Terrariums are making a comeback
Q. I received a terrarium as a gift. How should I care for it?
A. Terrariums were very popular during the Victorian era, but declined over the decades. However, today, they seem to be having a comeback.
The best thing about these miniature magical environments is that they require very little care. Here are a few general guidelines that will keep your terrarium happy and healthy for a long time.
Terrariums thrive in bright, but indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight since the reflection of the glass container produces a magnifying glass effect, and can scorch the plants. Regularly dust your terrarium so that sufficient light shines through.
If your terrarium has a lid, it requires very little water since it is constantly recycling moisture. You can tell by the condensation that appears on the glass; the condensation should cover about one-third of the glass surface. If there is more, open up the lid for a few days and let it dry out.
If there is no condensation, it is time to water. Spray the soil and plants, or gently watering the soil with several tablespoons of water. Do not overwater. If your plants look like they are rotting, it's probably due to too much water in the container.
If your terrarium does not have a lid, only water when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Terrariums that include cacti and other succulents should be watered even more sparingly. In fact, if you terrarium includes such plants, do not use a lid; these plants resent humidity.
Do not fertilize plants in the terrarium since this can cause them outgrow the container quickly. Instead, refresh the soil mix annually scraping off the top layer of soil and replacing it with fresh soil.
Always remove dead or damaged foliage to prevent rot from spreading throughout the terrarium.
Pinch back plants to encourage bushy growth, and make your terrarium look lush and full. If your plant starts outgrowing its container, prune some of the longer branches. You also want to clip off any leaves that are touching the sides of the container, since they are likely to trap water and rot.
Finally, if you need to replace or add plants, choose plants that stay small in size, that grow very slowly or respond well to permanent pinching back.
Also, avoid plants that rot easily when they have moisture on their foliage. For example, plants with hairy leaves such as African violets.
• Provided by Mary Boldan. Master Gardener Answer Desk, Friendship Park Conservatory, Des Plaines, open 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday. Call (847) 298-3502 or email Cookcountymg.com@gmail.com.