Tropical Terrarium Care Instructions

Terrariums are micro-ecosystems, following the same principle the earth runs on. The rain falls, evaporates into the air, gathers in the clouds, and falls again. It is the beautiful cycle of nature.

LIGHT

Terrariums thrive with plenty of bright, indirect sunlight. It’s the most important factor for a healthy, successful terrarium. Light should not be filtered through curtains, open blinds, or plantation shutters.

Locations that receive a full spectrum of light from multiple angles are ideal. If light comes from only one direction, rotate your terrarium occasionally throughout the week. Be sure to keep your terrarium out of direct sunlight, as you may burn the plants.

A very good indicator that your terrarium is happy is seeing it go through the cycles of condensation and absorption phases several times a day. Pay close attention to this initially and if it is not cycling, try moving the terrarium to a brighter location and continue to monitor.

FERTILIZING

Do not fertilize. As the nutrients are absorbed, the plants growth will slow down, helping to keep them under control.

WATERING

Because closed terrariums recycle their moisture, they require very little attention and should not be watered. It’s important, however, to establish the right humidity balance to produce proper moisture levels.

Remove the lid from your terrarium for 30-60 minutes every week to 10 days. Air circulation helps your terrarium thrive.

ORCHID CARE

If you have purchased a terrarium with a blooming orchid, the blooms will eventually mature and fall off. The dead blooms need to be removed as quickly as possible, especially if it has fallen onto other plants.

When the orchid is out of bloom, cut the stem at the base to promote regrowth and avoid developing a fungus or mold.

The orchid will root, like other plants, and will eventually re-bloom. If you wish to enjoy a blooming orchid at all times, we offer an orchid change out service.

If you have any questions or concerns about your terrarium, please contact us immediately. You may email pictures to boutique@lejardinfrancais.com showing close up shots of your plants as well as from as far away as possible so that we can see the light source.

MAINTENANCE

Many plants in your terrarium will gradually outgrow their limited space. A little trimming quickly brings them into bounds, and often promotes side shoots that fill out the plants. Be sure to remove all vegetation trimmed from the terrarium.

If your plants are pressed against the glass, you may trim the tips. If the plants are simply touching the glass, adjust their position slightly allowing any trapped water to run down the glass and air to circulate around the leaf.

Any plant debris that is no longer living will decay and spread to other plants. This could cause the plants in your terrarium to die out and/or rot. If you see any signs of decay, remove the affected parts of the plant. If this is the case, make sure your terrarium is getting enough light and remove the lid for two to four hours to clear the air.

In a sealed terrarium, any naturally decaying organic material will turn into mold or fungus and therefore needs to be removed to not affect the rest of the plants. If you notice such problem, simply remove it.

Clean the glass preferably using a moist paper towel with water. You must not use any type of cleaning products. For stronger cleaning effect, you may use diluted white vinegar.