Keeping a Food Terrarium in Your Home

KEEPING A FOOD TERRARIUM IN YOUR HOME

While they are most often used for growing flowers and other non-edible plants, it is possible to grow food inside of a terrarium.

Hikingware.com encourages you to consider the uses an indoor terrarium could have during a disaster or emergency that cuts you off from getting out for fresh food, or even just the chance to look at some greenery.

A terrarium is a closed or almost closed mini-ecosystem, enclosed in a clear container. Depending on what’s inside, the lid will either fully or partially cover the bottle. The lid will help control the environment inside your terrarium.

For each terrarium you’ll need:

• A clean, clear container with a wide top and a lid such as:
  • A large mason jar
  • A cake stand
  • A gallon pitcher
  • An aquarium
  • A plastic deli container
• Activated charcoal pieces or an aquarium filter
• Potting soil that drains well
• Enough pebbles to line the bottom of the container a by ½ inch
• Sphagnum moss
• Your desired plants and seeds (more details below)
• A spray bottle for misting
• Plastic wrap to cover the top if your container’s lid is missing or doesn’t cover tightly.

How to Assemble Your Terrarium

You’ll need four layers at the bottom of each terrarium. They are each essential to creating a healthy, low-maintenance system.

First, place a layer of pebbles or cleaned gravel at the bottom of your container. This layer allows drainage from the upper layers, and prevents your plants from rotting at the roots.

The second layer is a thin layer of activated charcoal. You can also use a piece of aquarium filter cut to size. The charcoal absorbs odors from the decomposition that’ll happen as your garden grows and keeps the soil clean.

If your plants don’t need a tropical environment, you can skip the charcoal. For these plants, you’ll be leaving the lid off of your terrarium at least partially, and the fresh air will keep the odor down.

Next you’ll add a layer of sphagnum moss. This moss is often found in swampy areas, and is also known as sheet moss. It will prevent the soil on top from making its way down to the filtering material.

Your final layer before adding plants is potting soil. You’ll want soil that stays well drained. A soil mixture comprised of peat moss, vermiculite and perlite works really well for growing in small spaces.

The soil needs to be deep enough to accommodate root growth. Three inches is a good starting point, though you can adjust this based on the plants you are growing.

Before planting, you’ll want to pack down your terrarium’s base as much as possible. You can use your hand, or a small gardening tool that’ll fit inside your container. A hand-held potato masher also works.

This packing process will remove air pockets in the soil and gravel, and help your plants grow better. Once packed, your soil and drainage materials should take up about a quarter of your terrarium container.

Not every food plant is suited for terrarium growth. You want slower growing plants that won’t grow bigger than your container. Here are some that gardeners have had success with:

• Dwarf tomato plants
• Dwarf blueberry plants
• Herbs such as mint, thyme, and oregano
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Arugula
• Green onions
• Creeping figs

A terrarium is a great project for the kids. It's simple and low maintenance, and it will give your children a sense of contributing to the welfare of the entire family as they care for it consistently. Unlike a bag of split peas, a glass terrarium can actually add beauty and color to your living room decor while providing a bit of security in times of emergency.