My First Terrarium

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As I’ve mentioned numerous times, my effort planting seeds was a fiasco, and all the containers that I have repotted with established plants are doing very well! But I am not done yet.

Recently I began wanting to try my hand at terrariums—another new experience. So I talked to Garden Center experts and watched YouTube instructional videos and read some websites. I wanted to make a closed terrarium rather than an open one. I wanted to create an enclosed ecosystem. How hard could it be?

I gathered my supplies:

  1. My plants. There are many wonderful plants that would do well in a terrarium, but I wanted a MaidenHair fern. They require constant moisture and humidity, which a terrarium will provide. Also, I wanted to try a terrarium because I have not been successful keeping a MaidenHair fern alive otherwise.
  2. A large glass jar with a lid. I purchased a large 2 1/2 gallon glass jar with a lid from Amazon.
  3. Rocks or pebbles for the first layer.
  4. Charcoal
  5. Sphagnum moss
  6. Soil – I selected Miracle-Gro potting soil.
  7. Added features (i.e., Rocks, creative cute little things)
I ordered this large glass jar and lid from Amazon. I liked the shape and the simplicity. However, I wanted the MaidenHair fern to be the focal point.
I thoroughly washed the interior of the glass jar.

I started building the terrarium.

Next, the layer of rocks.
I placed approximately an inch of rocks on the bottom of the terrarium.
Next, I placed charcoal on top of the rocks.
Another purchase from Amazon. I don't know if one product is better than another.
Next, I placed a layer of sphagnum moss, which I already had.
One article I read recommended the sphagnum moss, and another did not. I'll let you know how it goes.
I placed a thick layer of soil on top of the moss. I used Miracle-Gro potting soil.
I gently removed some of the existing potting soil from my tiny MaidenHair ferns before placing them in the terrarium. Yes, I was scared!
Before placing the MaidenHair ferns in the terrarium, I took a spray bottle with water that I left out all night to disperse the chlorine and other chemicals and thoroughly sprayed the interior of the terrarium. Then I planted the two MaidenHair ferns, gently patting the soil to ensure they were secure in their new home.
I took a small brush to remove any soil from the glass.
At this point, I took a paper towel and wiped away moisture from the glass.
I placed a few decorative rocks at the base of each MaidenHair fern.

The completed terrarium.

Finally, I held my breath and placed the lid on the terrarium.
I placed the terrarium in a North facing window and hoped that my ferns would survive.

Was this a successful project?

I am delighted to share that my MaidenHair ferns and the ecosystem in the terrarium are doing very well. There is condensation on the glass, and the ferns look beautiful. I just completed this project, so I don’t have long-term progress to report but so far, so good!

 

I am already planning my next terrarium.

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