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Want to quickly uplift your spirits and connect to the magic in life? Make a terrarium garden with a child. With their bird’s eye view of Wonderland, kids have the ability to take you into another dimension where time stands still and fun prevails. Better yet, gardening is an activity that teaches children a wide variety of valuable skills and life lessons.
The dinosaur terrarium garden pictured here is the work of 13-year-old Logan (also pictured.) He says he really enjoyed building his terrarium, which is located on his desk in his bedroom.
“What I liked about making the terrarium and now growing it is that I got the opportunity to give life and express my own creativity,” says Logan. “Gardening involves science, which I also really like, and I’m interested instudying paleontology. I love everything about dinosaurs.”
Logan suggests that other kids and adults try terrarium gardening, because it’s easy to do and gives you a view of nature indoors.
“My terrarium is pretty much always in my view when I’m in my bedroom, and I really like that,” he says. “I can take a quick glance at it when I’m working on my computer, which makes me feel good, and the terrarium is right next to my bed, so I have nature near me when I’m sleeping.”
Here are Logan’s tips for successful terrarium gardening for kids.
Choose a theme. “You can do a regular terrarium with mosses and plants, or you can pick a theme, which is more exciting,” he says. “Think of your favorite things and then narrow it down until you have one idea.”
Pick your plants. “Get plants that fit your theme,” says Logan. “I chose succulents that look prehistoric, so they would fit my dinosaur theme,” he says.
Make the terrarium. “It’s really easy to make the terrarium. First you fill a glass bowl about two-thirds with soil and then put in your plants. Add more soil to cover up the roots and pat it down. Then put down moss, so it looks like grass, and add decorations last, like dinosaur figurines and rocks and other items.”
Grow under plant lights. Logan’s terrarium does well, because he has it under a full-spectrum light on a timer from 8 am to 8 pm daily. Sufficient lighting is important for terrarium plants.
Watch watering. Logan only waters his succulents occasionally using a turkey baster that he uses to direct the water to the soil and way from the plant foliage. Overly wet leaves can lead to rot in an aquarium, as can soggy soil.
Relax and have fun. “It’s exciting to make your own terrarium and really calming,” says Logan.
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