We all make mistakes when we are doing something for the first time. Terrariums are not particularly easy to build for someone with no knowledge. Hence, we have rounded up the most common beginner mistakes at our workshop to spare you the heartache and trouble of correcting them! Read below, as we provide 5 Common Closed Terrarium Mistakes.
If you are interested to know more about Closed Terrariums, do continue to read on. For more related articles, please see below:
- 9 Insider Tips for Building Your Very Own Terrarium
- Mistakes To Avoid When Building A Closed Terrarium!
- 3 Top Reasons Why Everyone Should Own A Terrarium
- The Difference Between Open and Closed Terrariums
1. Insufficient Free Soil Space
When it comes to decorating the terrarium, people tend to get overly excited and want to go all out with their colourful sand and figurines. We would usually tell you to leave about 1-2cm radius around your plant's stem, which is for a good reason. Should the sand cover the soil surrounding the leaf, the sand would absorb the water instead of the roots of the plant. In the long run, your plant may not survive due to dehydration.
2. Direct Sunlight
We all probably learned that plants require sunlight to make food; however, those are for the plants that are not enclosed—as such, placing a closed terrarium under direct sunlight would cause the glass to heat up, with the plants overheating! we usually advise our workshop participants to place their terrariums under artificial sunlight, as it is sufficient for the plant. It is also advisable for terrariums to be kept in an air-conditioned environment!
First-timers with terrariums are likely to overwater their plants. This is a common mistake for any plant-owners. When excess water is present within the glass jar, there is a risk of mould being present. Depending on whether you have an opened or closed Terrarium, the plants' watering must be adjusted accordingly.
If you have an open Terrarium, the plant must be watered at least once a week, whereas it is 1-2 times a month for the closed terrarium. It is a little trickier when it comes to watering your closed terrarium plant because you have to gauge and check the condensation against the glass jar.
4. Using Too Much Soil
Some may think that "The More soil used, the better the plants would be". There may be more nutrients present; however, the soil would be more likely to cover the plant's leaves. As such, it would be counterproductive, as the chlorophyll would not be able to engage in photosynthesis. Do take note to avoid letting the soil reach a height around the leaves. A good practice would also be to push the soil closer to the stem.
Using too much soil within a closed terrarium will affect the terrarium's layering, leaving very little space for the plant.
5. Adding Fertilisers
This may sound counterintuitive for most gardeners. Don’t you want your plant to get sufficient nutrients? Well, one of the best ways to maintain and keep a terrarium is to make sure it does not suddenly undergo a growth spurt. Otherwise, you may find that it becomes harder to maintain the plant! Granted, the choice of the plant would have been the kind not to grow very much. However, with the use of fertilisers, there is a chance that the plant would overgrow, and this makes it harder to maintain for you! Hence, we usually advise against adding fertilisers to your terrarium plant if you want to keep it around for long!
These are just a few common mistakes made when crafting your very own DIY terrarium, with Singapore's climate, closed terrarium plants are suitable for living space, offices, and personal rooms. If you are interested in visiting the Singapore terrarium workshop or, If you want other interesting and fun team building games/ fun team bonding activities, check out these other articles as well! 🙂
- 66 Unique and Fun Team Building Games In Singapore For 2021
- Ultimate Team Building 2021 Guide In Singapore
- Complete Guide To Creative Workshops For Corporate Team Building In Singapore
- 70 Best Things To Do In Singapore For 2021
Visit us on our company website for more exciting activities and inspiration before you plan for your next outing!