Q&A: Can You Identify Mystery Weblike Substance?

Reader Christina shares some photos of a white web like substance appearing in her terrarium. I am not familiar with this particular affliction but I share in hopes that someone else might have experience with this fungus or insect problem.  The best course of action for a mystery fungus is removal of the afflicted areas.  If the problem persists, you may need to empty out your terrarium and try building it again with new plants and soil.

Christina says "I've been noticing a strange white almost weblike thing growing on the branch points of some of my plants. The plants seem to be growing well but I was just wondering if you would happen to know what it is and how I can fix it. I've just been trimming it off hoping it goes away. I haven't had any problems with bugs in it so I don't think it's a nest of any kind. I've attached some pictures of the 2 plants that seem to be affected. My terrarium has quite a large opening at the top that I never cover and it gets a good amount of sunlight."

Pro Terrarium Designer Shares Tips

Photo by Lori Adams,
San Diego Union Tribune
 

 New York Botanical Garden terrarium expert Maria Colletti shares tips from her book "Terrariums: Gardens Under Glass" with San Diego Union Tribune readers. I paraphrase a few tips here, but be sure to read the whole article at the San Diego Union Tribune.

Free Plants: Collecting jade plant pups, succulent pups, or bits of moss from your yard or a park is a great way to obtain small plants to fuel your terrarium fever.  Just be sure to examine for bugs.

Best Face Forward: When placing your plants in your terrarium vessel, turn the plant in place so that its best side faces out.  Angle leaves or branches away from adjacent plants.

Exclusive Offer on Terrarium Figurines

Siamsmalls.com fairy figurines for fairy garden, photo by Janet Linn

Thank you all for your interest in The Fern and Mossery Terrarium Mini Ceramic Figurine Set Give Away, as provided by Siamsmalls.com.  The figurine sets have been mailed off to the lucky winners of the contest but you can still get your hands on your favorite ceramic figurines set.

Siamsmalls.com has offered a special discount for readers of The Fern and Mossery, 20% off with promo code "SSFM20". Thanks again to Siamsmalls.com for this give away!

Q and A: Twigs in Moss

Fall is a great time to build a terrarium, to capture a bit of greenery in a bottle before things turn cold outside. My question for today comes from reader Kate:

Question: I bought some moss online. It's very healthy - I've just got it in a cookie sheet with some soil and pebbles, the whole affair sitting in a Ziploc bag that I can keep closed for humidity and then open it for awhile every day to get air. Now that I'm about to use it for a terrarium though, I see it has loads of (what look like) small brown decayed needles, and some tiny twigs. If I try to clean all that stuff out, I'm afraid that the entire sheet of moss will come apart (which I don't want to happen.) I'm thinking that all this detritus is decayed matter that's feeding the moss and keeping it healthy. Besides which, I'd never be able to pick it all out. So what do you think? Ok to just leave everything as is?

Answer: Your moss sounds healthy and well cared for! Storing it under plastic is a great method for quarantining your moss, to observe for insects or signs of mold. If the twigs and needles are in the dirt under the moss, wrapped up in the roots etc, it is probably fine to leave it there. It does sound like it is just part of the soil for your moss, and minimizing disruption of the moss while planting it in your terrarium will help it establish. Perhaps remove the larger pieces of twigs or pine needles if you do tear your moss into smaller pieces to place it in your terrarium.

Do you have a suggestion for dealing with twigs or pine needles in moss? Let's hear it in the comments?

Q and A: Can I Collect Moss in the Summer?

Whew, the heat is on here in Texas.  It is this type of heat that makes me want to dream of moss blanketing a cool forest floor. My question for today comes from reader Isabella:

Question: Can I collect the mosses in summer time from the forest?

Answer: I respond with a question again, does the moss you want to harvest look to be in peak health? If the moss in your area looks dry or dormant in the summer, you may want to skip collection until cooler months. You'll want to collect moss that is healthy, green, and thriving. In my experience, it can be challenging enough to transplant healthy moss harvested from the wild into a terrarium environment.  The moss receives a transplant shock from getting uprooted, it might dry out before you plant it, and it might be full of bugs or mold that might infest your terrarium (wash your moss!).  You may set yourself up for failure if you collect dry or dormant moss in summer months.

How to Make a Terrarium Last

I want to be honest with you about how long you can expect your terrarium to last and thrive.  Many blogs show fast and easy terrarium crafts in tiny glass vessels and bubbles, but they rarely show you what a tiny terrarium will look like after three months.  Probably dried out or moldy.  Tiny terrariums are cute if you think of them as a cut flower arrangement.  But part of the thrill of building terrariums is chasing the lasting terrarium, which sometimes means restarting, trying new combinations of plants, soil, and containers - until the ecosystem clicks and then plants thrive.  My longest-lasting terrarium was built in a wine jug and lasted about three years.  It looked a lot like the photo above from thedebrief.uk. Note the deep moss roots, and appearance of algae type stuff in the bottom layers of the soil. This is what a slice of the outdoors looks like under glass!

Secrets to a Long-Lasting Terrarium

1. Use a large enough glass container. A general equation seems to be, the larger the container, the better the chance the terrarium has to thrive.
2. Use an adequate amount of soil. If plants are to grow, they will need some space.
3. Use healthy plants and moss that have been inspected for insects and washed if needed. Select plants that have similar light and water requirements (e.g. woodsy ferns with moss, succulents with cacti.) See 19 of the most popular terrarium plants.
4. Keep up with terrarium maintenance! This includes managing water and temperature levels (e.g. water occasionally and don't leave it in full sun all day).  You might need to put a lid on your terrarium occasionally to help keep water in the system.  You might need to remove dead leaves or scrub the sides of the container of algae fuzz.
5. If all else fails, try again. Don't be afraid to restart your terrarium if mold takes over, plants die, or insects infest.  Shake it all out, scrub out the container with water and a bit of bleach, and try again when it is dry.  Fresh plants and soil!

How long has your healthiest terrarium lasted? 53 years?

Which to Use: Craft Moss or Living Moss?

Craft moss above, real moss below.
Photo by Janit Calvo,
The Mini Garden Guru

Moss is a central supply for many popular gardening crafts, including terrariums, fairy gardens, kokedama and more. When do you need to use living moss for your craft and when will craft moss work? The simple answer is: use living moss in projects with real soil and real plants, keep craft moss for "dry" projects, such as a short-term terrarium, a project with fake plants, or no soil.

Living moss is green and vibrant, with fibrous roots visible when you pull apart the pieces of moss. You might find living moss in your yard, the forest or at a garden supplier. You may choose to wash your moss of critters and rocks if you harvest it from your yard. Use living moss alongside other living plants, in displays you want to last and grow.  Examples are fairy gardens and terrariums with living plants. Note that living moss will not thrive in a succulent terrarium with sandy soil.  Moss prefers richer soil and humid conditions.

Craft moss is also known as preserved moss, reindeer moss, and any other dried thing that you might find in a plastic bag at a craft store. It has a brittle touch like a dried sponge, and may have artificial green color applied. It also sometimes appears in fluffy, cloud shaped tufts. Craft moss will not revive with water and soil, but is more likely to become musty and rotten over time. Craft moss is excellent for "one time use" terrarium projects, like wedding centerpieces or displays. Craft moss may also be used in a faux terrarium that contains artificial plants or no soil.

Sphagnum moss is a garden supply product, formed of the long fibrous strands of plant material.  It is often used or to line hanging wire baskets, or kokedama balls.  I also recommend using sphagnum moss to form a filter layer between your terrarium soil layer and gravel layer, to prevent soil mixing down into the bottom of your terrarium.  Sphagnum moss is not to be confused with peat moss, the short fibered, acidic mulch used as soil amendment in container gardening.

Read more about identifying the difference between real moss and craft moss at the Miniature Gardener.

Easy Easter Decor: Wheatgrass in Mason Jar Terrarium

Spring greenery is a natural decoration for Easter, especially lovely green grass.  Bring the spring greenery indoors by sowing some wheatgrass seeds in mason jars! It's all the fun of watching a chia pet grow without the annoying chia-part of the chia pet and will make a precious Easter tablescape....

Photo by Yolanda at Monkey See - Monkey Do.

Terrarium Bauble Tips from Living Mi-Wey

Photo by Linda Davidson/The Washington Post

Michele Weymouth of Living Mi-Wey in Virginia shares a step-by-step guide for creating a succulent terrarium with the Washington Post. I love her signature terrarium bauble: something gold nestled among her terrarium plants.  Other great terrarium decoration ideas include small mirrors, figurines, glass marbles, or beach glass.

How to Water an Air Plant Terrarium

Tillandsia aeranthos in collectie Eric J. Gouda

Air plants or tillandsia make an ethereal addition to an ornament terrarium or hanging terrarium, and are among the most common terrarium plants.  But how to water these spiky beauties?  Traditional air plant care indicates a periodic soak in water to allow for watering.  However, it may be difficult to remove an air plant from an ornament terrarium with a small opening.

Shari Petrucci from the Western Mass Masters Gardeners Association shares a suggestion at Mass Appeal:

"If your air-plants are in a small terrarium and you are unable to remove them for watering, we recommend misting them through the opening once weekly. This method can also be used for our hanging globe terrariums, wall pockets, and apothecary terrariums. Pay close attention that your plants are getting adequate moisture, but are not sitting in water within any terrarium."

Remember that using distilled water in terrariums can reduce the amount of mineral deposits that develop on the glass.  Be sure to visit Air Plants 101 at Mass Appeal to learn more about air plant care.

8 Tips for Growing Succulents in Terrariums

Green succulents are more likely to survive indoors.

Succulents are one of the most popular terrarium plants, because they are easy to find and have a variety of shapes and sizes.  Succulents are frequently recognized as desert plants that prefer sandy soil, heat, and sun.  Terrariums often create humid, damp, warm environments.  How can you be sure that your succulent terrarium will thrive?  One tip is to stick to open-top or dish terrariums when planting succulents.  Dish terrariums, planted in glass dishes rather than bottles, allow soil to dry out in between watering.  Lee Mei Li shares eight tips additional tips for terrarium succulents in The Star Online.  I share tip #3 but be sure to visit the article for the rest of the ideas!

"3. Not all succulents are the same. Some may thrive indoors while others do better outdoors. Start with the greener ones as they are likely to survive better indoors."

One Problem in Healthy Terrariums: Vigorous Plant Growth

Speise Morchel Morchella esculenta
by H. Krisp

Part of the fun of terrariums is establishing a little ecosystem of your own design, but sometimes plants make their own monstrous way!  One issue you may encounter in your healthy terrarium is plants outgrowing your terrarium container.  Vigorous plants may require pruning of leaves or stems, and enthusiastic spreading plants may require removal of pup plants.  Also be sure to remove dead leaves, fronds or plants, as they may contribute to rot in your terrarium.

Georgeanne Davis of The Free Press Online shares a funny story about an enthusiastic fungus, as well as some good tips for harvesting terrarium plants:

"In the very first terrarium we ever made we included a tiny morel mushroom. The next day, it had grown alarmingly out of scale in our miniature landscape, and on the morning of its third day in captivity we awoke to find the morel pushing up the lid of its apothecary jar, a fungal Frankenstein."   

Update: Marimo Moss Balls Make a Great Office Terrarium

My marino terrarium on my desk at work.

Several months ago I had the opportunity to do an unboxing of a marimo moss ball terrarium from EclecticZenMarimo.  Thanks to the excellent instructions that accompanied the marimo terrarium kit from EclecticZenMarimo, I knew just how to care for the terrarium from the start.

I am happy to say my marimo terrarium has happily thrived on my desk at work for these past few months.  The marimo terrarium is easy to care for - I just switch out the water with filtered tap water every week or so.  After a few months, one of the marimo moss balls got a little scuzzy - but I just followed the care instructions and and gently rinsed it off in running water.

The inside of the glass container has accumulated some calcium deposits on the glass, giving it a frosted appearance.  I have not tried scrubbing it out but I am sure it would clean up alright.

My coworkers love my marimo moss ball terrarium - it is a constant conversation piece.  I recommend considering a marimo moss ball terrarium if you are looking for an easy terrarium for your office or home.

A New Year Terrarium

Photograph: Gap Photos, The Guardian
 

Freshen up your home or office space with a new terrarium for 2014!  Alys Fowler at The Guardian shares her experience with selecting plants for a large bottle terrarium.

When planting a bottle terrarium, be sure to select plants that will stay small or plan on some heavy pruning!  See 19 terrarium plant ideas to get you started.

New Feature: 19 of the Best Plants for Terrariums

Check out the new and improved, comprehensive list of plants for terrariums.  If you are searching for a new type of plant to try in a terrarium, or are new to terrariums and are looking for plants that are suited for terrarium life, this list (complete with photos) should give you a good start.

Am I missing any plants that you have grown in a terrarium?  Tell me in the comments!

Q&A: How to Cool a Terrarium?

Moss and terrarium plants in general can benefit from humid, temperate conditions.  If you fear your terrarium is getting too hot, you have a couple of options for cooling it down.

My first recommendation is to attempt to cool your terrarium by keeping it in a cooler spot (away from direct sunlight or sunbeams).  Perhaps near a curtained window?  I searched on the web for some low tech tips that also might help you and found some good ones at josh frogs.com.  The suggestion about placing an icepack or a frozen water bottle on top of or inside the terrarium sounds like something that could be easily attempted with minimal investment or risk of over-cooling!  

Have you tried another method for cooling a terrarium?

Terrariums in New Zealand

Photo / Ben Crawford, The New Zealand Herald

Indoor gardeners the world over enjoy building these miniature gardens enclosed in glass.  New Zealand Times reporter Ben Crawford touches base with local botanical stylist Annie Oxborough about the joys and challenges of maintaining terrarium gardens.

I love the silly quote about memories some of us may have of terrariums from our childhood, albeit this memory sounds distinctly NZ:

"She believes New Zealand's national aversion to styling our homes with botanical brilliance is due to dated images formed during our childhoods. Memories created at nana's; one of beiges, shag-pile carpet and conservatories crammed to overflowing with odd-smelling pot plants, barely any space left to lift a club sandwich from a Royal Doulton saucer."

Annie hits the nail on the head in regard to the appeal of terrarium collecting.  It is easy and fun to make more than one and when it comes down to it - the commitment is low and makes a terrarium a great gardening project for those who aren't expert gardeners.

"Planting a terrarium isn't a lifetime investment. One of the main barriers preventing people from having house plants is they think they'll kill them, but once you have a little display sorted you'll be surprised at how easy they are to care for. And if something dies, replacing a $12 plant isn't a big deal, that's only a couple of coffees."

Top Terrarium Plants: Begonias

Begonias make wonderful terrarium plants, as long as you can find a variety that will remain compact enough to fit your terrarium.  If you are unsure of how large your begonia will become - just plan on maintaining a pruning strategy.  And of course - have a game plan for removing dead flowers or foliage.  Are your terrarium tools in order?


Advancegreenhouses.com suggests begonias as one of their top five terrarium plants.  The author points out:

"Begonias are a diverse group of tropical flowers that love humid and moist conditions, and some of them prefer low light as well. They’ll even flower many months out of the year, making them valuable additions to terrarium gardeners. Choose types like Rhizomatous begonias or dwarf Rex begonias. Rex begonias can be a bit finicky about their air circulation, so experiment with propping the lid open to adjust to satisfactory levels. Strawberry begonias absolutely thrive in terrariums–you can’t go wrong with these!"

Be sure to visit their site for the other four top terrarium plants.  Have you grown a begonia in a terrarium?  Tell us about it!

Q and A: Soil and Sand Ratios for Terrariums

Thanks to reader Heather for these questions.

Question: 


I am writing with two easy questions:

1) What is the soil/sand ratio for most terrariums? You have mentioned two different ratios so I want to be sure.

In most you say it's 2:1 soil to sand. However, in the "Operation Diagnose" area (the most recent one on your pages) you say 1:1.

2) Is Miracle Gro's basic potting soil ok to use? One of the ingredients is peat moss and I know you warned against it in Operation Diagnose. However, I know some plants do well in it; I used it with the last terrarium (first I've made), and it did ok until I killed it with spray fertilizer after about a year.

I hope you can help me - I am making a 10 gal terrarium for work (bio labs) and want to do it right.

Answer:

As your terrarium is on the larger size I think a ratio of 2 parts soil to 1 part sand will work best.  The sand speeds up drainage in smaller terrariums but since you are working with a larger quantity of "stuff" (and probably larger plants), 2 parts soil will probably provide more nutrients for a longer amount of time.

Potting soil mix should work fine.  The peat moss retains moisture - which works great for a potted plant that might not get watered as frequently but can contribute to problems in smaller terrariums.  As long as you have the one part sand in there it should all balance out.  I'd also stress to build a large drainage level with pebbles and charcoal.  I'd make it at least an inch deep or more in a 10 gal terrarium- it'll help give water space to "breathe" at the bottom of your contained environment and should prevent root rot from standing water, etc.

Engage Kids in Flower Shows by Adding a Terrarium Category

Photo by Hugh Fisher, for the Salisbury Post

Flower shows may be waning in popularity but a simple way to build the next generation of gardeners is to involve kids early!  The Retro Flower Show in North Carolina experienced  an increase in competition entries after adding three new kid-friendly categories to a new "youth division:" terrariums, single flowers and dish gardens.

What can kids learn from making terrariums? Terrariums are a great hands-on learning tool for children as they illustrate both plant life cycles and the water cycle.

Robert Mayers, competition judge said:

“A lot of times they garden with their grandparents … It’s good to get them involved in hands-on activities like gardening, and get them thinking.”