do closed terrariums actually work?
Ever wondered how on God’s green earth an enclosed terrarium can sustain itself?
The idea of an entirely self-contained mini ecosystem might seem entirely impossible - when most of us think about plant growth, or even just life, air and water are one of the main things that come to mind. And yet, little of either regularly get in.
Believe it or not, these enclosed planters have their own water and air cycles that keep everything in balance.
First, let’s talk water.
This one’s a bit more straightforward in that you can see it all happening quite clearly: after first making a terrarium, you give it its first sip of water. This gets absorbed by the soil and the plants ‘drink’ it. The water then evaporates from the leaves, condensation forms on the glass and these droplets of water drip back down the terrarium into the soil - the cycle starts all over again, only without you adding any more water.
Of course, sometimes there’s too much - if condensation builds up, occasionally you may need to open it up for the excess moisture to escape.
There may also be too little, but your plants should give you visual cues if this is the case.
Once again, careful observation is vital when taking care of plants, terrariums included.
(Something I talk quite a lot about in my book! Link here: https://www.dirtyrootsberlin.com/leave-it-the-fuck-alone-info)
Now, on to air.
You’re probably familiar with photosynthesis: plants take in carbon dioxide, and release oxygen.
But stuck in a container that’s closed (almost) permanently? That’s actually a bit more interesting.
In reality, plants engage in a few different metabolic processes, some of which actually produce carbon dioxide as a byproduct. Microorganisms like bacteria in the soil itself are also working to break down organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide as they do.
As both of these processes are working in the background, some leaves naturally fall off. As they fall to the soil and begin to decompose, the bacteria break it down and release more carbon dioxide into the air for the plant to take in. This cycle creates a continuous cycle and what sustains the plant inside.
So, do closed terrariums actually work?
Yes! And it’s fascinating seeing our own planet’s cycles play out on a small scale. But creating a thriving terrarium is as much about being attentive and your own mindful observation than its internal processes.
If you want to check out one of the most impressive examples of a successful enclosed terrarium, check out this article about a 60-year-old Tradescantia that the owner claimed has only been watered once:
(The article is from the Daily Mail so is unfortunately not the most reputable. But it does have the main facts in there from when it was initially reported on in 2013!)
