How to Make Flower Terrariums
- 1). Prepare a clear plastic or glass container with an opening large enough to make plant placement possible. You can get creative with your choices. Aquariums, jars, vases and even large glasses can make eye-catching terrarium containers.
- 2). Sterilize garden soil prior to use in terrariums. Place about 2 inches of soil in a shallow baking dish and mist it with water. Set the oven temperature to 400 degrees. Cover the baking dish with foil and place it in the oven for about an hour. The heat will kill germs and weed seeds that may be in the soil.
- 3). Mix sterilized garden soil with peat in a one-to-one ratio.
- 4). Fill the bottom of the terrarium container with about 1 inch of gravel. This allows water to drain from the soil mixture.
- 5). Sprinkle 1 tbsp. charcoal over the gravel to keep terrarium odors to a minimum.
- 6). Finish filling the terrarium a quarter of the way with the peat and sterile soil mixture.
- 7). Choose flowering plants that will stay small or grow very slowly to finish your flower terrarium. These plants should have similar care requirements and be able to tolerate humidity well. Your plant choices should also be based on whether you have chosen to create an open or closed terrarium. Some common terrarium plants include miniature begonias, Arabian coffee plant, dwarf rose-stripe earth star, mosaic plant and dwarf creeping fig.
- 8). Place the tallest plant in the terrarium first and build around it with smaller plants. Do not crowd the terrarium. Leave some room for growth and for roots to spread.
- 9). Add water to the terrarium slowly to avoid overwatering. The amount of water added should be approximately equal to a quarter of the container's volume, according to Aggie Horticulture.
- 10
Place the terrarium in a sunny location such as a windowsill and water it sparingly. Closed terrariums may only need to be watered once a year.
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