Hello and welcome to Natural World Facts, today I’ll be teaching you how to create
a closed terrarium.
A terrarium is an enclosed ecosystem which can be entirely self-sustaining. Once set
up and watered, you will never need to open it again since it will regulate its own water
and nutrient cycles.
Before we begin, you will need an airtight container. Some good examples include glass
jars with clip tops, screw on lids or corks but for my example I’ll be using a large
round display jar with a lid which sits comfortably on top, allowing it to retain the moisture
in the air.
Other equipment you will need includes porous mesh which allows water through but not substrate,
some rocks or gravel, some activated carbon for fish tank filters or charcoal, and a selection
of small to medium sized local plants and mosses.
The first step is to place about an inch of stones or gravel in the base of your container.
For this example, I’ll be using these coloured rocks since they are all I have readily available
but any aquarium gravel or pebbles should do. Next, sprinkle on a coating of activated
carbon sticks or charcoal to help with filtration.
The next step is to cut out the shape of the base of your container from the porous mesh.
It needs to cover the gravel layer entirely so it’s best to cut it slightly larger than
the shape itself. Once this is in place over the gravel, you can add the soil. The purpose
of this gravel layer is to separate the standing water from the soil to avoid roots rotting.
The water will collect here as a water reservoir then will evaporate, condensate on the walls
of your glass container and then fall back down into the substrate, effectively replicating
the natural water cycle. This will ensure that the terrarium will naturally water itself.
Moving onto the soil, a good soil mix should retain moisture well and be a mix of dead
leaves, moss and compost. The soil layer should be deeper than your gravel layer to allow
root space.
Next, let’s add some plants to the terrarium. I will be making this a native terrarium so
will be using plants from nearby parks and gardens. You could use tropical plants for
yours instead. Place your choice of plants in the terrarium, paying close attention to
your arrangement and how you would like it to look aesthetically. Think about putting
Think about putting larger plants in the background and smaller ones in the foreground.
Moss is excellent for ground covering as it will eventually spread and make your terrarium look lush and
wild. I’ve used a few different varieties of temperate moss and positioned them
in-between the main plants. When choosing plants, pick some with a variety of leaf types
and shades of green. Also, if you come across any worms or woodlice, set them aside for
later as worms will help add nutrients to the soil and woodlice will decompose any dead
matter which will help to break down nutrients. These nutrients will be absorbed by the plants
through their roots via osmosis.
You can also add pieces of bark or wood for landscaping.
The final step is to water your terrarium by misting. Spray a very generous amount of
water over the plants and moss to help them settle and to provide the ecosystem with water
which will be continuously cycled throughout the terrarium.
And there we have it, the perfect addition to your windowsill. You now have your very
own tiny ecosystem in a jar. Observe how the plant life changes and spreads over time.You
may notice that some die but this is normal. Other plants will grow in its place and seeds
will spread.
Thank you for watching Natural World Facts, stay tuned for future updates of my terrariums
and subscribe for factual videos on the natural world. See you next time.