For many years people have been asking can terrariums be closed? I’m sure that you’ve seen the television shows where the plants are in a box and cannot be taken out of it. Nowadays the plants are in a terrarium that can be closed or opened as the need arises. But why can’t a terrarium be closed?
There are lots of good reasons why a terrarium can’t be closed. The first one is that most terrarium plants need light. In order to photosynthesize or to produce energy from the light, the plant has to absorb light. This is why terrarium plants can’t be closed.
The other problem is that some types of terrarium plants don’t like the temperature of their containers. Some will die very quickly if their containers are too hot or too cold. So if they can’t be moved or transferred easily, they simply won’t grow at all. There are some plants that have been bred to grow well only in specific kinds of soil and conditions. If they’re not in a terrarium where their roots are able to spread then they won’t grow properly.
A third reason that can’t be closed is that your terrarium design is wrong. Usually you have a gravel layer in the bottom of your terrarium. And this gravel layer serves two purposes. First, it helps water drain from the soil so the plant can grow properly. Second, the gravel layer also acts as a filtration device.
Most of the time, the gravel in a terrarium doesn’t get any sunlight whatsoever. Most plants, particularly most succulents, require lots of sunlight in order to thrive. Even if your plants do get a bit of sunlight occasionally, too much sunlight can be damaging, especially to newer plants that don’t have much of a root system in place yet.
But what can you do if your terrarium design isn’t right? Actually, there’s one option that many gardeners find very beneficial for plants that cannot be moved: artificial terrariums. The idea is that your soil can serve as the base for a number of artificial plants. When you fill your artificial terrarium with water, plants thrive just like they would in the real world. The difference is that they’re placed inside a very well ventilated area.
Here’s an example of what I mean. You can get African violets, houseplants that are very successful in indoor and even outdoor settings. However, if you place them in a closed terrarium, they’ll die because the air doesn’t circulate properly. If you introduce houseplants into this kind of environment, however, they’ll thrive, because air circulation allows them to absorb vital oxygen.
So can terrariums be closed? It really depends on the species of plants you’re trying to keep. Houseplants will usually do just fine in a closed terrarium, as long as they’re in a well-ventilated area. African violets, on the other hand, would do best in a terrarium designed for them, because they’re notorious for taking up excessive amounts of space. An aquarium with a shallow edge or even a glass container can work very well, because the water will rise to the surface, where it’s able to oxygenate the soil.
You can also consider using soil, but there are some things you should think about when doing this. For one thing, this isn’t necessarily the best way to go about designing your own terrarium. One problem is that soil can contain a lot of potentially toxic elements like lime and magnesium, which can prove harmful to both fish and their tank mates. It’s also important to realize that plants do need light in order to grow well; without it, their roots may not reach the needed nutrients. But making plants partially or fully inactive through the use of glass containers or air pumps can be counterproductive. These are two reasons why I generally advise against the use of soil in a terrarium, even if it’s being used for houseplants.
The final thing to consider when it comes to the design of your terrarium plants is whether or not they require any lighting at all. A lot of houseplants require light in order to grow properly – many more than you’ll realize. Plants that don’t get sufficient light can actually develop black spots and turn brown, so it’s definitely a no-no to keep them dark. However, there are some very attractive options available if you do want your plants to require sunlight – just remember to put them somewhere where they can get lots of natural light.
Now that you know what plants can and cannot be kept in terrariums, it should be easier to decide when it comes to adding them. Just make sure that whatever container you choose has proper drainage, an adequate level of light and an air pump, and your plants should thrive. If you’re having problems deciding on which terrarium plants to get, ask other terrarium enthusiasts for advice. And most importantly, have fun with your terrarium!