One of the first questions you often ask when you get or make a terrarium is “how am I going to water it?” or “how often should I water it?” Terrariums looks so beautiful and delicate, and their ecosystem is quite fragile so it’s a wise question to ask.
You can’t just chuck half a glass of water on it once a week and hope it will survive. Well you can, but it just won’t end well. Plus, watering a closed terrarium is actually quite different to watering an open terrarium. Once you know how to water your terrarium, it’s an easy job and more often than not your little ecosystem will give you signs that it needs watering.
Understand your terrarium
First thing’s first. Know which type of terrarium you have and follow the advice for watering that specific ecosystem. Yes, an open and a closed terrarium have completely different ecosystems.
Closed terrarium
A closed terrarium has an internal water-cycle as part of its ecosystem. This means it needs less frequent watering than an open terrarium. Moisture is trapped and recycled in a closed terrarium so there are different things to look out for. That’s why we have a different article on how often do you need to water a closed terrarium. Head there if you own this perfect mini garden.
Open Terrariums
Open terrariums do not have a water cycle going on in their ecosystem. This means that they need more frequent watering than a closed terrarium, as they have airflow, and this allows moisture to evaporate quicker. This article will look at how you can water your open terrarium, what to look for so you know its time to water your terrarium and the best type of water to use,
How to tell when you need to water your terrarium
There are a few indicators that you can easily check to see whether your open terrarium needs some water.
Check Soil Moisture
One of the key things to check before you water your open terrarium is the soil moisture. If you have leafy green plants and moss in your terrarium, check your soil moisture roughly every 7-10 days. This is really easy to do, you just pop your finger into the jar and about an inch into the soil.
If the soil feels dry, then your terrarium needs some water. On the other hand, if the soil feels moist, then you don’t need to water your terrarium, and you can check again in a week or so.
Can you see droplets?
Even in an open terrarium you can see moisture on the side of your glass, especially if you have tall sides. If you can see moisture droplets you do not need to water your terrarium. It is moist enough. Check this roughly every week.
Look at the bottom
Is the bottom of the terrarium container very wet and can you see water? If you can do not water your plants. This is a sign that they are being over-watered.
Seasonal watering schedule
In the winter months, outdoor plants don’t usually drink as much as it isn’t growing season, and this is true of plants in indoor terrariums too. In the winter months you will find that your terrarium will likely need watering less frequently. Although, indoor heating systems can dry out your terrarium if it is too close to a radiator.
In the Spring and Summer your terrarium will most likely need watering more often. Think to check every 7 days in Spring and Summer and every 10 days in the Winter.
How to Water an Open Terrarium?
Less is more when you come to water your terrarium. The last thing you want to do is flood your plants with lots of water as this will flood them. The less is more approach is best. You can always add more water if you need to, but you’ll struggle to drain it out of your terrarium.
This means that using a watering can or glass is not the best idea. The best way to water your open terrarium is actually to use a spray bottle and evenly mist the water on to your plants. You can aways direct more to larger plants if needed. A light even misting is usually more than enough for the plants in your open terrarium.
And remember, when you mist plants it takes a while for the water to filter down, so check the soil a little later and add more then if it still feels dry.
What water to use for your terrarium
Plants don’t really like tap water, as it can have chemicals in that upset the ecosystem. Distilled water is good for indoor plants, or even better use rain water. Not only is it free, but its actually really good for your indoor plants and will help your terrarium thrive.
How to tell if a terrarium is healthy?
A healthy, well looked after terrarium will have plants with string stems and bold green colours. You will see no excess water accumulating in the bottom and it won’t feel squelchy to the touch. Your plants will not have brown tips or be shrivelled.
Conclusion
When you know how to water the plants in your open terrarium it’s a much easier task and you feel confident looking after your miniature garden. By understanding your plants’ needs and observing the soil moisture levels, you can create a thriving terrarium ecosystem. With the right care your terrarium will flourish, providing a beautiful and low-maintenance garden inside your home.
