Care of Terrariums

Water and light are the most important elements for succulents and cacti photosynthesis process in a semi open terrarium; hence, is very important to follow the recommendations for watering, lighting, cleaning and landscape maintenance, so your terrarium looks beautiful and healthy.

Watering

  • As a watering tool you should preferably use a dripper, a syringe, or a spoon to easily control the Flow of water.
  • Pour the water slowly and gently.
  • Use rainwater, rested water, or boiled.                                                       
  • If you are going to use rested water, you should let tap water rest for at least 6 hours, to reduce the chemicals the plants will receive.
  • Water the rocks surrounding the succulents and cacti, so it can trickle down to the substrate. The main aim is to pour the water on the ground and not on the plant. The objective is to avoid pouring water directly on the plant.
  • This type of terrarium requires small amounts of water, as it emulates the natural conditions of the plants.
  • The large terrarium requires 30 ml of water, the medium 20 ml, the small one 15 ml and the mini 5 ml.
  • During summer, spring and autumn, it must be watered twice a month. During the winter, it must be watered once a month, because succulents and cacti go on hibernation, reducing their energy intake not growing or blooming, hence the frequency of the watering is reduced.

More watering tips:

  • It is very important to note that if in the winter you use a lot of heating where the terrarium resides, the watering frequency should increase to the same levels as for summer or spring.
  • Another way to know if the terrarium needs water is to observe the color of the ground, if it is completely grey, it means the terrarium is dry and needs water, if on the other hand, the ground is brown, it means it is still humid, so it does not need immediate watering.
  • Remember that the objective of watering is to humidify the substrate, trying to keep the roots dry, as the excess of water can rotten them and killing the plant.

Lightening

  • Our terrarium should be placed in a space with good light; hence, it should be located between 1 and 1,5 meters from a window, but making sure it does not get direct light from the sun. As we are using glass, intensifying sunlight like a magnifying glass that could burn leaves and stems.
  • The terrarium should be turn twice per month, so all its ecosystem receives light, controlling the temperature and avoiding etiolation (elongation and deformation of the plants natural form) as the plant seeks light.
  • Avoid placing the terrarium in a dark space, as it generates etiolation and contributes to pests.

Landscape Cleaning & Maintenance

  • We start cleaning the landscape, for this we use a brush, so we can clean each plant delicately, removing the dust and with a gripper remove all the dead leaves.
  • Is important to clean the inside and outside of the glass, so light can penetrate and do its work.
  • For the cleaning, you can use a piece of kitchen paper, or notebook paper, which needs to be sprayed with alcohol. Afterwards, we start cleaning the interior and to reach the base, the paper can be wrapped In a stick (a chop stick would be ideal) in order to reach where is not possible with our bare hands.
  • We suggest starting by cleaning the glass in inside very carefully, and then outside to minimize our handprints on the glass.
  • We recommend performing the cleaning process once or twice per month, right after the watering as this process can leave some drops on the glass, which can leave stains that will overshadow the glass visibility.

Nutrients

To extend the life of your terrarium, you must follow the recommendations previously detailed for watering and lighting. You also need to add nutrients to the substrate such as magnesium, phosphorus and potassium, since over time the succulents and cacti absorb them.

When the leaves of the succulents start turning from green to yellow, it is a clear indication that the plant needs nutrients. However, the recommendation we propose here is to have a nutrition routine, which should begin 6 months after acquiring your terrarium and continue every 2 months afterwards.

Try to make the nutrition routine coincide with the spring season since this is the time when the plants come out of their hibernation process and begin to flower.

The nutrition routine involves watering the following way:

  • Use banana or egg peels. If you use banana peels, you should cut them into small
    pieces with clean scissors. It is suggested to wash the scissors with soap and water and then finish the disinfecting process with alcohol.
  • The peels you decide to use should be placed in a transparent container with rain, boiled or settled water, which you can close and let rest for 8 hours.
  • Then remove the peels you have used.
  • Perform the corresponding irrigation as previously explained using the water
    containing all the nutrients that succulents and cacti need to extend their life.