You want to create your own terrarium tropical ? It's possible and quite easy if you follow all the following steps carefully.

The material needed to compose a terrarium

• Glass jar with cork, glass or wooden lid

• Universal potting soil

• Pozzolan or clay balls

• Activated carbon

• Sphagnum

• One to three tropical plants (Ficus Microcarpa, Fittonia,..) or carnivores

• Foam Ball

• Decorative pebbles

• Some tools: A soup spoon, chopsticks, a pair of scissors, a paintbrush

1.The choice of the glass jar

The jar used should not be chosen at random, it must be adapted to the plants you select. If you use a jar that is too narrow, your plants will not be able to flourish in it or you risk repotting them a few months later in a larger jar. The glass must be completely transparent and not very thick in order to let light pass through. On the other hand, the opening must be wide enough for handling, when installing the plants and then for maintenance. If it is a jar found in your attic, remember to rinse it well and clean it with a clean cloth.

2. Steps to follow

The basement: Drainage

The drainage system is very important for all plants, but even more so for a terrarium, because, with no water evacuation possible, drainage becomes fundamental. It thus prevents the roots from being in direct contact with the water.

To do this, you can use pozzolan (volcanic rock), gravel or small clay balls. Spread this drainage layer evenly to about 1 and a half cm in height.

The soil: Substrate

Before adding the potting soil, we must create an insulating layer with sphagnum, which will allow it to be separated from the pozzolan and absorb maximum moisture (up to 8 times its volume!). Sphagnum moss also helps prevent the development of bacteria thanks to its very high acidity level.
You can then incorporate the potting soil using a funnel or a small shovel. You will stop when your jar is 1/3 full.

Choice of plants to compose your terrarium

Before integrating your plants, imagine your miniature landscape from the outside, remembering that a terrarium must be admired from the front and not seen from above. You should therefore ideally combine 1 tall plant and 1 or 2 small plants.

You can also create a small hill, with for example 2-3 cm of earth at the front and 4-5 cm at the back.

Dig using a tablespoon where you want to plant your plants.

Scrape the rootball of your first small plant, paying attention to the roots in order to remove a good part of its substrate, moisten it if the roots are too dry then plant it in your terrarium. Be careful, the leaves of the plant must not touch the wall of the jar. Repeat the operation for all your plants.

Also add a ball moss which will not only give a hilly side to your indoor garden, but above all allow to check the humidity level of the terrarium. As soon as the moss turns yellow, it will be time to water it.

Finally, finish with a decorative touch by integrating a few small pebbles or pebbles that you have previously cleaned.

And there you have it, your moist terrarium is ready :)

Note: Although the terrarium is almost self-sufficient and requires very little maintenance, the few small actions to be taken afterwards are very important, so don't forget to follow our practical maintenance guide here.