Your Very Own Forest in Your Drawing Room

You stay in a small apartment and you miss your days staying closer to a forest area. We have solution, create a forest in a small bottle, the magic called terrarium. belie ve me, it is a great forest, created by you.

It is simple to create. Just follow few easy steps :

1. Choose a transparent container and lid to the appropriate to the size of your plants, with space for the planting medium and growing. Keep in mind a terrarium does not have a drainage hole so, to keep roots from rooting, it is necessary to include layer of gravel to collect excess water.

2. Sprinkle a thin layer of activated carbon granules, it is easily available with your local aquatic supplier. This layer will help to keep the container smelling sweet by filtering out the impurities. But before using wash the carbon granules  to remove any residue.

3. Now add some planting medium, what you put depends upon the plants you choose, but a peat like potting mix that retains moisture and allows drainage is a good choice. Now add a layer of the potting mix and lightly pat down with a chopstick or pencil.

4. Get the plants ready for planting by removing any loose soil and gently teasing any pot-bound roots. Make a small depression in the mix. Now get ready to carefully position your plant in the soil.

5. Add more potting mix, gently tap it into position with a chopstick or pencil. Also make sure that there is enough soil for the roots to continue growing before going on to the next step.

6. Fill in around with the moss using tweezers. Add items from nature such as driftwood, stones, pebbles, shells to create mini landscape in the terrarium.

7. Remove soil from the sides of glass with a mister. Water then, seal and leave the terrarium to create its own eco- system. Keep on observing, if the glass mists up inside that means it is working.

8. Keep in mind, place the terrarium out of direct sunlight, do not choose a sunny windowsill, the plants inside the terrarium need low light, but enough to be able to grow without becoming straggly.

9. do not over water especially in the winter.

10. Choose the type of plants that will remain small and prefer  low light and high humidity. Ferns, dwarf hosta, carnivorous and tropical plants are good choice. Avoid cacti, succulents as they prefer a drier and sunny environment.

11. Remember to air terrarium every 2-3 weeks for a few hours, especially in the spring and summer.

12. You may keep plants in shape by pruning, make sure to remove trimmed foliage  any any plant that begins to rot.