Just Create - Lithograph Edition

[silvercat17]

What are you working on? What have you finished? What do you need encouragement on?

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Remember to encourage other commenters and we have a discord where we can do work-alongs and chat, linked in the sticky

Comments

Well ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Today we went to a craft show. Among my finds was a fern, so I can make up a new terrarium around that. Maddenlingly, the actual terrarium booth was only selling stuff that they would put together, not items to take home and assemble personally. *headdesk* But I got the fern from someone else, along with a Mr. Stripey tomato that I already potted up. It's been a good day.

This is the previous terrarium I made in an antique jar.

[dragonjournal]

Wow. That's very educational, and NEAT! I'd try the same thing, but my cats take the point of having a glass anything into an opportunity to knock them off whatever surface they on.

But I'll admit, looking at your posts, I'm tempted.

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

Option 1: Secure the terrarium out of reach from cats. I would recommend using a globe-shaped container and placing it in a plant hanger (that doesn't have a tassel on the bottom) high above a north window.

Alternatively, put the thing in the middle of a wall with nothing nearby for cats to vault from. Because terraria need little light, it should be fine with a stickup light above it that has a downward-facing lightbulb. Then all you need is a small shelf to hold the terrarium.


Option 2: First, choose a terrarium with a lid that can be secured, such as a bail jar (which has a wire latch that goes over the lid). Set it up. Then attach it to a shelf using hot glue, velcro, an earthquake strap, or some other secure fastener.

It's also possible to seal a terrarium completely, but that's a bit trickier to get the biome right. A latching lid will let you take it off if you need to water or air out the container.

Some shelves even have a way to unlatch from their brackets, but won't come loose accidentally. Check your local hardware or home-improvement store for that.


Option 3: Get a container that is too big and heavy to knock over. When I was little, Mom had one that started life as a 5-gallon pickle jar. Recently I saw a giant home decor jar that was about as tall but even wider, although that was a pennymouth jar which needs a different setup method. Sometimes you can find a used aquarium at a thrift store, which may be 10 gallons or more! A pet store should have a glass lid and/or a plastic cover with light, if it doesn't come with one. Look for one that latches, or make a way to secure it.

Once you've poured a bag of gravel in the bottom, a big container is going nowhere. Secure a loose glass lid with something like earthquake putty or elastic. A pennymouth can be plugged with a cork of appropriate size that you pound in firmly. This kind of terrarium can sit on the floor near a window where it will get indirect light.

I hope this helps.

Re: Thank you!

[lilyhargrave]

OMG, I read about these terraria as a kid and always wanted to make one! Never did, though. Thanks for reminding me of that, they seem so lovely, a miniature piece of nature! I'll have to look more into it.

Re: Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

I'm glad I could inspire you. :D

Some basic divisions:

Largemouth -- a terrarium you can fit your hand inside, easy for beginners.

Smallmouth -- a terrarium you can fit your fingers inside, like a spice jar.

Pennymouth -- a terrarium with such as small opening that it requires tools to reach inside, or else you just pour in some topsoil and see what sprouts.


Open -- a container without a lid, which is barely a terrarium at all.

Closed -- a container with a lid that you can remove, a common choice and easy to work with.

Sealed -- a container with a lid fastened in place, which is challenging to balance the ecosystem but if you get it right is the ultimate "set it and forget it" houseplant.

Re: Well ...

[cornerofmadness]

Nice. Also I love Mr. Stripeys

Re: Well ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

I think heirloom tomatoes are awesome. I've been growing cherry and pear tomatoes. This year I got a bunch more large pots so I'm watching for heirloom varieties of larger tomatoes.

Re: Well ...

[cornerofmadness]

I've been growing them for years but have let them go in the last few mostly because of my health issues and the fact I'm no longer home much of the summer. I'm lucky locally that I can get some cool heirlooms (I need to go bug mom's BFF who has the seeds from the plants her father brought from Italy 100 years ago. I lost mine when the greenhouse misfunctioned. )

the one thing I will say is they are more prone to cracks and usually aren't as prolific but they are fun

Re: Well ...

[wideeyedloner]

I checked out your terrarium posts and enjoyed them a lot!

This is a tempting-looking project. I always admire the terraria I see and this could be a sign to start one soon-ish.

Re: Well ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I checked out your terrarium posts and enjoyed them a lot! <<

Thank you!

>> This is a tempting-looking project. I always admire the terraria I see and this could be a sign to start one soon-ish.<<

Go for it. Look at thrift stores or housewares for a nice big jar with a lid. Moss is the easiest plant to grow in a terrarium. Most ferns will grow in one too. So will some tropical plants like the very colorful nerve plant. Check your local garden store or houseplant store because some of them have a section for terrarium plants. But don't buy a container there because they'll jack up the prices. You can also just forage plants from your yard, as I often do.