Making a Terrarium

Want to add a little bit of greenery around your house?  Why not make a Terrarium?  A Terrarium can add life and beauty to a dual space in your home.  Put them in the kitchen, home office, living room, or anywhere you want.  They can be made in any size or shape glass container that you want.  Terrariums are very easy to make and each one is unique.  The hardest part about making a Terrarium will be is picking out the plants that you want.  So lets talk about what the best plants to put in a Terrarium. You can use just about any plant that will fit into the container that you choose.  The best’s plants to use would be the moon valley friendship plant, spider fern, star-shape Cryptanthus bivittatus, nerve plant, Peperomia caperata, Selaginella kraussiana, Pilea glauca, Tillandsia stricta, black mundo grass, moss, Saxifraga stolonifera, and the hens and chicks.  You don’t have to just use these plants for your terrarium though, almost any small plant will do.  A cactus is not recommended because they will more than likely rot within a week of being planted in a Terrarium.


Once you pick your plants then you need to get the other supplies.  The Supplies that you need are your glass container, activated charcoal pieces, potting soil, gloves, your plants, sheet moss, and a watering can.  Now it is time to assemble your terrarium garden.  Step one is to fill the bottom of your glass container with one to two inches of the charcoal.  Now combined the soil and a little bit of extra charcoal with your hand.  Then add the soil mixture to your glass container filling it one third to a forth full   All that is left is to add your plants to your soil.  Be sure not to jam your terrarium too full of plants or they may not do well. Once you have put your plants in you can add more soil to pack down if needed and then water your plants.  Be sure to place your terrarium so it can get some natural sunlight.  Just read about what type of sun your plants like.  Remember this is your terrarium so make it how you want and have fun.  This is a very easy project to complete and every terrarium turns out beautiful.  This is also a great gift for family or a friend.  So get creative and get to work! 

The Best Vines to Stop Erosion

How vegetation can help to stop soil erosion:

Vines are useful in preventing or stopping land erosion. They are good for this purpose for many reasons. Below the surface, their roots grow together and assist in binding the soil, making it more difficult for forces that cause erosion, such a wind or rain, to break the soil apart. Above the surface, the tendrils grow together, with other plants and objects to form an interwoven mat of vegetation that protects the soil, buffering it from direct impact with rain or wind.

Although many plants will also help to stop erosion, the vine offers some advantages that other plants lack. Primarily vines are good at protecting slopes because they grow both vertically and horizontally. Furthermore, most species are invasive; they will grow until they completely fill the area. This makes them useful in large scale projects.

Things to consider:

Take precautions when planting near gardens, trees or buildings as some species have been known to damage structures and overwhelm other flora. Before purchasing a vine, it is best to consult a local or Online Nursery as some species are prohibited in certain states.

English Ivy will grow on slopes, gardens, trees and buildings and can reach a height of ninety feet. It is a flowering vine producing greenish yellow flowers from late summer to late autumn. Be aware the berries of the English Ivy are poisonous to humans.

The Vinca Minor, or dwarf Periwinckle will grow to cover the ground, but only climbs vertically to height of sixteen inches. The Vinca Minor produces light purple flowers from early spring to midsummer. This is a hardy, disease resistant, and pesticide resistant vine.

Finding The Right Type Vine:

Many local nurseries have vines for sale that are both adapted for your region and not restricted by state laws due to their invasiveness. An Online Nursery will often have large selections of vines for sale. Keep in mind that not every variety of vine may be available at all times of the year. Furthermore there may be state restriction as to which species may be imported. For details and information, I find that a local nursery can help in making your decision concerning which vine would be best for you.

Vines For Sale