Avoid These Mistakes That Make Terrarium Died, Beginners Should Know!

Terrarium is how to care for plants that placed in the glass container, this plant looks beautiful as a room decoration. Many plants such as succulents and cacti can be a terrarium.

The combination of plants, soil used and glass containers that have a variety of shapes, creates an aesthetic in itself for plant lovers. However, if we are wrong in making and taking care of the terrarium, the aesthetics of the terrarium will be lost.

Reporting from Better Homes & Garden, Thursday (21/1/2021), caring for this terrarium is easier than other ornamental plants, but there are some common mistakes while caring them.

• Pick the Right Container for Terrarium

Choosing of the right container is also very important, Does the terrarium can grow well or not, so choose a suitable glass container such as a round fish tank, vase, tumbler, jar, or even a wine glass. Make sure it’s not big enough to fit your hand when placing the plant in the container.

• No drainage

Terrariums also need drainage to prevent water from building up on the plant’s surface. To get this drainage, place aggregate such as rocks, gravel, at the bottom of the glass container and make sure you leave enough room for the potting mix to cover the plant roots.

Providing proper drainage of the terrarium container is also an important aspect. Leave enough space so that the potting mix can cover the plant’s roots in creating a drainage layer. The drainage layer is important because the glass containers we make do not have drainage holes. In fact, drainage is important to prevent root rot.

• Don’t use charcoal

By adding a layer of charcoal, it can absorb excess water. Charcoal acts like a filter and can protect it from harmful bacteria, mold, and rot.

• Stop watering the plant

Even though the plants in these containers don’t need a lot of water, that doesn’t mean the terrarium doesn’t need water. So, spray water into the container, on top of, and around the glass container. This will provide the necessary moisture for a healthy terrarium.

• No fertilizer

The best way to ensure your succulent stays healthy is to avoid placing it in direct sunlight and only watering it as needed. To grow healthier plants, feed your terrarium with a low-nitrogen and high-potassium fertilizer, such as a special cactus and succulent fertilizer.

• Too much light

Some ornamental plants for terrariums don’t need too much light, so it’s better to understand the type of terrarium ornamental plants and place them in a place that is not exposed to direct sunlight.

The terrarium glass itself can function like a magnifying glass that can burn plants if exposed to too much heat. The temperature in a terrarium can rise quickly without realizing it.

• No light

If the light that the terrarium gets is low, you can add neon lights or place terrarium ornamental plants near the window.

• Dirty glass

Even though there is soil in the terrarium, it is necessary to clean the glass every now and then. Both on the inner and outer surface.

To make things easier, you can use damp newsprint or a lint-free cloth. Don’t use cleaning products. Chemicals will only damage terrarium ornamental plants.

• Overwatering

Caring for terrarium ornamental plants is actually very easy. As long as you treat them  right, including how to water it. Don’t overwater the terrarium. To prevent over-watering, you can just use a spray bottle.

Growing Succulents in a Closed Terrarium

Succulents generally thrive in high light and low humidity environments. If you grow succulents in a closed terrarium, the environment is too humid for them to thrive. You can work around this by making and growing them in an open, open container.

QnA on terrarium care tips!

How often should you water the plants in the terrarium?

You can water the open terrariums every 3-6 weeks. But instead of watering on a schedule, its better to check the soil to see if its nearly dry and how much water your plants need.

Why can you go so long without watering the plants in the terrarium?

Because excess moisture is released through the leaves as vapor in the terrarium . Combining these two water cycles keeps water circulating through the pop bottle terrarium, so plants rarely need watering.

Why are my terrarium plants dying?

Some of the main reasons why terrariums are dying include over-watering the plants or soil, using the wrong container for the terrarium, mixing plants with different requirements, placing the terrarium in the wrong place.

How to know if my terrarium has enough water?

A completely closed terrarium requires little or no watering. If you can see water in the gravel at the bottom, there is too much water. Be careful not to overdry the plant as it will wilt.

Should you remove dead leaves from the terrarium?

However, if your leaves are already damaged, it is best to prune them to prevent them from rotting. Once the mold is removed, open the lid for a few hours or so to allow air circulation to help dry the terrarium.

What should I do if my terrarium is too big?

Prune your own terrarium plants. You should trim the leaves, tendrils or branches when they grow larger than they should be. This also applies if the plants start to cover other plants and limit sunlight to the rest of the terrarium.

Should the terrarium be open or closed?

Open terrarium plants prefer air circulation and a drier environment. Plants like aloe, cacti, and air plants are best for this. On the other hand, a closed terrarium thrives in an enclosed space with more humidity.

Are terrariums difficult to maintain?

Terrariums are generally low maintenance and require less attention than most other house plants because they grow more slowly in the limited conditions, but healthy plants do grow.