6 tips for creating a natural terrarium

Looking for tips and tricks to make a natural terrarium? Today we are going to talk about these particular environments and their maintenance. On the program, a list of recommendations that you can apply to your terrarium to keep it healthy.

Tip n°1: realization of the terrarium

To assemble and install a terrarium, there are techniques as well as the possibility of using certain materials such as peat blocks or substrates .

That said, it is creativity that will differentiate one beautiful terrarium from another. And if you have some means and resources at hand, you can manage to do very beautiful things.

Ideally, do not limit yourself to a single technique. Try to think creatively, have an open and curious mind! Test multiple things: you can very well stack stones, put a root or hide plants!

Tip #2: Grow Green Moss

Do not harvest moss in the forest

One of the first things to remember with moss is that it often turns yellow. Then, take care not to pick them up in the forest. First, because it is forbidden.

But also because forest mosses are not made to be in a tropical and humid terrarium. This is also why they generally end up turning yellow and withering away: they are made to have seasonal cycles.

Prioritize aquarium mosses

As an alternative to forest moss, we therefore recommend using aquarium moss for best results. Indeed, aquarium mosses generally come from tropical regions.

This type of moss lives very well in terrariums. And, where there is moisture, they will develop perfectly. Keep your terrarium healthy and eye-catching with green moss!

Tip #3: Automate your terrarium

We particularly recommend automating the terrarium and, by extension, cycling. To do this, you can use dedicated equipment or turn to the small one-minute programmers offered by DIY stores and supermarkets.

These accessories usually only cost a few euros, and allow you to have natural cycles for the small ecosystem of your terrarium. And for good reason, plants and animals need such cycles to stay healthy.

Program the times when your terrarium will turn on or off. In this way, the life of the pump will be optimized. At the same time, it allows you to have more humidity during the day, a little less at night.

Tip #4: Add substrate to your terrarium

If you want to make a vegetated tag or if you plan to plant plants, adding substrate can be an excellent alternative. Among other things, this will precisely limit mold problems that could affect the entire terrarium.

Adding substrate will promote the root development of your plants while limiting the appearance of fungi, parasites, etc.

The base

First, there is the base. The base must also be composed of peat , coconut fiber, earth, fog. We're going to add sand. The sand will lighten your substrate and drain it. It is important.

The barks

Then you have to add peel. You have a lot of possibilities: coconut bark, pine bark, etc. A few centimeters which will allow the substrate to be aerated.

sphagnum

Finally, and very important, is sphagnum moss and its extraordinary powers. It will be able to retain water. Sphagnum can retain 20 times the capacity of its weight, it has a low enough pH which will make your soil acidic.

Tip #5: Add Scavengers

These are almost essential elements for the terrarium. Indeed, they will participate in the washing and cleaning of the latter. At the same time, detritivores will also produce humus.

Some examples of scavengers:

• springtails,
• woodlice,
• cockroaches,
• earthworms

In other words, it will be the basic fertilizer that will enrich the soil while promoting plant growth. This is super important because it will consume the organic waste present in your terrarium

Finally, you can optionally add some charcoal in it. This will limit the appearance and development of bacteria and other microbes. However, this is not mandatory.

Tip n°6: choose the right water for the terrarium

Use an osmosis

For terrariums, the ideal is always to use reverse osmosis water. Reverse osmosis units for filtering water are usually found in garden centers.

Among other things, this will allow only the smallest minerals such as calcium and magnesium, as well as water molecules, to pass through. Before passing through an osmotic membrane, the reverse osmosis system passes water through several filters.

Use rainwater

If you don't have the option of buying an osmosis unit, you can always use rainwater. That will also do the trick. However, take care to let it sit for at least 24 hours. It will probably need to be cleaned a little more often, but you can do that.

Use tap water

As much as possible, we recommend to avoid using tap water for your terrarium: it is not good for this one. Water from taps is very rich in metals. Among other elements, it contains heavy metals, chlorine and limestone.

Now, if you use tap water, that won't kill your plants either. If you have no choice, be sure to let it sit for a while before pouring it on your plants.

Hygrometry: a parameter not to be neglected in a terrarium

Finally, it is important to keep in mind that the hygrometry must be regularly checked. For optimal maintenance and depending on their origin and species, terrarium animals need certain levels of humidity and temperature.

These levels can be easily monitored with a device like the TerraControl , a terrarium thermometer.

Conclusion

Installing and maintaining a terrarium is a real pleasure, a real passion. You can create your little corner of nature in a jar or an aquarium, and develop an entire ecosystem. In any case, we are convinced that it is definitely worth a try!

There are now more and more terrarium enthusiasts, many of whom have several in their homes. Their installations even transformed the decor into something fantastic!

We wish you a lot of fun!