Making the terrarium is a fun process, bringing it home brings with it a sense of satisfaction. But in a few days, things can go awry and it can be very depressing when the terrarium you just made is struggling to make a living inside the new environment you put it in. Today, we are going to bring your awareness to some common issues that could be jeopardizing the health of your terrarium plant. Let’s begin operation save the terrarium now!
How Much Water Floats Your Boat?
So what would be the recommended water diet for the terrariums? For a closed terrarium, there should be water droplets on the glass jar as a result of condensation; this is a good sign that the water level is right. Otherwise, it would be prime time to water the plant. As for an open terrarium, if the leaves or stem seem soft or rotten then you can stop watering it and let it dry out. And for succulents, if the soil is a bit dry, it is also fine. A general rule of thumb, closed terrariums need 1-2 tablespoon of water every 2-3 months and open terrariums need 4-5 tablespoon of water every 5-7 days.
The Sun
Vitamin D is good but too much of anything is always bad. Plants like Fittonia are prone to sunburn so you have to take note of what type of plant you have and google for the appropriate sunlight it requires. For most terrarium plants, usually fluorescent light should suffice and direct sunlight would be too intense with the glass bowl acting as a magnifying glass to intensify the already strong sunlight. You know how we learn in science class to not put a magnifying glass over the plant or you might actually start a fire? So start now on your own beloved terrarium.
Too hot for the terrarium
The Sun is not the only hot object that you need to be wary of. Be mindful of where you place your terrarium. While the positioning for light is paramount, take note of any radiator source, as the heat expelled is not good for the plants. Positions such as the exit of the computer fan, near the modem or the television, these objects radiate heat and anywhere near these objects will be bad for the terrarium. This is not a plant for cooking, so keep it away from being heated.
Remove the toxicity
Same principles as dealing with toxic people, you have to remove those who are endangering the well being of others. If a plant is dying or the leaves have started to rot, it would be best to remove it as soon as possible to prevent the plague from spreading throughout the entire plant or the entire terrarium. And remember when removing the plant to ensure that you cause minimal destruction to the roots of other plants in the terrarium, and to remove all air pockets in the soil by compressing it.
If after all this you still are unable to determine the problem with your terrarium, I can recommend two last courses of action. 1. Get your mum to save the plant; I believe in the know it all abilities of mothers. 2. Post on social media and hope for the netizens to decipher the issue for you. With this, I hope your terrarium will live a long and prosperous life.