November 22nd 2022

Plant terrariums, we can't get enough of them. And we're not the only ones, because they're immensely popular.There are different varieties of terrariums: open, half-open and closed. This week we'll answer all your frequently asked questions about these popular mini-jungles: FAQ plant terrariums.

There are different types of terrariums. The open, half-open and closed variant. The different varieties require different care. For example, a closed terrarium hardly needs any attention after the bottle has been closed. The plants create their own ecosystem that runs itself. The open and half-open terrarium occasionally need a helping hand.

Most plant terrariums are not very large and therefore it can be a precise job to get the plants into it properly. To work neatly and to get everything right in the bottle, a few handy tools are indispensable. Starter tool no. 1: fork & shovel. With these tools you divide the different layers over the soil, make room for plants or carefully press the soil. They create the basis for your terrarium. To give a finishing touch and to move things around, a pair of tweezers is very handy. They are long and strong, so you can reach anything, even in large bottles. Finally we want to keep the inside of the bottle nice and clean. By using a funnel, the sand and carbon will not blurr the terrarium’s glass. At (half) open terrariums you can occasionally prune plants with terrarium scissors to prevent overgrowth. Tip: make it really easy for your customer with the do-it-yourself plant terrarium set. These starter kits contain all the necessities for a first terrarium. Includes stones, carbon, sand, a shovel & fork and a funnel. All supplies (except the plants) are included.

Making a terrarium starts with choosing a bottle you like and which suits. The choice depends on type of plants and on interior and style. Should it be open, semi-closed or a closed system. Bottles are available in a range of 3 to 55 liters and available in green and transparent versions. Is this the first terrarium for your customer? Advise to start with a small size, up to 15 liters. The balance and climate will be easier to achieve.

The open terrarium bottle looks a lot like the closed and half open version. The difference is, as the name says, this one is permanently open due to the opening at the front of the bottle. This variant is not self-sufficient and needs occasionally water, because the fact that the bottle is not closed. Easy on the water, this depends of course on the used plant. Plants that do well in an open terrarium are plants that allow the soil to dry out, such as cacti, succulents and certain small trees. As long as they don't like too humid conditions. Another variation is the The hydroponic pot that makes the plant to do all the work. The pot consists of two parts: the outside and the 'inside container' in which you place the plant. And that is it.

The half open alternative is, with some instructions, very easy to make yourself. It is important that you choose plants that like high humidity. Suitable plants for a half open terrarium are, for example: - Venus flycatcher (Dionaea Muscipula) - Cape sundew (Drosera Capensis ) - Pitcher plant (Sarracenia) Carnivorous plants get their nutrients from the insects they digest. That is why it is important to remove the cork from the glass every once in a while. Then leave it off for a week or two. Due to the high humidity and the fact that the glass is open from time to time, the plants grow quickly. This creates an ideal living climate. Sometimes it is therefore necessary to cut away the shoots.

A closed terrarium can, in contrast to the open and half-open terrariums, grow into a self-sufficient mini-ecosystem. Water is added to the bottle before the jar is closed. This water evaporates but cannot escape from the bottle or pot, and drips back into the soil so that the plants can absorb it again through the roots. Due to the constant evaporation, the humidity in a closed terrarium is high, so use all plants that like a moist air, for example Asplenium Nidus, Hypoestes Phyllostachya and Phlebodium Aureum. Dying leaves of the plants are converted into nutrients and the plants in the terrarium take up these substances again. External factors that a closed terrarium requires are light and heat. Then you can enjoy your own mini jungle.

For an optimal result, a terrarium needs a good foundation. Here you can read step-by-step how this foundation is built up. All tools are available separately, but for those who like the easy way, offer the do-it-yourself plant terrarium set mentioned above. Or an even more easy way: offer your customers an already prepared terrarium incl. plants.

First you create a drainage layer at the bottom of your terrarium. For the drainage layer use stones. After that: add activated charcoal that will ensure that bad bacteria and fungi will stay away. Finally, you add the plant terrarium soil on top of the other layers. Then it is time to add plants.

Which plants are suitable depends on the type of the terrarium. If you want to play it safe, especially for the closed terrarium, advise plants that like high humidity and choose plants that do not grow too fast. The number of plants that can live together in a bottle depends on the size of the bottle. Preferably, choose fewer plants (two is enough in a small bottle), so that there is enough space, water, air and nutrition in the bottle for them. If there are too many plants in one bottle, the plants will compete with each other and one will eventually die.