Gardening Sweet Spots
This blog post is adapted from an article by Emerald Necklace Garden Club member Nathalie Petri
Granted, it’s hard to get kids interested in gardening these days, especially if they have to be dragged away from their tablets or cell phones to go outside. But building a garden in a glass container indoors that they can design and that doesn’t take much care could plant a seed that sprouts into a future interest in real gardens outside.
Terrariums are easy to make with children of any age. The older the child, the more complex the design can be. Shopping for plants can be part of the fun. Garden centers stock house plants, cacti and succulents year-round and miniature plant varieties in the spring designed especially for fairy gardens; as well as the soil, small rocks and other materials you will need.
Most terrariums are made from a clear glass container and planted to look like an enclosed miniature garden or forest. A clear plastic 2-liter bottle can also be used by cutting it in half and sliding the top half over the bottom half to cover. It does not have to be covered. However, all plant material should be contained within it. When choosing a container, remember that closed containers (with a lid) hold more humidity and create a jungle-like atmosphere which would be best for ferns, ivies, and begonias, which like it humid. Open containers are ideal for cactus and succulent gardens. The wider the opening of the container, the easier it will be to place the plants.
Picking the Perfect Plants is Just the Beginning
When choosing plants, select varieties that will thrive where the terrarium will be displayed. South- and West-facing windows provide strong, bright light. East windows are medium. Fluorescent office lighting and north-facing windows provide low to medium light.
Foliage plants and plants that grow slowly work best. Group “like” plants together; i.e., don’t put ferns with cacti. Include small plants of different colors, shapes and textures. Try to find miniature plants that aren’t going to grow too big for the container. Two or three plants are all that may be needed in smaller containers. Make sure the container is clean.
Start with a layer of rocks, an inch or so, at the bottom of the container. These will help with soil drainage so the roots of the plants won’t get water-logged. Add a 1/2-inch-thick layer of charcoal (available from garden centers). This acts as a filtration substrate and keeps the water cleaner.
The layers of rock and soil are part of the beauty of the terrarium. Fill half of the container with potting or cactus soil. Have the young gardener remove the plants from their little pots and carefully tease the roots apart. Remove some of the potting soil so the plant will fit nicely in the terrarium. Leave some space for the plants to breathe and grow. Pat down the soil so plants don’t get uprooted easily.
Now for the fun part – the finishing touches. Add ornaments or decorations to give your terrarium a special theme. Decorate with rocks or pebbles, tiny pine cones, shells, ceramic animals, a garden gnome or small statue or small fairy house. Lightly mist with water.
Caring for Your Terrarium
The two most important factors to consider are sunlight and water. The plants in a closed terrarium require high light but no direct sunlight. Check the terrarium frequently for the appearance of condensation on the glass. If large water drops appear on the glass, the container should be left open for a while until excess moisture evaporates. When you do add water, do so in small amounts at a time since there is no place for the surplus water to run off.
The plants in an open terrarium require high light but should never be exposed to direct sunlight. Open terrariums may have to be watered on a weekly or alternate week basis and may need to be pruned occasionally.
When water is needed, it should only be added in small doses. Water with a syringe, small dropper or misting spray bottle. Only use bottled or distilled water, or tap water that has been left out for 24 hours to allow the chlorine to evaporate. Terrariums should not need fertilizing. Any plant that has outgrown its environment should be replaced.
Donna Hessel is a member of the Emerald Necklace Garden Club. To learn more about the club go to emeraldnecklacegardenclub.com.
Donna Hessel is the author of Northeast Ohio Boomer & Beyond’s Gardening Sweet Spots blog and has been working in gardens for as long as she can remember, beginning as a child, pulling weeds and planting beans and radishes in her grandfather’s garden. In addition to veggies and herbs, she always grows flowers, applying the wisdom and best practices acquired with experience. Currently a Brecksville resident, she plants what doesn’t appeal to the deer and enjoys the camaraderie and benefits of belonging to the Emerald Necklace Garden Club. Visit the club’s Facebook page for event photos and interesting garden news from a variety of sources. To learn more, go to emeraldnecklacegardenclub.com
