Now that school is out, I know the calls for me to baby sit will be more frequent. So I needed a few projects to keep the kiddies busy and entertained.
When I was a kid, I just loved terrarium and I think your kids will as well. To follow is a list of supplies you will need to create three different types of terrariums: 1. A closed soda bottle terrarium; 2. A desert terrarium; and 3. An open terrarium.
Here's what you will need:
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Potting Soil – Use potting soil without amendments such as fertilizer or moisture control medium.
Garden Sand – available at most garden centers (do not use beach sand)
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Sphagnum Peat Moss
Activated Charcoal – available at garden centers and pet stores carrying fish tank supplies
Small Stones, Coarse Sand, Gravel or Small Marbles
Containers – 2 liter soda bottle or large jar with clear cover, tall glass vase, 3 to four inch deep dish or bottom of a gallon milk jug
Small Plants or Rotted cuttings - Button Fern, Artillery Plant, Polka Dot Plant, Jade Plant, Baby Tears Plant, Swedish ivy and Wandering Jew are ideal for closed terrariums. Use high light tropical house plants for the open terrarium and succulents or cacti for the desert terrarium.
Ruler or Tape Measure
Sharp Knife or Scissors
Spanish Moss - optional
Bowls for mixing soil and soaking moss.
Clean all containers with a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water; put some sphagnum peat moss in a cup of water to soak; and water potted plants before starting project.
Soda Bottle Terrarium or Closed Terrarium
- Mark a line around the circumference of the bottle 5 inches from the bottom. Cut the bottle in two using the line as a guide.
- Put a one inch layer of stones or marbles at bottom of the bottle. This is the drainage layer that collects water.
- Add a half inch layer of charcoal. The charcoal acts as a filter and keeps odors from developing.
- Squeeze moss to remove excess water. Add a layer of moss. This moss will prevent the soil from seeping unto the charcoal and stones.
- Pour about 2 cups of soil into a bowl. Slowly add water and mix until soil is evenly moist. Add a three to four inch layer of potting soil.
- Make hole in the center of the soil large enough to accommodate the plant’s root ball. If you are using a potted plant, gently remove as much as possible from soil from around the root ball.
- Place the plant in the hole. If necessary add more soil to the level.
- Slide top of bottle over the bottom. If it is too tight, make a 1/2 inch slits on each piece and fit carefully
- Place the terrarium where it will receive indirect sunlight.
- Keep an eye on the terrarium. Condensation should form on the sides of the bottle within 3 or 4 days. If no condensation forms, add a few table spoons of water.
- After the condensation cycle has started, the terrarium will only need watering every 3 to 4 months. Water the terrarium only when there is no condensation on the sides of the bottle. Water just enough to moisten soil. If water starts to collect at the bottom of the bottle, stop watering.
Open Terrarium
Follow steps 2 through 7. Optional: add a layer of Spanish moss on top. Place terrarium in sunny window or where it will receive direct sunlight for most of the day. Water when soil is dry.
Desert Terrarium
Mix together one part sand and two parts potting soil. You can also use cactus potting soil.
Follow steps 2 through 7. Optional: Add a thin layer of stones or gravel on top.Water terrarium about once per month and only if soil is dry.
Over the summer, I will share with you a few of the projects I have available for my temporary charges. In the meantime, haves fun with the kids creating these terrariums!
