Manju London

When was the last time you thought of not having enough space or time for gardening? Well, what if we say that you could have not just a garden but an eco system in itself, be it at your home or even at your office desk!

Terrariums are miniature gardens housed in glass containers. Based on your interest you may have a closed terrarium or an open terrarium. Closed terrariums have a lid and are used to house plants that thrive in moist conditions. For plants that live in drier conditions an open terrarium is suitable.

All you need is to take a glass container and make a layer of gravel first. Above this layer, add a thin layer of activated charcoal to keep the system purified. Now add potting soil and place the plants of your choice. You may decorate it more by adding pebbles/gravel/small figurines to make it look more natural. Spray some water and your terrarium is ready.

In a closed terrarium, you should be able to see light moisture on the walls of the container everyday. If there is too much moisture leave the container open for a while or if there is no moisture, spray some water and keep it closed again. An open terrarium needs watering weekly once at least. Also remember not to keep the terrarium under direct sunlight. Can garden maintenance get easier than this? And to make your life easier, terrarium starter kits are available for order on market.