Ever wondered what was that missing element of your home? Well, if you are on your toes trying to find the answer, and have no qualms about dirtying your hands, build your own terrarium. It will instantly create a vibrant ambience, giving your dull living space a big dose of energy.
There is no better way to add a splash of colour and zeal to your home than with a corsage of blooming cacti, funky succulents, intricate ferns or marshy mosses – orchestrated into a fishbowl, old bottles, mason jars you found lying around at home, or even broken mugs you have been wanting to throw out.
The best part? You get to customise it yourself – they are super easy to put together, require very little care and will fit perfectly into your home, like an artisan with his own indoor masterpiece of home gardening.
Back in school, you would remember having built a sort of terrarium in science class to exhibit the working of an ecosystem. Of course, the aesthetics of terrariums have changed since their origin, dating back to the Victorian era. Terrariums today are ubiquitous, uber chic and a millennial trend brought back through various channels of social media. Today, owning a terrarium isn’t just enough for your Instagram feed, it would have to be unique, unheard of, or ornately decorated. Some of the trending terrariums for this season are miniature terrariums, bonsai terrariums, underwater terrariums, mossariums, narrative terrariums or even artificial terrariums.
Terrariums are ideal for everyone – whether you live in a smaller home without space for a full garden or want an indoor garden without having to worry about maintaining it on a regular basis. Terrarium is ideal for even those who do not have a green thumb, as it requires minimal maintenance – like a spritz of water every once in a while and muted sunlight.
So, if you are intrigued by this new activity and searching for a guide/manual in making one for yourself, loved ones or as a gift for your humble abode, here is a quick step by step method:
Step 1: You will have to acquire any open container, which can house the plant species and also fit perfectly into your home. There are many choices you could consider – fish bowls, mason jars, mugs, fancy beverage bottles that you have grown attached to and cannot throw out, glass bottles, geometrically shaped vases, bowls or even old light bulbs, anything that is dimmable. If you want to kick it up a notch and stick to trends, try an enclosed glass case that can be opened and closed as and when required.
Step 2: The next step is to decide the type of terrarium you wish to make; this is where you unleash the creative machine in you. Choosing between mossy greens, desert plants or even ferns and wildflowers could be a few of the options. The easy way out would be to plant succulents or cacti, as they are the easiest to maintain, requiring dry and humid environments, very little care and very little sunlight.
Step 3: Now the building process begins! Once you have decided on your choice of container and obtained the plants you wish to grow, you will need some rocks/pebbles, activated charcoal, and some good ole’ soil. The process is a four-layer one – first the rocks for a proper drainage system in case you water them a little too much, then the activated charcoal, which helps in the growth of good bacteria and is an added drainage measure. The third layer is the nutritious soil; be sure to add a proper amount – at least more than 2-3 inches. Finally, add a few pebbles and start planting! Take precautionary measures and wear protective gloves when handling cacti!
Step 4: Go crazy with your customisations; add different crystals, shapes, wildflowers, miniature dolls, placement cards with handwritten notes, or even fairy lights. Hang it up, or prop them on tables, shelves stands to make it the perfect showpiece in your living room, bedroom or kitchen. The possibilities of variations are endless, you can personalise them as a gift with wordings and decals on the glass, try out different types of plant species in one bowl, or even make an underwater terrarium if you’re willing to go the extra mile.
Doesn’t seem tedious anymore does it? There are many such home gardening projects you could try out. A very popular one would be ‘herb gardening’, where you grow your own herbs. The process is almost the same; you could either plant seeds or purchase them from the corner nursery. Growing plants indoors will give your space an almost Zen-like feel; pleasing to the eye, clean and fresh to the touch.