Learn All About a Closed Terrarium with our Guide
The first closed Terrarium was invented accidentally by English Botanist, Dr Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward in 1842, while he was raising moth pupa in a sealed jar. He had neglected the jar and when he returned to it sometime later, he noticed the ferns and moss he had placed in the jar as an environment for the moths were surviving without adding more water. The longest living closed terrarium was built by David Latimer and it has lasted 53 years. Terrariums are an excellent minimal care and decorative option for the home. They add an elegant and unique touch to any room and make excellent gifts.
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Light |
Terrariums prefer bright indirect light, however can tolerate lower light levels. |
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Watering |
Once constructed a closed Terrarium should not require watering. Water is added when the Terrarium is being built. Once sealed the Terrarium creates it’s own atmosphere and eco system. As it gets warmer inside the jar the moisture inside evaporates and condensates around the top before trickling back down thus continually watering the plants. Getting this process to work correctly can be tricky so it is best to monitor a newly built terrarium closely until you are happy this process is working correctly. |
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Humidity |
Closed Terrariums naturally produce their own high humidity levels inside the glass jar so there is no need to mist them. |
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Temperature |
An average room temperature of 15-21c is perfectly fine for a closed Terrarium. Avoid placing them in direct sunlight, beside radiators or too close to other heat sources as this will be too hot for them. |
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Fertilizer |
As the plants in sealed Terrariums grow slow and stay relatively small, there is no need for fertilizer. |
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Toxicity |
The toxicity of a Terrarium depends on the plants that are inside them. However as they are typically made of glass we recommend to keep them of the reach of pets and small children. |
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Additional Care Information |
If you notice your Terrarium has too much condensation that does not clear naturally by itself then remove the lid for a couple of hours. If your closed Terrarium does not condensate at all then it may not contain enough moisture. Mist it carefully and sparingly with a spray bottle and repeat in a few days if it still does not form any condensation. It is important to note that Cactus and Succulents are not suitable for a sealed Terrarium as the high humidity levels will cause them to rot. |
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Troubleshooting |
During construction a layer of activated carbon is added to stop the Terrarium going mouldy. If green algae is growing on the glass this indicates the sealed Terrarium is too wet. Remove the algae with a clean cloth and allow it to air for a few hours before returning the lid to its usual position. If the plants are out growing the closed Terrarium you can either prune or remove them and replace with smaller plants. If the plants have brown spots or are going soft remove the dead parts of the plants. |
The information above is written by Plantila and should be used as a guide only. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you need any additional advice. If you have purchased a plant at Plantila that's not doing so well please send us a picture via WhatsApp to 028 42 798478 and we will try to help.
