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To all houseplant enthusiasts; if you’re looking for things to make at home, that also liven up your home, terrarium kits are perfect for you. They are the ideal opportunity to have low maintenance houseplants that require little watering and care. What more could you want? If you’re looking for what to do this weekend, a live online class on how to make terrarium kits, with everything you need delivering to your doorstep, is waiting for you!
A brief history of terrariums
An iconic home decor staple of the 1970s, terrariums are coming back for good. The word terrarium originates from Latin, meaning "enclosed land/earth". This definition encapsulates perfectly what they are! Originally, terrariums came about by a botany accident in 1842. Botanist Nathanial Bagshaw Ward observed bugs in a jar and left one unattended. A fern spore grew in the jar, and germinated into a plant, becoming the first terrarium. Instead of being called a terrarium, it was known as a Wardian case. They quickly became a new trend, much like their resurgence today, ferns have also remained a popular choice of plant to include.
Try a terrarium workshop, and see what the fuss is all about!
Terrariums are becoming increasingly popular, unsurprisingly as they are a beautiful, contemporary, and a creative way to incorporate plants into your home. If you make your own terrarium, this means you will have a unique, one of a kind terrarium, that reflects your personality and showcases your favourite plants!
Not only do they create a lovely addition to your home interior, but they are also a miniature garden that fully functions as a tiny self-sustaining plant ecosystem. Think of them as a mini greenhouse. They water themselves through transpiration and condensation. If you live in a flat without a garden, this is an easy way to enjoy gardening without one. They are also perfect if you’re on the go and busy, or for those who struggle to keep house plants alive (I know, it’s sad to admit but we have all been there), as they require far less care and attention than houseplants. As well as being the perfect ornament to brighten up your interior, they make a lovely personalised gift.
Types of terrarium kits
Terrariums come in all shapes and sizes, usually, they get their names depending on the plants you use and type of vessel you keep them in. The possibilities are endless, but we’re going to cover our favourite three terrarium kits, which include: open terrariums with succulents or cacti, closed tropical terrariums, and any houseplants you fancy. It’s entirely up to you, so choose whatever piques your interest, and benefits you and your home!
Closed terrariums
Closed terrariums are more suitable for tropical, exotic plants that would not grow otherwise. They require high humidity, temperature, and moisture so that they can imitate the natural water cycle and be self-sufficient! Arguably the most fun, as they make accessible the widest variety, and most difficult of plant species that don’t often thrive outside their native climate.
Succulent and cacti terrariums
Succulent and cacti terrariums are very popular. Succulents tend to have a bad reputation for being a difficult plant to look after, due to thriving in desert conditions. For this reason, they have to be open glass terrariums as they would rot in a humid closed terrarium. They require almost no maintenance, as they need an environment that starves them of water. Ideal, right?
Houseplant terrariums
The simplest terrarium kit is the houseplant terrarium. These miniature gardens accommodate a few houseplants that can tolerate humidity and shade. Even chronic plant killers can care for them! By attempting to reproduce and recreate a natural environment for them, this gives us less responsibility to look after them and makes them self-sufficient. Usually, with open glass, they are laid out in a decorative fashion, unique to your tastes. Terrariums are a more innovative, yet still simple, creative way to display houseplants in any eye-catching formation.
Benefits of a DIY terrarium
Besides the obvious that terrariums look amazing, there are several other benefits to making a terrarium. They’re incredibly easy to look after and require minimum maintenance. If your glass terrarium is open, they only need to be watered occasionally, and if it’s closed, they water themselves!
Unlike houseplants, they can also survive with artificial light, or in shaded areas. If you go away for a few days you can rest assured that when you come back, your plants will still be thriving. Additionally, the benefit of creating your own micro-climate is that you can grow plants that would otherwise not be suited to your natural environment.
As much as we’d love to be able to grow tropical plants in the UK, unfortunately, cold weather and lack of sunshine make this impossible. With a terrarium, however, no worries at all, have a miniature Amazon rainforest anywhere in your home! An open glass terrarium will even purify and filter the air. They reduce environmental impurities and toxins, in essence cleaning the air around us by helping to reduce carbon dioxide levels. You can’t say no really!
Building a terrarium is the perfect way to unleash your creativity and add a unique feel to your home. With limitless decorative potential, they can be hanging gardens, a feature piece on a shelf or desk, anything you can possibly think of! However you display them, they are bound to look good and draw attention.
Much like painting, you are the artist when it comes to creating your own terrarium; decide what materials are used, what plant to incorporate, and design your masterpiece! Just like exercising creativity, plants are proven to reduce stress and anxiety, which is why, if you don’t know what to do when bored at home, this is a perfect, easy and fun thing to do for you and your mental wellbeing.
Let the therapeutic nature of plants enhance your creativity and improve your mood. Whilst no definitive lifespan, with the perfect equilibrium of conditions, done right, terrariums are guaranteed to last you a very long time, up to several years.
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