RHS Miniature Garden Grower by Holly Farrell
pg 40 - 59
- closed terrariums act as ecosystems within a container
- they can be any size
- open terrariums are suitable for the window sill, table or desk
- open terrariums do not leak
- different landscapes can be created within terrariums e.g. 'mossy hills' and 'sandy deserts'
- terrariums are also suitable for showing off a singular plants
- plants will outgrow their homes eventually
- they are a great way to bring greenery indoors
- 'planting just one or two within a container, encourages a closer look at just how amazing plants are'
- highlights the beauty of plants that are usually considered more mundane such as moss and lichen
- 'terrariums and glass containers for land - based life'
- can contain animals such as amphibians and reptiles
- used as a way of displaying houseplants
- originated in the 19th century. Developed from Wardian cases which were small scale sealed green houses which travellers used to bring back plants from expeditions overseas
- closed terrariums can live for many years when sealed e.g. someone made a terrarium in 1960 and has only watered it once and it is still living today
- in 2011 a scientist lived in a glass box with plants for 48 hours at the Eden project
- 'true terrariums' are sealed to create an ecosystem within.
- plants recycle the water so little water has to be added
- normally the water would evaporate but in a terrarium the water cannot so it condenses and falls back into the soil so the plant can take it up again
- the roots of the plants take the water up which is used for photosynthesis then the leaves expel the water though transpiration
- plants take in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis in the day and release oxygen
- then reverse this when using the sugars from photosynthesis which regulates air within the container
- when leaves drop off they add nutrients back into the soil
- vases, apothecry jars, jam jars, lanterns, fish bowls and light bulbs all good for terrarium making
- the container should have no drainage holes
- should be mostly made of glass to allow light to get into it
- will need a lid or stopper to make it a closed terrarium
- three layers of material are needed in the container and should fill up to a third of the container
- first - gravel for drainage, this should be a suitable size for the container. It could be coloured. Moss can be put between this and the soil layer to stop the soil falling down
- second - activated charcoal which filters the water and stops bacteria from growing
- third - potting compost. Seed sowing compost is best for small planters but multipurpose compost can be used if sieved
- moss, gravel, sand or moss is used to cover the top
- consider the width of the entrance to the container as this will dictate what can go inside the terrarium
- a paper funnel can help pour soil, gravel etc
- roots can be trimmed to help the plant fit through the entrance
- tongs or skewers can help move plants around
- plants should be right for the area the terrarium will be placed in
- objects can be used to decorate terrariums. Coloured gravel, natural materials or toys can be used
- open terrariums need water occassionally with a spray bottle
- closed terrariums do not need water but the plants might need pruning and mould needs to be watched out for
- plants that live in places that don't have direct sunlight will work in open or closed terrariums
- ferns can be grown in terrariums
- flowering plants such as Orchids and African violets are best in open terrariums
- cacti are succulents
- they have 'fleshy leaves and stems to store water, spines to deter animals'
- from a desert landscape so work well in sandy terrariums
- wide open topped terrariums are best for cacti
- using different types and sizes of cacti creates variety within a terrarium
- examples include silken pincushion cactus, glaucous barrel cactus and ball cactus
- cacti are slow growing
- cacti will plump up when watered
- they take up a lot of water quickly
- they do not like sitting in water
- carnivourous plants grow in poor soil so get nutrients from insects they trap in their leaves
- venus fly trap traps insects in its leaves
- insects fall into a pitcher plants tubes
- carnivorous plant compost is needed with formulas for different species
- their foliage is delicate
- need to be in a bright and frost free area
- compost always needs to be moist
- only rainwater can be used
- examples include, venus fly trap, sundews, irish butterwort, pitcher plants
- aquariums can be planted in a glass container
- a large jar or open neck vawse is suitable for a water lily
- oxygenating plants can help plants last longer
- gravel can be used to hide the pot
- hair grass can be used as a oxygenating plant
- small lilies are best for aquariums
- moss and lichen are perfect for miniature gardening
- there are 2,000 species in the UK
- they grow on other plants (e.g. tree trunks and branches), wood and stone etc
- 'lichens are actually two or three different organisms living together - a fungus, an algae and / or a cyanobacteria
- symbiotic relationship that is probably beneficial
- ' they live off the air and each other, not whatever it is on which they are growing
- moss and lichen shouldn't be taken from sites of interest
- only small amounts of moss or lichen should be taken to allow them to regrow
- mound or cushion forming mosses are best as they look like hills. They are usually found on roofs, walls and stone / brick. These can be scraped off the surface
- lichens grow on tree branches so have to be removed with a bit of the tree
- moss will live in a closed terrarium whilst lichen needs to be in an open one
- they need bright, indirect light but can also grow in shady areas
- easy to maintain and only need spraying occasionally with water
- twigs can be included in a terrarium for the lichen to grow on. These look like mini trees
- moss can be applied to soil to create a hilly landscape
- vases, apothecry jars, jam jars, lanterns, fish bowls and light bulbs all good for terrarium making
- the container should have no drainage holes
- should be mostly made of glass to allow light to get into it
- will need a lid or stopper to make it a closed terrarium
- three layers of material are needed in the container and should fill up to a third of the container
- first - gravel for drainage, this should be a suitable size for the container. It could be coloured. Moss can be put between this and the soil layer to stop the soil falling down
- second - activated charcoal which filters the water and stops bacteria from growing
- third - potting compost. Seed sowing compost is best for small planters but multipurpose compost can be used if sieved
- moss, gravel, sand or moss is used to cover the top
- consider the width of the entrance to the container as this will dictate what can go inside the terrarium
- a paper funnel can help pour soil, gravel etc
- roots can be trimmed to help the plant fit through the entrance
- tongs or skewers can help move plants around
- plants should be right for the area the terrarium will be placed in
- objects can be used to decorate terrariums. Coloured gravel, natural materials or toys can be used
- open terrariums need water occassionally with a spray bottle
- closed terrariums do not need water but the plants might need pruning and mould needs to be watched out for
- plants that live in places that don't have direct sunlight will work in open or closed terrariums
- ferns can be grown in terrariums
- flowering plants such as Orchids and African violets are best in open terrariums
- cacti are succulents
- they have 'fleshy leaves and stems to store water, spines to deter animals'
- from a desert landscape so work well in sandy terrariums
- wide open topped terrariums are best for cacti
- using different types and sizes of cacti creates variety within a terrarium
- examples include silken pincushion cactus, glaucous barrel cactus and ball cactus
- cacti are slow growing
- cacti will plump up when watered
- they take up a lot of water quickly
- they do not like sitting in water
- carnivourous plants grow in poor soil so get nutrients from insects they trap in their leaves
- venus fly trap traps insects in its leaves
- insects fall into a pitcher plants tubes
- carnivorous plant compost is needed with formulas for different species
- their foliage is delicate
- need to be in a bright and frost free area
- compost always needs to be moist
- only rainwater can be used
- examples include, venus fly trap, sundews, irish butterwort, pitcher plants
- aquariums can be planted in a glass container
- a large jar or open neck vawse is suitable for a water lily
- oxygenating plants can help plants last longer
- gravel can be used to hide the pot
- hair grass can be used as a oxygenating plant
- small lilies are best for aquariums
- moss and lichen are perfect for miniature gardening
- there are 2,000 species in the UK
- they grow on other plants (e.g. tree trunks and branches), wood and stone etc
- 'lichens are actually two or three different organisms living together - a fungus, an algae and / or a cyanobacteria
- symbiotic relationship that is probably beneficial
- ' they live off the air and each other, not whatever it is on which they are growing
- moss and lichen shouldn't be taken from sites of interest
- only small amounts of moss or lichen should be taken to allow them to regrow
- mound or cushion forming mosses are best as they look like hills. They are usually found on roofs, walls and stone / brick. These can be scraped off the surface
- lichens grow on tree branches so have to be removed with a bit of the tree
- moss will live in a closed terrarium whilst lichen needs to be in an open one
- they need bright, indirect light but can also grow in shady areas
- easy to maintain and only need spraying occasionally with water
- twigs can be included in a terrarium for the lichen to grow on. These look like mini trees
- moss can be applied to soil to create a hilly landscape
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