Closed Terrarium

Blue Onion · January 2023

I built a closed terrarium yesterday - my first one ever. The internet is awash with information on building them, but I struggle to see much information or images of the example terrarium after several months. Just lots of freshly made ones.

I planted it up, and left the lid off all night to make sure the leaves were dry prior to replacing the lid. It's been a bit foggy this afternoon, but not large droplets.. and is currently clearing back up again. So maybe I have the water right.

I planted an unknown variety of fern and unknown variety of moss (from big box DIY store, the only place around aside from the grocery store that sells house plants).

I would love some general advice on keeping it happy, and pictures of your own mature terrariums.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/xz/8iromv4fdzhp.jpeg

Fairygirl · January 2023

Looks good @Blue Onion.
Not something I've ever done, although my sister used to have them.
I think the girl on Beechgrove did an item on them - open and closed. I don't know if it would be worth your while trying to find it? There's usually a factsheet thingy they do on each programme, and you can subscribe to it, or -you used to be able to. Not sure if it's ongoing .
Sorry - that wasn't really much help!

Here's a link if you want to have a look. You might be able to put in 'terrarium' to narrow it down
https://www.beechgrove.co.uk/factsheets

LG_ · January 2023

More for inspiration than information, probably: James Wong's Instagram https://instagram.com/botanygeek/

Other than that I would probably go for YouTube and/or Instagram and search for terrarium maintenance or long-term terrarium etc.

bédé · January 2023

The fern looks like a native hard fern, Blechnum spicant. It likes moisture at some tiimes of the year, but at others it survives drying out. In the West Country it grows on stone walls and on tree branches. So not the obvoius candidate for a closed, wet environment,

But good luck, it starts off looking most attractive. It's the right size. Keep us posted.

MikeOxgreen · January 2023

David Latimer owns the Worlds oldest terrarium at over 50yrs old, Google that for some interesting reading.

Buttercupdays · January 2023

I made one last autumn. I already had the container, a nice hexagonal one, but the lid has gone missing, so it is open but still gets some protection. I just bought a random selection of plants on from an ebay supplier and they were really good. I made up my own compost mix and so far everything seems to be happy. I've only needed to water a small amount a couple of times.

Lyn · January 2023

They became very popular in the 1970’s. My ex and I used to make them, plant them up and sell them. We had a lovely little nursery close by that sold the plants, very small 2/3” pots. I would just put charcoal in the bottom, then compost, plant them up, water the compost and spray the plants and close the lid.
Carboys were very popular then which I think is probably what Latimer has but I don’t think he can claim it as the worlds oldest at 50 years old.

When they first became fashionable they were called Edwardian Cases, Charles Darwin used them to bring plants back home from far off countries when the ships took months to get back.

JennyJ · January 2023

That's lovely @Lyn .

I thought they were called Wardian cases, after the inventor, but maybe that's something different?

Lyn · January 2023

Absolutely right @JennyJ. Long time ago now for me. 😉

MikeOxgreen · January 2023

MikeOxgreen said:

David Latimer owns the *Worlds oldest terrarium at over 50yrs old, Google that for some interesting reading.

*In that he planted it out back then and it's still alive.

Asarum · January 2023

@Blue Onion I think your fern is more likely to be the Boston Fern, Nephrolepis. I had one once in a hanging basket indoors and the fronds grew to 2 or 3 feet! But it should be ok for a while.

Closed Terrarium

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