I'm going to share with you how I went about setting it up. It's really simple, really. The most expensive part of the whole project (because I already had the aquarium) was purchasing the plants. If you don't have an aquarium, you can use any clear container that has a cover on it. It doesn't have to be big like mine. A smaller aquarium will work too.
First of all, I cleaned the tank thoroughly. I had to do it in the bathtub because it was so big, but the idea is to make sure it's clean.
Here is the tank after I got it all cleaned out.
Once it's all cleaned out, find a nice place for it to sit. If you don't have artificial light in the cover, you'll need to set it somewhere that it will get light from a window. Also, think about what kind of plants you are going to put in it. That will help determine where you should put the terrarium. Some plants don't need as much light as others, and some require indirect lighting, so take that into consideration when trying to find a place to put it. If you have artificial lighting in the cover like I do, you could maybe brighten up a dark corner in your house with the terrarium. At any rate, make sure your spot is going to be permanent, especially if you're using a big aquarium like mine. It's heavy when completed, and not easily moved.
The first step involves drainage.
You have to have a layer of pebbles, gravel, or small rocks in the bottom for the water to drain into. You don't want your soil sitting on the bottom of the container. The roots of the plants will rot if they sit in water. I used the gravel I had in the fish tank. I took it out and cleaned it thoroughly before putting it back in for the terrarium. It doesn't really matter what you use, you could even use sand for drainage. Make the layer at least an inch in depth, and make sure to rinse whatever you use clean before putting it in your container.
The next step is a thin layer of charcoal. Charcoal
helps keep any decaying matter from smelling. I used a regular aquarium charcoal that's actually activated carbon. You don't need much, just a thin layer over the gravel. You can find the charcoal in the pet section at Walmart by the aquarium supplies.
Next, comes a layer of sphagnum peat moss.
You can use either sphagnum peat moss, or just plain sphagnum moss. Either one will work. The moss is going to help keep your soil out of the drainage area, and it will also help hold moisture inside the terrarium.
Okay, now for the soil. Use any potting soil. Make a layer at least three inches deep. You can be creative here if you want. Make hills and gullies in the soil to add to the appeal of your terrarium.
After you have the soil in, you can start planting your plants. Try to buy plants that all require the same care. Make sure they all have the same lighting and watering needs. A good rule of thumb is to plant the taller plants in the back, smaller ones in the front. Mix colorful plants with variations of greens. Use your imagination, and don't be shy about arranging a few plants together in the store to get an idea of what your plants will look like together.
Here's my finished project. I added a background from the pet
s department in Walmart, and will probably add some decorative stones and whatnot to dress it up a bit, but isn't it beautiful?!Once you have it all together, just use a spray bottle to mist the plants and soil. Do not water heavily. Place the cover on top and enjoy. The terrarium will create it's own humidity, and won't need to be watered hardly at all. If you notice the plants drooping or turning brown, give it a little water, but be very careful not to over water. If you notice condensation on the sides of the container, remove the cover until the condensation disappears.
