East Gippsland Home and Lifestyle

PAGE 40 | Home &Lifestyle Add greenery with a terrarium They’re easy to make and look great - terrariums are the perfect way to brighten your indoor space. A terrarium is a small collection of small, decorative plants growing in a glass bowl, jar or other transparent container. The opening is usually quite large, similar to a fish bowl, as it allows the gardener to access all the greenery inside. A terrarium lives inside and only needs to be watered intermittently, making them great for those looking for an easy introduction to indoor plants. Terrariums also limit mess and can be placed out of the way of paws and curious little hands. Here’s how to make a terrarium of your own: Tools - Spoon - Aqua systems 500ml multi-purpose trigger spray bottle - Gardening gloves - Garden trowel - Four piece funnel set Materials - Assorted plants - Horticultural charcoal - Glass bowl planter - Cacti and succulent premium potting mix - Pebbles/decorative stones 1. Choose your container -Terrariums are best in glassware - you don’t want to hide all those layers. It also makes it easier to keep an eye on the level of moisture. 2. Create the base layer - Using a mix of different sands or crushed rock, layer your base of the terrarium, then add a layer of larger sized rocks or pebbles, followed by some crushed quartz to make sure the layer on top won’t fall through the rocks. The easiest way to add to your terrarium is with a small spade or a spoon. If you’re working with a container that has a small opening, you may prefer to use a funnel. 3. Add the charcoal - Now add a layer of activated charcoal. This will help keep fungus and bad bacteria down, as well as prevent any smells coming from your terrarium. Spread a 2cm layer. 4. Potting mix - Next, add a 3cm layer of potting mix on top of the charcoal, then add your plants, spreading out the roots so they’re sitting on the soil. Add all your plants and then spoon on a small amount of potting mix to cover. It’s best not to mix cacti and succulents with other plants, as they have different watering requirements. 5. Decorate your terrarium - Add any crushed rocks or figurines for decoration. 6. Water - Using a spray bottle, lightly spray the terrarium. The easiest way to tell if your terrarium needs watering is if you poke your finger into the soil - if it’s dry, it needs water. However, try not to water too much - if there’s a puddle at the bottom of your terrarium, you’ve overwatered. A1 Solar & Electrical Gippsland 5153 1294 | 15 Campbells Drive, Bairnsdale a1solarandelectrical@outlook.com SOLAR SERVICES • Residential & Commercial Solar • Grid Connect & Hybrid Inverters • Battery Storage Systems • Stand Alone/Off Grid ELECTRICAL SERVICES • Domestic & Commercial • New Builds • Switchboard Upgrades • General Electrical Works LOOKING TO GO SOLAR OR JUST NEED A SPARKY? We’re here to help. EN14625

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