Houseplants: Terrariums

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Chickadee12 Brookfield, CT (Zone 5b) March 8, 2009 09:53 PM	I want to try making a terrarium for my new Jewel orchid (http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/150649/). What kind of plants do well in this situation? I'll probably add a fern and maybe a venus flytrap would be cool. What kind of maintenance do terrariums need? Also, if you were making one of these, what kind of plants would you use? I can't wait to hear everyone's ideas. First I know I need to find a suitable container, so until then this thread will get the creative juices flowing.
threegardeners North Augusta, ON March 8, 2009 10:03 PM	I wouldn't put in a venus Flytrap. I find them way too fussy. I wrote a couple of articles on Terrariums...maybe they can help? http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/616/ http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/619/
Lambs_Place Hemet, CA (Zone 8b) April 11, 2009 05:02 AM	Hi Chickadee!Hi ThreeGardeners! Nice to meet ya guys!I just wanted to say that I am in a predicament similar to yours Chickadee,I have a container but no plants!I looked through threegardener's articles and I found them useful (I didn't know you could use wine glasses or plastic salad bowls!) but I still don't know where to buy plants!Do you two gardeners know of a website where you can buy mini plants? For you Chickadee,I think plants that love moisture like Orchids do would work (sorry I bet you already knew that huh?sorry!) but um...i would pick plants such as "Baby Tears","Irish Moss" which makes nice ground cover,Ferns like you said,or even "Hoya" which I have read from many websites is almost indestructible lol http://www.violetbarn.com/hoyas.htm Here is a website I used when getting all my stuff together for my empty fish tank I have,I hope it will help you to! http://www.stormthecastle.com/terrarium/beginners-guide-to-a... If you REALLY REALLY want a Meat eater...I think a Pitcher Plant would be cool!Only thing I wonder about is if they eat nats or little buggies that sometimes end up in terrariums?Perhaps Threegardeners knows...?Here is a pitcher plant I found for ya...i personally like the purple one ^-^ http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TPAEI4?ie=UTF8&tag=stor... GOOD LUCK!!!
tommyr2006 Poughkeepsie, NY April 11, 2009 02:57 PM	Venus flytraps will eventually die in there. They need direct Sun all day and a yearly 4-5 month dormant period. Maybe try a small Lowland Nepenthes instead.
Laurie19 Caledonia, OH April 15, 2009 09:04 AM	Hey you might like to read this, is pretty cool just wanted to share this. http://www.stormthecastle.com/terrarium/tabasco-bottle-terra...
tommyr2006 Poughkeepsie, NY April 15, 2009 04:21 PM	Cool!
Laurie19 Caledonia, OH July 5, 2009 05:20 AM	I came across that website by accident. I thought it was so neat. The only thing is I can't seem to find those seeds they had. oh well keep looking right. :)
plantladylin (Zone 9b) July 6, 2009 07:05 PM	When you have time, scroll through some of the older threads here on the Terrarium Gardening Forum for some great ideas too: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/terrariums/all/ At one time I had probably had a dozen or more glass jars/vases planted up as terrariums. I still have a few as well as a 10 gal aquarium with a hood and light. Many plants do well in terrarium situations. Here's a site that gives a list of great plants for different sizes of terrariums: http://www.thegardenhelper.com/terrarium~plants.html And, this is good info for caring for terrariums: http://www.thegardenhelper.com/terrarium.html I've never purchased from this site but they carry small plants suitable for terrarium culture: http://www.glasshouseworks.com/terrariumplants.html I found them listed in the Garden Watchdog: http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/154/ so you can scroll down the page and check out feedback from previous customers before deciding to purchase. I have always just purchased small houseplants from Wal-Mart or Home Depot and when they begin to grow too large and take over the terrarium I pinch them back to keep them to a desired size. Terrarium are such fun to plant and a great rainy day project to do with children. Give them a little jar with a lid (preferably plastic for very young children, even a large Plastic Mayonnaise jar works.) Let them choose a small plant of their choice and maybe a little resin/ceramic turtle, frog, bunny etc. and let them create their own little garden. Terrariums require very little care once established. If the container has a lid, you don't have to water as often as you do without a lid or cover. If the container comes with no lid, a piece of saran wrap over the top will suffice. Just remember if a lot of moisture builds up, vent the edge once in awhile to let it dry a bit. If the container has no light attached you can sit it near a window for natural light, or under a table lamp. If the terrarium has a light (like my aquarium) you can pretty much place it anywhere there's access to a plug. If anyone decides to play around and plant up a terrarium I hope you will take photo's to share by posting them on the Terrarium Gardening Forum!
joycerogers0713 Poplarville, MS (Zone 8b) July 11, 2009 01:30 PM	Years ago I grew a mini african violet in a brandy snifter. Also larger voilets in large round clear bowls. I first added washed aquarium gravel (neutral color), then a 1/4 inch layer of aquarium charcoal (helps purify the soil) then added the potting soil shaping it into a mound (to keep water from setteling at the crown of the plant). Had them for years!
Laurie19 Caledonia, OH July 16, 2009 01:19 AM	neat that sounds really cool. i wish i could have seen it.

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