Making Terrariums A Demonstration on Great Day St. Louis

I received a call in early September from the producer of Great Day St. Louis asking if I would be willing to discuss terrariums on a segment of the program.  I thought a moment, thinking back to when I last made terrariums ( the 70′s) and said yes, why not.

I scoured home stores and wholesale markets, and even my house to find appropriate containers, both with and without lids to make terrariums.

I ordered  small plants, and went to the pet store to buy aquarium rock and activated charcoal. The dollar store for small figurines and decorations.  Pulled rocks and marbles from my supplies and got to work. 

Once you have all your supplies together, making  terrariums is fast and easy.

List of items needed to build a terrarium:

1.  Container :  Can be glass or clear plastic, open top such  as an brandy snifter vase, or closed top  such as an apothecary jar, can be a found item such as the jelly jar.
2. Rocks, marbles, or aquarium gravel to line the bottom. 
3. Activated charcoal pellets , which is neater than the charcoal powder,  found at pet stores .
4. Sheet or moss
5. Plants:  any small tropical plant which can be purchased at your local florist or plant nursery.
6. Small items to decorate such as toy frogs, turtles, butterflies

Building a terrarium:

1. Clean glass of any labels.
2. Lay down a layer of rock, marbles etc. one two two inches thick
3. Place a thin layer of charcoal pellets on top of rocks, I center mine so the black pellets do not show.
4. Cover the pellets with moss,
5. Remove plant from pot, removing some of the soil from around the roots, separate moss and place plant in hole.
6. Add more moss to top of plants, and decorate with rocks marbles, small toys.

Plants that can used in terrariums:

1. Croton, yellow/green
2. Fittonia, Mini (Nerve)red/pink
3. Fittonia, Mini (Nerve)White
4. Ivy, variegated
5. Maranta, Prayer plant
6. Pothos, golden
7. Palm, Neanthebella
8. Syngonium, Nephthytis 

This a great project for  teachers, Girl Scout and Brownie leaders.  In addition, some people do not have plants because of fear their animals will eat  and get sick, a closed terrarium is a great way to have both plants and animals  in your home.

Click here to view the video.