. They are easy to prepare, and best of all, since closed terrariums recycle water, they can be a relatively low-maintenance way to bring some greenery indoors. If you do decide to make a living arrangement from your terrarium here’s how you should prepare one.
Add Pea Gravel and Activated Charcoal
A quality glass terrarium will consist of, at minimum, a glass case that can be removed from a solid bottom tray. The first thing you will want to do is remove the glass case and add a thin layer of pea gravel followed by activated charcoal substrate into the bottom of the tray.
First, spread the pea gravel evenly over the bottom of the tray. You don’t need to make the layer deep, but make sure it is distributed evenly enough so that it covers it. Over the pea gravel, sprinkle some activated charcoal powder to fill in the spaces between the gravel.
The gravel will help mediate drainage, preventing your plants’ roots from getting soggy, which can cause root rot and other fungal diseases. As for charcoal, it is highly absorbent and equally effective at removing toxins from the soil.
Add a Layer of Soil
After you place down your substrate of pea gravel and activated charcoal, it’s time to add a layer of soil. Add soil until you have nearly reached the side of the bottom tray, but do not overfill. The soil will settle over time but you’ll still want to start with a little clearance.
Depending on the plants you’ll be planting, you may also choose to enrich the soil with coconut fiber or perlite to encourage drainage and proper aeration of the soil, which will promote health in certain species – especially those that are susceptible to overly wet conditions, like succulent plants or air plants.
Prepare Soil, Plant Your Plants, and Water Lightly
Once the soil has been laid down, you can now configure the glass terrarium for planting. Create small depressions in the soil where you intend to plant your plants, then place your plants in the holes you’ve created. If your plants have a tightly packed root ball, scoring it or “teasing” it open slightly will encourage healthy outward growth and better absorption of water or nutrients.
Once you’ve placed your plants in the depressions, cover the roots with a layer of soil and tamp down the soil lightly around the roots, in order to remove any air pockets that can cause the roots to become dry and hinder growth.
Finally, water the top layer of the soil very lightly. You want to take care not to overwater because your glass terrarium will recycle its own water. As the plants absorb it through their roots, they will “exhale” it (through a process known as transpiration, after which it will condense on the glass of the case before trickling back down into the soil.
What Plants Grow Well in a Glass Terrarium?
Not sure what plants you want to pair with your glass terrarium yet? There are many species that can thrive in a terrarium, including but not limited to:
●Pothos
●Baby tears
●Moss
●Polka dot plants
●Succulents and cacti (these also do well in open terrariums and glass orbs because they need little water)
●Nerve plants
●Ferns
●Mini orchids and ivy
Many of these plants will thrive in a terrarium, and some of them will even thrive in each other’s company!
Learn More at H Potter
Interested in learning more about how you can transform your interior spaces with the distinction of a glass terrarium and a little bit of greenery? Visit H Potter at hpotter.com, where you’ll come across a wealth of novel designs in glass terrariums and other finery, all of which are original designs created from high-quality materials by skilled artisans.
Take a look through their collection of terrariums and other gifts and accents for your home and garden, and reach out to them at 208-640-4206 if you have any questions.
