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The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium - Science/Technology - Nairaland

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The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Onegai(f): 12:38pm On May 29, 2016
So, subject to another thread in Agriculture section:

https://www.nairaland.com/2894705/hibiscus-flower-society-calling-all/12#46078040

I decided to build a Terrarium.

A terrarium is a mini garden, which acts like a tropical greenhouse. It is a great tool to teach kids about the atmosphere, humidity, CO2 emissions, horticulture, Agriculture and Science. It's awesome! Plus it looks nice.

In the 1800s, an English botanist, Nathaniel Ward, travelled back from India with some plant specimens. He kept them in glass containers and realised that they thrived all through the months-long journey in the sealed container. And that was where a terraium was discovered.

A terrarium can be open or closed. I built 2 open one's but will build a closed one with my babies so we can all learn. A closed terrarium will require watering every 2 weeks because it is a sealed environment that works like a rainforest: indirect sunlight, a lot of moisture in the air (you will actually see beads of water form on the glass), a substrate that has drainage.


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrarium

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Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Onegai(f): 1:03pm On May 29, 2016
A terrarium is a good way of teaching about Natural sciences. Kids can build one and monitor it to see the effect of humidity, heat, light and moisture on certain plants. It's a good start to explaining why certain plants cannot grow in certain places and a place to start challenging young minds to develop a way to grow anything anywhere (so that our children won't buy tomatoes for N40,000 whilst we lament #TeachSTEMtoKids).

It's a great way to explain how our world is being affected by pollution and how the loss of our rainforests around the world will end up affecting Mankind. This is important to Nigeria because we just recently passed a bill banning the export of charcoal because people were cutting down forests (deforestation) and reducing the population of Kosso wood for example. And the more you deforest, the more you mess up the ecosystem. And that makes the earth unliveable.

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Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Onegai(f): 1:09pm On May 29, 2016
TERRARIUM SUPPLIES

A glass jar. It must be glass, plastic will break under the pressure it can be any type of jar, even an old Mayonnaise jar will do. markets in Lagos will provide one.

Rocks and pebbles or beads. I chose white rocks and pebbles but I've seen glass beads used and anything that will give drainage so that your roots don't sit in water and rot. This mimics the earth we plant on daily: underneath the soil is a harder substance. This is actually the most expensive thing to buy.

Charcoal. To deodorise everything.

Moss or a type of netting material. This helps the spol not to fall to the bottom of the pot.

Plants. You need small, slow-growing plants which require low light.

Decor. Some small toys will look nice in them.

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Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Onegai(f): 3:14pm On May 29, 2016
PLANTS

This it the hard part. You see, a lot of professional gardeners are in the business because, well, man must wack. So they don't take the time to know all about their business. None of them have heard of a terrarium. Most don't properly identify the plants but they do know the right growing condition. Sadly, half of them will prioritise making a sale rather than being honest and giving you want you need. So you have to do your research. Look around and get as much info as you can from the internet, get pictures of your needed plants and then go to the gardeners and carefully select them.

A closed terrarium requires plants that will grow naturally with lots of moisture and high humidity. So our local plants are great in this because Nigeria has that environment naturally (if you're in the South). Plants like Cactus and Succulents (example of a succulent is Aloe vera) are desert plants and require plenty of sun and a little quantity of water. So if you wanna use them, it has to be an open terrarium.

Below are examples of close and open terrarium.

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Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Onegai(f): 3:16pm On May 29, 2016
That is a picture of us assembling our open terrarium.

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Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Onegai(f): 5:09pm On May 29, 2016
Here is a picture showing some good low light plants you can use in a terrarium. Most can be round in Lagos.

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Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Canme4u(m): 11:58am On May 30, 2016
Nice one Op.

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Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by overhypedsteve(m): 12:18pm On Jun 01, 2016
Onegai:
That is a picture of us assembling our open terrarium.
can I just use sparogyra and aloe Vera
Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Onegai(f): 12:21pm On Jun 01, 2016
overhypedsteve:
can I just use sparogyra and aloe Vera

Please look up "Spirogyra" and make your decision.

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Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by overhypedsteve(m): 12:44pm On Jun 01, 2016
Onegai:


Please look up "Spirogyra" and make your decision.
nobody know too much, I am just asking for help
Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Onegai(f): 1:17pm On Jun 01, 2016
overhypedsteve:
nobody know too much, I am just asking for help

Do look up Spirogyra, it's an algae. So it grows around wet places,lots of water. There are some terrariums that have water features but they also have animals in those types and that are called Vivariums. A friend used to keep her albino python in one of those in her apartment. Animals like snakes, tortoises and frogs are good for Vivariums. Below are pictures of Vivariums. I believe a Vivarium is cheaper than a fish tank to maintain.

Aloe Vera is good for open terrariums. I think what you need is Moss (those green grassy stuff that grows in dark moist places). Just scrape some and put it on a rock with lots of water and little sunlight to grow. HTH

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Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Onegai(f): 7:20pm On Jun 09, 2016
So we built our Terrarium! Here it is below. The glass has was affordable and I believe the stones were expensive but honestly gravel will do the same cheaply and still look nice.

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Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by firestar(f): 8:48pm On Jun 09, 2016
Onegai-chan! Sugoi ne!

Planting tomatoes seedlings may just do it for me and other vine plants: pumpkin, watermelon...

Lovely inspirations!
That glass see-through table is magnificent. kiss

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Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Onegai(f): 9:59pm On Jun 09, 2016
firestar:
Onegai-chan! Sugoi ne!

Planting tomatoes seedlings may just do it for me and other vine plants: pumpkin, watermelon...

Lovely inspirations!
That glass see-through table is magnificent. kiss

Lol. Only one other person has ever guessed where my moniker comes from.

There's a thread in Agriulture section you can check out, if you wanna plant those. It's about flowers but we cover planting crops for personal use in urban spaces re: container gardening.

https://www.nairaland.com/2894705/hibiscus-flower-society-calling-all/13

I'm sure they can build the glass table in Nigeria. It's basically a centre table with a hollow interior and glass on the top.

2 Likes

Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by overhypedsteve(m): 10:39am On Jun 10, 2016
Onegai:
So we built our Terrarium! Here it is below. The glass has was affordable and I believe the stones were expensive but honestly gravel will do the same cheaply and still look nice.
how much did you get your glass bowl and where?
Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Onegai(f): 11:18am On Jun 10, 2016
overhypedsteve:
how much did you get your glass bowl and where?

They are sold in decor shops and in the markets (Balogun, Iponri etc). From N500 to N6000 depending on size and shape.

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Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Onegai(f): 8:44pm On Jun 13, 2016
You don't have to get a fancy glass jar, a regular glass jar or even a wine glass will do.

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Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Onegai(f): 6:53pm On Jul 02, 2016
These are some terrariums that have been built.

Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Princefrank90(m): 1:27am On Jul 25, 2016
Tank u guy for work well don
Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by prof800(m): 11:27pm On Aug 02, 2016
I am flabbergasted! Wow...! Onegai has done it again. Really good stuff. Really good stuff.

1 Like

Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Nobody: 11:37pm On Oct 13, 2016
Onegai:


Do look up Spirogyra, it's an algae. So it grows around wet places,lots of water. There are some terrariums that have water features but they also have animals in those types and that are called Vivariums. A friend used to keep her albino python in one of those in her apartment. Animals like snakes, tortoises and frogs are good for Vivariums. Below are pictures of Vivariums. I believe a Vivarium is cheaper than a fish tank to maintain.

Aloe Vera is good for open terrariums. I think what you need is Moss (those green grassy stuff thplaces). Just scrape some and put it on a rock with lots of water and little sunlight to grow. HTH
Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Nobody: 11:37pm On Oct 13, 2016
Onegai:


Do look up Spirogyra, it's an algae. So it grows around wet places,lots of water. There are some terrariums that have water features but they also have animals in those types and that are called Vivariums. A friend used to keep her albino python in one of those in her apartment. Animals like snakes, tortoises and frogs are good for Vivariums. Below are pictures of Vivariums. I believe a Vivarium is cheaper than a fish tank to maintain.

Aloe Vera is good for open terrariums. I think what you need is Moss (those green grassy stuff that grows in dark moist places). Just scrape some and put it on a rock with lots of water and little sunlight to grow. HTH

where can i get one,Vivarium i mean
Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Onegai(f): 6:11am On Oct 14, 2016
dairykidd:


where can i get one,Vivarium i mean

I dunno, you may have to build it. I think your best bet is to contact one of those Aquarium sellers and get an empty tank, then install the lights yourself. Then rescue one of the snakes constantly being eaten on the frontpage smiley and put it inside.
Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Nobody: 3:05pm On Oct 14, 2016
Onegai:


I dunno, you may have to build it. I think your best bet is to contact one of those Aquarium sellers and get an empty tank, then install the lights yourself. Then rescue one of the snakes constantly being eaten on the frontpage smiley and put it inside.

Lolss not snakes tho tortoise or probably a chameleon..used to have one but had to let it go back to the wild cos i couldnt find a conducive place for it.Thanks tho smiley
Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by MrBONE2(m): 9:46am On May 05, 2017
Onegai:
So, subject to another thread in Agriculture section:

https://www.nairaland.com/2894705/hibiscus-flower-society-calling-all/12#46078040

I decided to build a Terrarium.

A terrarium is a mini garden, which acts like a tropical greenhouse. It is a great tool to teach kids about the atmosphere, humidity, CO2 emissions, horticulture, Agriculture and Science. It's awesome! Plus it looks nice.

In the 1800s, an English botanist, Nathaniel Ward, travelled back from India with some plant specimens. He kept them in glass containers and realised that they thrived all through the months-long journey in the sealed container. And that was where a terraium was discovered.

A terrarium can be open or closed. I built 2 open one's but will build a closed one with my babies so we can all learn. A closed terrarium will require watering every 2 weeks because it is a sealed environment that works like a rainforest: indirect sunlight, a lot of moisture in the air (you will actually see beads of water form on the glass), a substrate that has drainage.


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrarium
I Just came across this thread i must tell you it really interesting. May GREAT ONE bless you
Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Onegai(f): 3:54am On May 06, 2017
MrBONE2:
I Just came across this thread i must tell you it really interesting. May GREAT ONE bless you

Thanks!
Re: The Science Of Nature: Building A Terrarium by Blakjewelry(m): 7:27pm On Jun 01, 2018
Wow cool, nice one

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