A Small Jar Contains A Cool World
A terrarium is one things that should be a staple in any child’s bedroom. What is a terrarium you might be asking? It’s a tiny glass enclosed universe filled with plants and toy creatures.
A terrarium can open a door to another world, while offering kids a lesson in ecology. The ones listed below can be assembled by chldren of almost any age, and they don’t require a green thumb to make them. All they need is light, the occasional watering, and a fertile imagination.
Assembling a terrarium: The process for creating any terrarium is basically the same. It’s simple enough for kids around four and up to do. It’s even better if you make it a family project, here’s how:
1. Lay out your ingredients on a newpaper; you will need potting soil, horticultural charcoal from a nursery, which keeps stagnant water from stinking), a toy layer of sheet moss for a moist terrarium, sand or pebbles for an arid one, a container (glass), plants, and some random decorations.
2. Spread a layer of charcoal in the bottom of the container (about 1/4 inch deep for a small container and 1/2 inch deep for a large one.) Top with a layer of potting soil (from 1/2 inch deep for shallow-rooted plants to 2 inches deep for larger plants). If you are making a mossy terrarium, put down a layer of sheet moss, folding and gathering it to create little hills and dales.
3. Remove the plants from their pots and dig them into the soil. For moist containers, pierce the moss with yor hand and place the plants inside. For dry ones, plant into the soil, then cover the surface with sand, pebbles, or both.
4. Add toys, rocks, etc. Then pour a cup or so of water over the top. If there’s standing liquid after a few hours, just water less next time.
5. Your plants will need to be cut back or replaced eventually, but eith the right care (about a cup of water once a month) and in the right light (bright but filtered), they’ll be part of your children’s indoor playground for years to come. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
•The Starter Terrarium: A terrarium can be as simple as a bit of mossy greenery. Collect moss from a forest or your yard, and arrange it in a lidded jar. With the lid left on, it should only need water once every couple of weeks.
• The Nature Terrarium: Take a bell jar and place it over carnivorous plants such as venus flytraps. Use twigs and stones and even add an artifical bird’s nest and fake bugs. With the container closed it will help keep moisture in the container that the plants need to survive.
• The Wild Terrarium: With ferns and big-leaved tropical plants such as a alocasia creates a feel and look of a jungle. Add some plastic dinosaurs or large insects. Use an old-fashioned Wardian case that has a sturdy door for watering and placing actual live insects to the mix. Be sure you know exactly what your live insect or bug requires in order to stay alive before introducing them to the terrarium.
• The Sea Terrarium: Pairing succulents with seashells and gain a sea look to your terrarium. Succulents can withstand less water than normal plants. Pair these with sea shells and sea start as well as sea creatures and driftwood. It is better to use succulents in an open container so they can breath.
• The Free-Spirit Terrarium: Use a purple passion plants or orchids, even fake ones gain the same appeal. Add fairy figurines, baubles, and fake eggs. Put all these ingredients into a genie-bottle looking apothecary jar with a fluted bottom to gain full effect.
• The Other World Terrarium: Air plants, such as spiky hot pink and purple ones, don’t even need soil to thrive. Add these with some dark pebbels and robot toys create a life on mars type of feel to this terrarium. Add all this to a glass fishbowl without a lid to keep the environmetn nice and dry.
*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Use natural, not artificial, fragrances. Most of the sprays on the market anymore are artificial and could cause harm when inhaled. Using essential oils and an oil diffuser is the best earth-friendly and lung-friendly to go.
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