If you have purchased one of our mini terrariums from a market or the Makers Den and want to make sure it thrives! Then these easy 6 steps are for you.

Most of our mini terrariums aren’t Bioactive because they are too small for the isopods but some of our smaller terrariums will contain just springtails.

1. The most important thing to remember with any terrarium especially a small terrarium is to avoid direct sunlight, the heat will build up inside the terrarium and you will cook your plants. Avoid placing your terrarium on windows sills and maybe place it on a shelf or your bedside table, your terrarium will thrive with some indirect sunlight. 

 2. The key to a successful terrarium is condensation, If your terrarium looks a little dry NEVER pour water into it you could add to much water and your plants will get root rot and die. I suggest misting a small amount of water and keeping an eye on it over the next couple days and repeat if needed. If you see condensation inside your terrarium the water cycle is happening and you have the correct water levels. 

3. If your plants are filling up your terrarium and you would like to give it a tidy up simply use a pair of scissors or small clippers and trim back the plants and remove the cuttings, if you cut below the node you can keep the cuttings and propagate them.

4. If unfortunately your terrarium has failed and your plants have died, DONT throw your terrarium away it is easy to start again. There are a few different options you can do to restart a terrarium. One option is to take some cuttings from your plants at home and place them inside your terrarium with a spritz of water and you will have roots in no time. If you don’t have any plants to take cuttings from you can buy some small plants and add them in. If your not confident in doing these steps another option is if you live in the Toowoomba area you can drop your terrarium into the Makers Den in Clifford gardens and I can restart your terrarium for you. 

5. Dust the outside of your terrarium so your plants can get sunlight, If the inside of your terrarium needs a clean use some paper towel and water DO NOT USE your plantastic potion or any other chemicals inside your terrarium especially if your terrarium contains isopods and/or springtails. Wet the paper towel and wipe the inside of the glass, a pair of tweezers will help you reach inside the terrarium to clean.

6. If you notice mould in your terrarium don’t stress this can happen in terrariums due to humidity and lack of ventilation. You can open the lid to let excess moisture evaporate and lower the humidity levels, just make sure you don’t let it dry out too much. If your terrarium lid has mould you can simply wipe the lid with a damp cloth or paper towel and place it back on your terrarium. If you are concerned about mould in your terrarium a great option is to add in some springtails, springtails are excellent for terrariums due to their natural ability to self regulate their population. The springtails population will fluctuate to reflect the amount of food there is, their main source of food is mould arising from decaying matter like dead leaves. Springtails will help to break down organic matter in the soil, which will improve the nutrients that are available for the plants.