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Creating a terrarium

In short, terrariums are complete, enclosed miniature plant ecosystems. By creating a terrarium, you get a miniature glasshouse, or a small biosphere, right there on your tabletop.

However, not all plants are suitable to be grown in every terrarium. Closed terrarium plants need to endure specific conditions – high humidity, low airflow, and limited space.

Small terrarium plants are the ones that you can include in a classic, closed, jar-type terrarium, but also in many other types of terrarium setups. Their lighting requirements tend to vary, Mosses are everyone’s choice for first experiments with terrariums, but also a keeper for many experienced terrarium designers. Besides the fact that they are free and easy to find outdoors, mosses have a unique visual appeal. Also, they are virtually care-free and can be left in a closed terrarium for years with no interventions. They are also the most tolerant to low-light conditions.

Mosses are primitive, non-vascular plants that reproduce by spores. Although we often use the term “moss” as a singular, there are at least 12,000 moss species around the world. Obviously, not all of them live in your backyard, but you will surely be able to find several species with different textures and shades of green. That variety will add depth and playfulness to your terrarium moss patch.

Baby tears is a plant known for its ability to form mats of tiny, vividly green, bean-shaped leaves that will spread over everything and “spill” over the sides of a pot. In a terrarium, they are ideal to fill out empty spots.This plant thrives in high humidity. Keep them out of direct sunlight and by all means, prevent dry conditions. Also, do not handle the plant roughly, as the little branches are brittle and the plant can be damaged relatively easily during improper handling.

Larger terrarium plants are suitable for large jars and terrariums. After a while, you will probably have to report them or prune them to prevent them from growing out of the terrarium. Another option is to let them grow in a half-open terrarium.

Ferns give any space a fresh, forest-y feel. Unlike many large ones, Button fern is a terrarium-friendly fern since it is small enough to fit into one.

Carnivorous plants will thrive in the humid conditions of a terrarium. However, there are a couple of special requirements:

The terrarium has to be an open one, for two main reasons. First – there needs to be a way for insects your plant will eat to get into the terrarium. Second – carnivorous plants enjoy direct sun exposure, and there is a chance they could overheat in a closed terrarium. Also, diseases and fungi are less likely to strike when there is some air circulation. A fishbowl-type of dish will work perfectly fine. The terrarium substrate has to be adjusted for carnivorous plants, as they prefer acidic conditions and like to grow on peat. However, this depends on the species.

If you want a truly unique planted terrarium, you should know that Air Plants (Tillandsia) are among the strangest, the most otherworldly plants you can own. Because they are so unique, they require some special care as well. Air plants belong to the Bromeliaceae family. However, unlike their stary cousin, they don’t require a substrate. In fact, many of them don’t even have roots. Amazingly, they can live only off of air, moisture and some light.

There are a couple of tips to keep your air plant terrarium healthy and marvelous. Both of them are related to watering .Interestingly, you shouldn’t water your air plants inside of the terrarium; you will have to take them out and soak them or mist them, and then let them dry completely before putting them back into the terrarium.

There should be condensation or any moisture whatsoever in your air plant terrarium.

What this also means is that you could completely rearrange your plants every time you take them out for a dip.

Also, you should always use an open terrarium to ensure air circulation. Air plants are ideal for tiny, hanging terrariums.

These are a few examples of plants for your own terrarium. You can find air plants available at our Etsy shop: http://www.printhousedesign.com Also our garden shop http://www.thegardenocityshop.com has succulents & soon will have terrariums for you to purchase.

How to grow succulents from a cutting

Did you know you can plant succulent cuttings straight away?

Here’s how

Step 1) Carefully snap off a leaf from where it’s attached to the main stem. … Step 2) Leave the cutting or leaf in a well-lit spot for 2-3 days until a callus forms over the end. Step 3) Once formed you can place straight into soil (callus first) or lie flat on soil and watch it grow.

When should I plant succulent cuttings?

They need to be kept moist and warm. Within three weeks or so, little roots and leaves will begin to sprout! It could take a few months before a succulent gets big enough for repotting It is best to plant in cooler temps

How long do succulent cuttings take to root?

About 4 weeks you should see roots…

Stem propagation: It generally takes about 4 weeks for roots to form, sometimes longer. Propagation through offsets: It generally takes about 4-10 weeks for the roots to grow once the pups have calloused over.

You can also root a succulent in water

Most succulents can be propagated in water. You can grow roots from healthy single leaves or, if you have a stretched out succulent, you can take stem cuttings and root those. Succulents that have plump, fleshy leaves like the Echeveria plant have the best chance of success.

You can find succulent cuttings to purchase soon from our garden shop: http://www.thegardenocityshop.com

Planting Callas Lilies

Planting calla bulbs can be easy they are adaptable to the ground or in containers. I prefer containers because callas look pretty and are easy to bring indoors during the winter months. ( These plants are frost-tender, so they need to be brought indoors when it starts getting really cold at night.

To plant them, fill a large container with good quality potting soil and set the bulbs about 4 inches deep into the soil. Water well and place the container in partial shade. Callas accept sun or shade, but do best in a location that gets bright, filter light. Make sure if you plant them outside to wait until the last frost to prevent them from dying.

If you decide to plant the bulbs outside in the ground, it can be easy too. Select the same growing conditions (light & soil) and plant them at the same depth as you would grow in the container. In the autumn before it frost dig the plant up and store the bulbs indoors. Have you planted these flowers before? leave a comment if you have these flowers in your garden!

Propagating snake plant

Can snake plants be started from cuttings?

Snake plant can be started several ways. Perhaps the simplest method is to divide older plants. Snake plants, or mother-in-law tongue, as it is known by some, produces underground rhizomes that increase the size of the clump of upright shoots. Division is a way to get a large new plant quickly. This is the only way to maintain the marginal light green stripe of variegated types.

If your snake plant is not variegated, and if you’re patient, you can start new plants by taking stem cuttings. Cut the snake plant leaves into 3-4 inch long segments, cutting a notch in the upper end of each so you can tell which end is up. Its important to mark which side is up on each cutting, because the cuttings will fail to root and grow if inserted in the rooting medium upside down. Dip the lower end of the cutting in soil with rooting mix to help start off your new snake plant growth. Remember to keep the soil moist, but not soaking wet, because snake plants can rot if kept in excessively wet soil. In several months you should see new shoots developing from the base of the cutting.

Planting succulent seeds

With more than 2,000 species of succulents and cacti suitable for decor, it’s worth your time and effort to try growing them from seeds. This allows you to experiment with combinations. Succulents are in the spot light right now, and we want to fill our homes, offices, and outdoor spaces with them. What better way to spread the succulent love than to learn growing from seeds. Succulents from seeds are a very similar process to growing cacti from seeds, but you will want to research the time of germination or each variety to make sure you aren’t removing them from the growing soil too early. Definitely consider the germination time before you purchase your seeds. Also, sunlight and temperature are important to monitor when growing succulents from seeds. The moderate temperatures of spring and fall allow for optimal growing conditions.

What You’ll Need:

Shallow planting trays (no more than 4 inches deep with drainage holes in the bottom)
Sand (try horticultural sand or builder’s sand), pumice, or perlite
Potting soil (optional)
Succulent or cactus seeds
Toothpick
Clear lid or plastic wrap for trays

Mix Your Growing Medium

There are many suggested combinations for growing media (that is, the soil mixture you’ll be planting your seeds in). Some suggest horticultural sand only, but using a mixture of succulent soil and sharp sand, pumice, or perlite can work as well. The amount you’ll need will depend on the ratio you decide to use, the size of your planting trays, and how many trays you are using.

Succulents with fatter leaves hold more of their own water, so you can use more pumice in your mix for optimal drainage. Plants with more delicate leaves will benefit from a higher ratio of soil. We found that a half-and-half mix of coarsely sifted potting soil and sand or perlite works well for most varieties (and combinations of different varieties) while providing enough drainage for the plants.

Planting Succulent Seeds

Succulent seeds are very small, so you will want to do this step in a sheltered area where the wind won’t blow them away. Dampen the surface of the soil so that the seeds stick to the soil. Carefully spread the tiny seeds over the surface of your soil mix, giving them some space in between each other. (The space between will depend on the type of succulent you’re planting. Keep in mind their mature size when considering how far apart you will want to space them.) Use a toothpick to gently spread them around. If your tray is divided into cells, put one or two seeds in each cell. Do not cover the seeds with soil.

If you’re growing more than one type of succulent at a time, we recommend separating each type into separate trays. Since they will have varying germination times, this makes it easier to give them the appropriate amount of sunlight and water depending on their growth stages.

Cover your tray(s) with a clear lid or plastic wrap. Set them in a brightly lit location but out of direct sunlight. Make sure the temperature stays at about 70 degrees F. Keep the soil moist but not wet, as too much dampness can drown your seeds. Open the lid twice a day to keep air moving. If you’re using plastic wrap, you may want to poke some ventilation holes with your toothpick.

Growing phase:

Once you see leaves begin to emerge, remove the lid during the day to keep them ventilated.

As your plants grow over the first week or two, continue to keep the soil moist and ensure adequate drainage. This is the time when their roots are just starting to develop, so it’s very important to keep them hydrated. Once the roots become established, it’s not necessary to keep the soil surface damp at all times. Monitor your plants’ growth and use your best judgment (plus your research on your particular type of succulent) until you’re watering them about once per week as you would adult plants.

This is also the time to begin to introduce your succulents to more sunlight. While succulents and cacti are desert plants, that doesn’t mean they thrive off of direct sunlight and heat. The baby plants especially do not like direct sunlight, so wait until their leaves begin to mature before slowly introducing them to more and more light. Increase the light by an hour or so every few days until you get them tolerating the amount of light in the area where you want to keep them permanently. Again, the best amount of light will vary depending on each type of plant.

You can purchase succulent seed packets at our new garden shop, just follow the link to see more: http://www.thegardenocityshop.com