Terrarium Garden - Plants for Terrarium

Often considered as an ornamental item, terrarium is more of an small indoor garden enclosed within a glass jar. This enclosed garden can either be found sealed or even open to the atmosphere. However closed terrarium are considered to be more adequate as they allow the plants that are planted inside the terrarium, right amount of exposure to the heat and moisture trapped inside the glass container. However the open terrarium can also work well if proper care is taken. The presence of a even a small terrarium can add beauty and elegance to your house. This beautiful miniature garden can be created by anyone just by following simple steps. Other than that one also needs to know some important basics such as which plant to be potted and how watering is to be done for gaining success at creating a terrarium. The plants that you choose to grow in a terrarium need to be carefully selected. Once you get all steps right, terrarium can be made at home successfully.

Plants for Terrarium

It is important to know which plants are ideally best to be planted inside a terrarium.   A closed terrarium is ideal for planting plant varieties which can grow within the closed, sheltered and dry environment. Plants such as various varieties of ferns and mosses are ideal for a closed terrarium. Various plants such as  golden clubmoss, aluminium plant, Baby Tear's plant, Black Mondo grass, artillery fern, etc can work well within the closed environment. However plants like Black mondo grass are perfect for large-size terrarium built up.

For an open terrarium succulents are the ideal choice. Succulents can survive in dry and humid conditions. They are known to retain water and hence they are an ideal choice for an open terrarium. Succulents can also survive in high light environments. The chances of soil drying out in open terrariums are high and planting a succulent ensures water retaining. Thus one more advantage of planting succulents within a terrarium is that you usually do not have to water often. Watering once a week can work well.

Silver White Rosette Succulent

Some varieties of succulents for terrariums

1. Silver white Rossette

2. Rhipsalis species such as Mistletoe Cactus

3. Gasteria green succulents.

4. The Sansevieria succulent varieties such as the Snake plant.

5. Cryptanthus succulent varieties also known as the Earth Star.

6. Hatiora salicornioides such as the Drunkard's Bones, Dancing Bones, Spice Cactus.

Starfish Cactus

Learn more about How to Make Your Own Terrarium

Few Terrarium Plants Varieties

Starfish Plant  

The starfish cactus or starfish flower plant is almost ideal as the leaves of plants change colour according to the light exposure. The maturity of this plant is slow and doesn't grow much. The maximum height of this plant is not more than 6 inches.

Friendship Plant 

This plant is known to survive in warm temperatures and are beautifully textured. This plant can grow up to 12 inches tall and bores small flowers. It is a perfect choice for a terrarium.

Watermelon Peperomia 

The watermelon peperomia plant is ideal as a terrarium because it is bushy, small and looks beautiful with it's round leaves adorned with silver and dark green stripes. This particular plant requires very little care and can survive in warm conditions.

Watermelon Peperomia

Silver Nerve Plant 

 The silver nerve plant have distinctive leaves with white and silver stripes or pink and green stripes. This plant can survive in warm environments and doesn't need daily watering.

Aquamarine Plant 

This plant have small, round and delicate leaves. They are best option for large terrariums where you could plant them to provide a carpeting or bushy look. This plant is an excellent choice for indoor plants and does not require much maintenance.

Aquamarine Plant

Golden Clubmoss 

The Golden Clubmoss can work as an excellent arrangement for a terrarium. It can survive in low light and evenly moist environments. The leaves of this plant are soft, small and velvety. They add a pop-out colour in a terrarium where more than one plants are planted.

Air Plant 

These plants survive on maximum amount of nutrients they get from air and hence do not need to be planted in soil. They work as a perfect stand-out single plant for a hanging terrarium. Many of these varieties bore flowers and pale colored leaves.

Air Plant perfect for Hanging Terrarium

Spiderwort 

Being a wildflower plant, the spiderwort looks stunning with its perennial wildflowers that come in various color shades such as pink, blue, violet etc. It is an ideal choice for a terrarium as the plant can be used well in a large terrarium for bordering as well as throwing different colors for a pop-out look.

Button Fern 

Button fern plant look beautiful with their small button like leaves and hence are an ideal choice for a terrarium. They can grow well with more or less very little care. The presence of evenly moist soil, warm air and indirect light is all that is required to grow this plant.

Swedish Ivy Plant

 The Swedish ivy plant is an indoor plant which requires very less care on our part to grow. Little light and water allows the plant to grow well. This plant has small, round and glossy leaves. Mostly this plant is preferred as a hanging plant. The swedish ivy plant is bushy, dense and gives a carpeting feel. And hence this plant is ideal for planting in a terrarium.

Spiderwort

How to Grow a Cress Caterpillar

School projects include various activities such as growing plants for science projects or even craft projects which asks for growing plants in recycled pots. Such DIY projects helps children learn and understand in fun way as well as it turns out educational. Involving kids in such projects encourages a child to understand the importance of recycled products and also help them learn growing plants.

Cress plant grows quickly and hence can be part of a DIY project where one has not much time altogether. Not only it grows quickly but can also be used in salad preparations or even sandwiches. Thus using cress plant can pretty much make sure that your project completes in time.

Materials you will need for growing a Cress Caterpillar

Egg shells - 4 or 5
Cardboard egg box cut outs - 4 to 5
Scissor
Googly eyes
Paint - green, red and black
Paintbrushes
Glue
Cress seeds - 4 to 5 tsp
Cotton wool
Red pipe cleaner or red card paper

Method for growing a Cress Caterpillar

1

Take four or five eggs shells and clean them. Remove any dirt or stain and wipe out clean. With the help of scissor, trim the top of the shells.

2

Pain each egg shell green with help of paint and brush. Once the paint dries, put red spots on each shell using red paint and brush.

3

Select one egg shell which you plan to put in front and stick googly eyes on it. If you do not have googly eyes, make out eyes with help of a card paper and stick on the egg shell. With the help of black paint and brush paint a mouth. Allow to dry.

4

Paint each egg box cut out with green color and allow them to dry. Once done place each egg shell in each egg box. This cardboard egg box will act as the dishes for the egg shell planters.

5

Place a wad of cotton in the bottom of each egg shell. Sprinkle 1 tsp of cress seeds on top of this cotton wad. Pour spoonful of water over the wool.

6

To make the antennae for the face of the caterpillar which has been glued googly eyes, twist the pipe cleaner and stick on both ends of the egg shell. If pipe cleaner is not available, you can cut out a spiral shape on red card paper and stick it on the face of the egg shell.

7

Place the caterpillar in the desired area and add little water daily. The cress plant takes about one week to grow and then you can just snip it out whenever you wish. Your Cress Caterpillar is ready.

Handy tips

1. Take care that you do not dry out the cotton wool.

2. Do not add too much water

3. Add water with help of a spoon.

The Old Top Sergeant - Poem By Berton Braley

The Old Top Sergeant 

        

         - By Berton Braley 

Twenty years of the army, of drawing a sergeant's pay

  And helping the West Point shavetails, fresh from the training school

To handle a bunch of soldiers and drill 'em the proper way

  (Which isn't always exactly according to book and rule).

I've seen 'em rise to Captains and Majors and Colonels, too,

  And me still only a sergeant, the same as I used to be,

And I knew that some of them didn't know as much as a sergeant knew,

  But I stuck to my daily duty--there wasn't a growl from me

Twenty years of the army,

  Serving in peace and war,

Standing the drill of the army mill,

  For that's what they paid me for

Twenty years with the army, which wasn't so much for size,

  But man for man I'd back it to lick any troops on earth.

'Twas a proud little classy army, as good as the flag it flies,

  And it takes an old top sergeant to know what the flag is worth.

Then--a shot at Sarejevo, and hell burst over there

  And the kaiser dragged us in it, and the bill for the draf was passed

And --they handed me my commission, and some shoulder straps to wear,

  And the crazy dream of my rooky days had changed to a fact at last.

Twenty years with the army,

  And it's great to know they call

On the guys like me for what will be

  The mightiest job of all.

Twenty years of the army, of doing what shavetails bid,

  And I know I haven't the polish that fellows like that will show,

And I hold a high opinion of the brains of a West Point kid,

  But I think I can make him hustle when it comes to the work I know.

But who cares where we come from, Plattsburg, ranks, or the Guard,

  This isn't a pink tea-party, but a War to be fought and won;

There's a serious job before us, a job that is huge and hard,

  And the social register don't count until we've got it done!

Twenty years in the army,

  And now I've got my chance.

Have I earned my straps? Well, you watch the chaps

  That I've trained for the game in France!

Whining and Dining - Poem by Mary Van Nattan

Whining and Dining

                        - By Mary Van Nattan

I always so enjoy to dine

With whining, little brats;

Who won't eat half you give them,

they're persnickety as cats.

The soups too hot, the corns too cold,

The pickles make them choke;  

They won't eat meat nor apple sauce,

And naughty they'll drink but coke.

They wont't eat peas, don't like you bread - 

For something in it crunches;

They gag on fat, the gravy's gross,

They won't eat grapes in bunches.

Tomatoes, onions, peppers, fish, 

Garlic nor cottage cheese;

Oh, it's a dish uncommon rare 

That truly seems to please.

No red sauce may the ice cream have,

"It's bleeding", they will say;

And gravely hand it to their mum

To take it clean away.

But let us speak of chocolate cake,

It must be frosted o'er;

Then they"ll devour three full slabs,

And calmly ask for more.

Oh, I do so always love to eat

With picky little pests,

Whose parents joy to make them

The most undesirable guests!

Glossary

Whining - complaining

Persnickety - disapproving giving too much attention to small details which may not be important and in a way would annoy people.

Nothing Gold Can Stay - Poem by Robert Frost

Nothing Gold Can Stay

     - by Robert Frost

Nature's first green is gold, 

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

A Patch of Snow - Poem by Robert Frost

A Patch of Snow

      -  By Robert Frost

There's a patch of old snow in a corner

That I should have guessed

Was a blow-away paper the rain

Had brought to rest.

It is speckled with grime as if

Small print overspread it,

The news of a day I've forgotten --

If I ever read it. 

Dust Of Snow - Poem by Robert Frost

Dust Of Snow

    - By Robert Frost

The way a crow 

Shook down on me

The dust of snow

From a hemlock tree.

Has given my heart

A change of mood

And saved some part

Of a day I had rued.