Page 33 - Cosmos Edition 3

Terrariums

A terrarium (plural: terraria or terrariums) is a special art of gardening done in trans-
parent glass bottles containing soil and plants. It can be done in sealable bottles
which can be opened time to time to access the plants in the bottle. Terrariums can
also be open bottle which is open to the outer atmosphere.

However a terrarium is defined as transparent enclosure for keeping or raising plants
or usually small animals (such as turtles) indoors.

Terrariums are indoor gardens in a sealed container. The plants and the soil in the
terrarium release water vapour, which is then collected onto the walls of the vessel
and trickles down to the soil. This acts as a miniature water cycle. Terrariums are self
-nourishing, which is why they require little maintenance, if sealed.

How to make a terrarium – For making a terrarium we need a transparent glass bot-
tle (preferably wide mouthed bottle), activated charcoal helps to filter water and pre-
vents fungal growth, pebbles, marbles, small ceramic statues, toys depending on your
own creativity and the size of the bottle, instead of the bottle small sized aquarium or

fish bowls can also be used.
First of all the bottle should be cleaned properly. Then put a layer of pebbles, mar-

bles, about an inch thick followed by half an inch layer of activated charcoal, and fi-
nally a thick layer of sterilized soil.
Now select the plants you want to plant in your terrarium. Preferably miniature plants

that do not grow to long are selected. Tradescantia commonly known as Spiderwort,
Tillandsia, Saintpaulia, commonly known as African violet, Saxifraga stolonifera is a
perennial flowering plant known by several common names, including creeping saxi-
frage, strawberry saxifrage, creeping rockfoil, etc., Lycopodiopsida is a class of herba-
ceous vascular plants known as the clubmosses and firmosses, Fittonia albiveni com-
monly called nerve plant or mosaic plant, Peperomia argyreia, the watermelon pepero-
mia or watermelon begonia, etc. are the common plants used in the terrarium. You
can select any local plants which are miniature in size as per availability. Now that you
have selected the plants see that the roots are spread apart and remove some of the

old soil from the roots so that they grow well in the terrarium. Space the plants in
such a way that there is enough space for them to grow and breathe. Your Terrarium
is ready.

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