We had friends asking us how on earth do plants survive without water and oxygen in enclosed terrariums. Through trial and error, we realised that as long as you place terrariums (also known as bottled plants) in natural light (not direct sunlight), they will continue to flourish. The selection of plants too, are important. Here's what we think works. Try it, or if you prefer a little help, get a kit from us today! It comes complete with everything you will need to be a budding gardener.
Plant Type
We tried using the Polkadot plant, also known as hypoesthes (See pic above). They are easy to care for and comes in red and green. You can easily purchase a pot at S$5.00 at Cold Storage. Click this link for more species. Cactuses work only if you have an open-top terrarium.
Bottle
For beginners, choose a bottle that has an opening that big enough for your fist to fit. This is so that you can easily place the layers in.
Layers
There are a few ways to do this. Layering is the most critical step towards a thriving terrarium. As there are no drainage holes in the enclosed container, there must be layers that draw water in and layers that fiter water away from the roots to prevent root-rot. See pic above for layers. Bottom layer: Charcoal reduces moisture and draws it away from the roots. Place soil and the plant into it. The soil would trap enough water for the plant to grow well. Thereafter add some pebbles/sand for condensation at the sides of the container to be drawn into the soil. Moss forms the top-most layer to draw moisture in too.
The Water Cycle in the terrarium
Many have asked us, 'Are you practising plant torture?' No we are not. The terrarium has its own micro-climate. In the day, the plant takes in carbon dioxide it has produced at night and makes food, resulting in the formation of oxygen and water droplets. The water droplets condense on the walls of the container and drips back into the soil, so no watering is necessary. The water in turns helps the plant to grow.
No comments:
Post a Comment