Building Terrariums

Discuss the science behind building self-sustaining terrariums and why you should do it for fun and botanical discovery.

1. Building Terrariums 🌱
2. Agenda 1. What is a Terrarium? 2. Origin/History 3. How does it work? 4. Ingredients 5. Recipe 6. Care and Maintenance
3. Agenda 1. What is a Terrarium? 2. Origin/History 3. How does it work? 4. Ingredients 5. Recipe 6. Care and Maintenance
4. What is a Terrarium? • Small enclosed environment for growing plants • Emulates a natural ecosystem • Generally kept inside a glass vessel • It can be open or closed • It can contain animals (termed vivarium)
5. Types of Terrariums Closed Open • requires plants that thrive in arid environments • requires more frequent watering • not self-sustaining • can be a ff ected by room temperature • requires plants that thrive in tropical environments • requires less frequent watering • self-sustaining, requires low maintenance • can maintain a stable temperature
6. Agenda 1. What is a Terrarium? 2. Origin/History 3. How does it work? 4. Ingredients 5. Recipe 6. Care and Maintenance
7. • First known terrarium built by botanist Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward in 1842 • Accidental discovery while studying moth behaviour in a sealed glass jar • A fern seedling in the jar grew into a plant • Named it the Wardian Case, later used to transport native plants across countries and continents Origin and History
8. Agenda 1. What is a Terrarium? 2. Origin/History 3. How does it work? 4. Ingredients 5. Recipe 6. Care and Maintenance
9. The Science Water Cycle 💧 Gas Exchange 🫧 Nutrients 💪 Evaporation Condensation Precipitation Photosynthesis Respiration Nitrogen Cycle Soil/Substrate Decomposition
10. Agenda 1. What is a Terrarium? 2. Origin/History 3. How does it work? 4. Ingredients 5. Recipe 6. Care and Maintenance
11. Drainage Layer https://plantedglassterrariums.ca/ Separation Layer Soil/Substrate Layer
12. Layers Drainage Layer Separation Layer Soil/Substrate Layer Potting Soil Aqua Soil/Substrate Activated charcoal Mesh Screen Small pebbles/stones Lava Rock Perlite LECA balls Aerate Soil, drain water, avoid root rot Prevent mixing of soil and drainage layers Provide nutrient rich medium for plant growth
13. Plants Characteristics to look for • Tropical, thrive in humid, moist environments • Compact, won’t grow too long • Low to moderate light requirement • Low nutrient requirement • Non-invasive, can coexist with other plants
14. Green Fittonia Fern Red Fittonia Anubias Nana Petite Moss Pepperomia
15. Microfauna optional, but recommended • The janitors of your ecosystem • Break down dead plant matter • Mold, Fungal spores, Algae is what they live for • Their waste adds nutrients to soil • Recommended for long-term maintenance
16. Springtails Isopods
17. Agenda 1. What is a Terrarium? 2. Origin/History 3. How does it work? 4. Ingredients 5. Recipe 6. Care and Maintenance
19. Agenda 1. What is a Terrarium? 2. Origin/History 3. How does it work? 4. Ingredients 5. Recipe 6. Care and Maintenance
20. Maintenance Tips • Avoid exposure to direct sunlight • Keep an eye on the condensation level • Trim plants when necessary
21. Bonus If I haven’t bored you already
23. World’s Oldest Known Terrarium David Latimer’s Bottle Garden Surrey, 🇬🇧 Created in 1960 Last watered in 1972 Over 60 years old https://biologicperformance.com/sealed-bottle-terrarium-garden-watered-once-53-years/
24. Fin.