Transcript Unit 21 Terrariums What is a Terrarium? • It is a container that usually is covered in which plants are grown in. •

Unit 21 Terrariums
What is a Terrarium?
• It is a container that usually is covered in which
plants are grown in.
• The original terrarium was developed by Dr
Nathaniel Ward, a 19th century English Surgeon.
What is a Terrarium?
• As a result of His discovery, Ward began
experienmenting with growing plants in different
containers and sizes. Then He developed the
Wardian Case which turned into the modern
terrarium that we see today.
What is a Terrarium?
• Terrariums were used for two things:
– 1.Transporting of Tropical Flowers that need
protection against the wind and other forces of
nature.
– 2. Growing plants and designing a landscape effect
in a room for decoration.
Selecting a Container
• When selecting a Container there are Five things
that need to be consider.
– 1. Location of the terrarium. A terrarium needs to
harmonize with and accent the furnishings and
materials in that surrounding
– 2.Size of the Terrarium. Size should be chosen in
the relation to the size of the area.
Selecting a Container
– 3. Color of the Glass The chosen glass must allow
sufficient light to reach the plants so that
photosynthesis can occur. Dark glass should be
avoided.
– 4. Size of the container opening. The size of the
opening in the container limits the type of plant which
may be used
Selecting a Container
– 5. Condition of the container. Check to be sure the
container is free from cracks or scratches. It should
also be clean and dry
Preparing the Container for Planting
• Several layers of materials are placed in the
terrarium in preparation for planting. These
include a layer of drainage material sphagnum
moss, charcoal. And soil mix
Preparing the Container for Planting
– 1. Drainage Material Proper drainage is important
to allow the movement of the excess water through
the root zone area.
– Drainage in terrariums can be provided by crushed
stone, pea gravel, washed river gravel or pieces of
broken clay pots.
– The drainage materials are placed directly on the
bottom of the container that you have selected
Preparing the Container for Planting
– 2. Sphagnum moss and charcoal. Sphagnum moss
is composed of sterile leaf and stem tissue from acid
bog plants . You will need to spread a layer of moss
over the drainage material in the container The main
purpose of the moss is to prevent the soil mixture
from seeping into the drainage layer . Then you will
place a thin layer of activated charcoal over the
moss to absorb any odors in the terrarium.
Preparing the Container for Planting
– 3. Soil Mixture : You will then place the soil mixture
over the charcoal layer. You will need to use potting
soil with the proper mixture of perlite and make sure
that it is sterile soil. If you chose to use just regular
dirt from your yard you will then have to put your dirt
on a small cookie sheet and bake it for 30 minutes
at about 180 degrees.
Selecting Plants for the Terrarium
• You will need to look at the size and shape of the
terrarium and make a good observation on what
size plant will work the best in your terrarium.
Selecting Plants for the Terrarium
• Types of Plants:
– 1. Cactus and Succulents: These require a natural
desert conditions and full sun. They don’t require
much humidity so an open container would work
best.
Selecting Plants for the Terrarium
– 2. Woodland Plants: Are native to the forest and
woods. The woodland plants would require similar
conditions to tropical plants. They also require
dense shade, soil with high organic content and
good supply of moisture.
Selecting Plants for the Terrarium
3 Topical Plants: They respond favorably to a
more humid type of terrarium than either cacti or
woodland plants since their natural
environment is the moist tropical regions
Planting the Terrarium
• You will read pages 201 to 204 You will need to
read up to Caring for a Terrarium.
Caring for a Terrarium
• After planting the Terrarium it will need to be
checked daily. You will need to inspect it for
insects, proper light, and moisture and
temperature.
Caring for a Terrarium
• Disorder Symptoms
– Musty Odor To control this just add some more
charcoal to absorb the odor
– Chlorotic and Stunted Growth of Plants This will
result in improper drainage
– Decaying Foliage Will result in improper
ventilation. All you will have to do is set the lid off for
a few days.
Caring for a Terrarium
• Disorder Symptoms
– Brown Foliage Indicates that the plants have not
received enough water
Caring for a Terrarium
• Insects:
– Insects that plague terrariums are :
– White flies: They are all white with white edged
shaped wings White fly will feed on the underside of
the plant
– Mites: Small flies which are difficult to see. To
check for mite insert white paper and tap the plant .
If you don’t see any bugs than you are fine.
Caring for a Terrarium
• Insects:
– Mealy bugs: They are small flat bugs that look like a
small dot of cotton. Mealy bugs will suck all the life
out of a plant. To get rid of the bugs just use a cotton
ball with rubbing alcohol and rub on the leaves.
– Scale insects: They do the same thing as the Mealy
bugs They are brown with a hard shell.
Caring for a Terrarium
• Insects:
– Ants: Will attack a plant by feeding on the roots of
the plant. Will not know if you have ants until the
plant starts to die rapidly.
Caring for a Terrarium
• Other things that you will need watch for are:
Watering
Temperature
Light (Natural or Artificial)
Fertilizers
Prevent any Diseases
Making your own Terrarium
• What you will do:
• You will design about 2-3 terrariums. They will
be made out of pop bottles. You will get bonus
points for bringing in you own bottles. What will
you need to bring from home is rocks or sand for
the drainage and charcoal.
Making your own Terrarium
• As a class we will all study the effect of the
different structures and building of each
terrarium. You will need to observe them for a
week and a half. We will also experiment with
Natural and Artificial light.