Community Blog

Love cultivating greenery in your apartment? Consider elevating your indoor gardening experience by creating your own terrarium.

Terrariums are miniature, self-sustaining oases that not only feature living organisms but also artistically transform your space. By incorporating tiny plants and decor, these organic ecosystems introduce a refreshing breath of nature into apartment life.

Adopting a terrarium as part of your decor offers a low-maintenance solution; they mainly require sunlight and a light misting periodically to flourish.

The most appealing aspect is the ability to customize. Through designing a terrarium, you can translate your personal style and preferences into a vibrant living accessory.

Let's explore how to embark on crafting this miniature universe.

Choose Your Container

Sitting in your apartment surrounded by unused glass jars or fishbowls? These common items can serve as ideal containers for your terrarium. As long as it's a transparent container without drainage holes, with a wide opening, you're good to go.

While specific terrarium containers can be found at garden centers, they may occupy a larger chunk of your budget. Remember, glass bottles with narrow openings, although cheaper, complicate the construction and care of your terrarium.

Select Your Plants

The plant selection is crucial as it influences both your substrate choice and your terrarium's theme.

Operating on a budget? Take a stroll around your local neighborhood in Corinth to discover rocks and humidity-loving plants.

Alternatively, nurseries offer terrarium plants like air plants, cacti, and other suited varieties.

• Air plants - With varieties like Tillandsia thriving in terrariums, these plants absorb moisture from the air, making them perfect for humid setups.
• Cacti and succulents - Known for their resilience, these plants excel in specific terrarium conditions. Opt for a sizable container if they are your choice.
• Other rooted plants - If humidity and limited drainage concerns you, choose ferns, carnivorous plants, or peperomia for easy maintenance.

Prepare a Drainage Layer and Soil Barrier

With terrariums lacking drainage, a makeshift system is necessary to prevent root saturation and rot.

Begin by preparing a mixture of gravel and activated charcoal (three parts gravel to one part charcoal), moisten slightly with water. First line the terrarium with gravel, followed by a layer of moist charcoal.

The next step is installing a soil barrier which allows water flow yet prevents substrate invasion into the drainage layer. This can be achieved using non-compostable materials, like plastic mesh.

Set Your Substrate

Your substrate or medium, reflects your plants' natural growth environment.

Air plants should rest upon driftwood or similar structures anchoring their roots.

If cacti are your choice, a special cactus mix might include volcanic rocks, sand, perlite, or clay pebbles.

For plants needing humidity, select a mix of sand, peat moss, perlite, and potting soil.

Introduce Plants into Their Glass Habitat

With your medium in place, it's time to construct your living artwork.

Add moss to the soil bed for a realistic touch and to minimize water splash damage during watering. Before introducing plants, clean the glass using cotton swabs for an unobstructed view.

Arrange larger plants first, followed by smaller ones, then finalize the design with stones or miniature accents. Keeping the terrarium in a sunny, indirect light spot ensures vibrant growth.

Venturing into terrarium crafting is rewarding and brings a slice of nature into your living quarters. With a well-thought selection of plants and materials alongside appropriate care, your tiny garden is set to thrive.

Why Choose Oxford at The Boulevard for Apartment Living?

Opting for Oxford at The Boulevard means embracing a harmonious community environment in Corinth, melding modern living with unique conveniences, including individual garages. Enjoy exploring the features and amenities that make it the ideal choice for anyone seeking enhanced apartment living.