Terrarium care is often perceived as an exact science. While we'd like to provide precise watering schedules, specific charcoal quantities, or ideal placement in your home, the reality is that it varies...
We're here to give our top care tips to help you keep your terrarium as happy & healthy as possible.
We split our care tips into 3 categories:
- Light
- Water
- General Maintenance
1. Light
We recommend that bright, indirect light or fluorescent grow lights are be best for your terrarium. Place your terrarium near a bright window but not in direct rays of sunlight, a north facing window is ideal. Aim for 4-6 hours of indirect sunshine a day. Do not move your terrarium around to follow sun or avoid it.
We personally keep our terrariums under grow lights, the results are incomparable to the usual cloudy grey skies we get instead of sunshine in England.
2. Water
Our most important tip when it comes to watering is to simply keep an eye on your terrarium! Condensation is a key indicator of good moisture. A handful of drops of condensation is the ideal level of moisture. If you see no condensation on your terrarium glass for a few days, your terrarium needs watering.
Give your terrarium a good misting from a spray bottle, do not pour. Use distilled or filtered water for best results.
Another key indicator of moisture levels is the soil. The soil should feel like a damp sponge to the touch. The soil should not be soaked through and neither should it be dry & crumbly.
3. General Maintenance
Don't forget this is a living ecosystem so it will need some occasional care. As much as people believe nothing ever needs to be done with terrariums (the case for few), they still need occasional maintenance.
Leaves can often shed to make room for new ones, if you see any fallen leaves or dying plants, remove them immediately to avoid mould.
Don’t panic if your terrarium glass becomes foggy, if it stays foggy for a few days, open the lid for a few minutes to allow natural airflow. If you’re moving the terrarium, make sure to keep it upright & secure.