Terrarium care tips
In the first few months your Terrarium will need close monitoring to make sure it is happy; the following tips are to help make sure this happens and that it settles into its own rhythm. Ideally your Terrarium needs some moisture on the glass but not so much that you can’t see your plants, and this will change over a 24-hour period, depending on the temperature of the room it
is in. In my experience Terrariums prefer good natural light, so please place your Terrarium away from direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can cause too high humidity and can also burn the plants behind the glass. Within the first few months if your Terrarium looks too wet and foggy all day you need to open the lid for a couple of hours to help clear the fog, once this happens you can replace the lid. You may find your Terrarium looks dry and so will need watering, the best way to do this is to use a fine spray mister or a pipette, another option is a tablespoon. The idea is to give the plants some water without drowning them, so aim for the base of the plants and avoid the leaves as much as possible. If your Terrarium is in a bottle, you can trickle the water down the inside of the glass from the opening. Ideally the best water to use is filtered or rainwater rather than water straight from the tap however tap water in moderation is ok. Terrariums prefer to be in rooms that have a temperature around 19-21C, so best not to place near a radiator or drafty window. You will need to watch out for signs of mould or mushy leaves within the first few months. You can remove mould from the leaves with a cotton bud, however if the leaf is too damaged then you can remove it. Keep the Terrarium open for a few hours to allow air to circulate around it and dry out a little bit. These steps may need repeating over the first few weeks whilst the Terrarium is settling into its own rhythm, if the plants are healthy, it will adapt and start its own eco-system cycle. You may find that mushrooms appear in your Terrariums as it is a humid environment, this is not a bad thing. Let them grow and they will die off naturally, they are a good sign your Terrarium is in good working order. Sometimes you can get small white egg looking items in the soil, this is also a fungus that doesn’t harm the plants but can take over the soil. Remove them with a spoon and air the Terrarium for a few hours and add some fresh potting soil. The Terrarium can sometimes have a strong decaying smell, which can indicate it is too humid and the leaves are dying. Remove the dying leaves and keep the lid off for a while, also make sure the Terrarium isn’t over watered. Occasionally small flies can appear in your Terrarium, they are usually Fungus Gnats. They are completely harmless to your plants but can be annoying. Again, the best cause of action is to air the Terrarium but this time until the soil is almost dried out completely, this should reduce them as they like moist environments. There is an insect called Springtails that you can add to your Terrarium who will sweep up the flies and mould. They can be purchased online from certified sellers. A sign your Terrarium is doing well is the plants may grow too tall for it, so you may want to prune them back with scissors or remove the plant and put it into a larger Terrarium. If the plants are stretching out or bending it could mean they need more natural light. As I have mentioned once your Terrarium is settled it will need little intervention, you may want to do the following tasks annually, but they are not essential.
• Remove dead dried leaves from the floor of your Terrarium as you would from an outdoor garden.
• Clean the inside of the glass, this can be done with a clean cloth/tissue or scraper if there is green algae.
• Clean any decorative items that can be removed, although I prefer the look the items get over time, they look like ancient monuments.
• You can also replace any plants or mosses that may have died. As with all living plants it is not possible to guarantee perfect results every time and these tips have come from my own experience and research. If you have any concerns or questions please message me or email me via [email protected]
