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TheBasicsofClosedJarTerrariums by

organgrinder(/member/organgrinder/)inhome(/tag/typeid/categoryhome/)Egardening(/tag/typeid/categoryhome/channelgardening/)
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Step2:PreparingMoss

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organgrinder
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Bio:Iliketomakethings,allofthethings,
allofthetime.
Morebyorgangrinder:

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PreparingMossinContainers
Brooch/)

WhenIputthemossintocontainersImixupthetypesandtrynottobreakupthe
clumpstoomuch.ItisbettertohavelargeclumpsthatIcanbreakupwhensetting
upaJarratherthanhavetoputinabunchofsmallclumps.Ileavethesoilthat

(/id/Banana

cameupwiththemossonthemoss.
Bread4/)

Ihavefounditisessentialtousecontainersapprox57cmstall.Themossdoesgo
offinshallowerordeepercontainers.Iwillexplainabitaboutthiswhenwegetto
makingtheTerrarium.
Whenyouputitintoacontaineryoumayneedtosprayitifitisdry.Itisbetterto
underspraythanoverspray.Iusuallysaytwosprayswiththesprayerandsee
howitgoes.Ifyouhavealookatmyphotosyoucanseethelevelofcondensation
onthewallsofthecontainers.Thetrickistonotoverwaterasyougetmoremould.
Ifmossiswaterloggeditoftengivesup.Undersprayingmeansyourmosslooks
dryandcrunchy.

OncethemossisinthecontainersIputthelidonandcheckthemosseveryfew
daysandpulloutmouldyorbrownpatches.
Ifthemossinthecontainersgrowsmouldthrowthemouldybitsout.Ifitgoes
brownthrowitinthegarden,itwillprobablycomebacktolifeintherightspacein
thegardenbutisnotsuitableforaclosedenvironment.
Youcanalsoplanthealthymossinsuitablespotsinthegardentogetmoretogrow!

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Wehaveabenicecommentpolicy.

Pleasebepositiveandconstructive.

wIMadeit!

AddImages

BaileyS7(/member/BaileyS7)

PostComment

11monthsago

Reply

thismightsoundlikeasillyquestionbutit'sforaschoolproject.isthereanything
thingthatyoucanputinaterrariumandhaveitsurvivewhileneverremovingthelid
oraddingwaterforanentireyear?wecan'tmesswithitandcanonlyobserveitfor
thewholeyear.

AstroDude03(/member/AstroDude03) . BaileyS7(/member/BaileyS7)

Reply

2daysago

Ifthereareplantsandwater,maybeasmalllogortwo,thenants
shouldbeabletosurviveandflourish.IhavenottriedotherinsectsbutI
expectthattheyworkaswell.

KaitR1(/member/KaitR1) . BaileyS7(/member/BaileyS7)

9monthsago

Reply

Amonthlate,butIstillwannasaythataDavidLatimeplantedaSpiderwort
plantinalargejar,watereditonceandsealedit.it'sbeenthrivingforforty
yearsinaselfcontainedecosystemThewaterbuildsupinthebottleand
rainsbackdown,deadleavesrotandreleasecarbondioxide.Alternatives
thatcometomindwouldbeanEcoSphereorBYOESunderwaterself
substainedecosystemswithshrimp,algaeandsomebacteria.Ihopeit'snot
toolateforideas!^^

BlueBrainG(/member/BlueBrainG) . BaileyS7(/member/BaileyS7)

Wethersomethingdrinkswaterornotiftheresatightsealthey
waterprobablywontgetoutputabuginitorsomething

MarjorieD3(/member/MarjorieD3)

Reply

10monthsago

9monthsago

Reply

IwanttoputfauxfoliageinmyglassclochecanIusegreenmossasacover,I
havesomeinmyyard

kahli.bingo(/member/kahli.bingo)

ayearago

Reply

Doyouhavefinishedterraniumsforsale,orknowsonewherewhichsellsthem...
Afteroneforagift.

GreggH1(/member/GreggH1) . kahli.bingo(/member/kahli.bingo)

CheckoutRoosevelt'sTerrariumsinPortland,OregonintheUS.
Theyshipkitsandsellplantedwetterrariumslocally.

X
8

Reply

ayearago

organgrinder(/member/organgrinder)(author) . kahli.bingo
(/member/kahli.bingo)

ayearago

hiKahli,No,Idontsellthembutaquickgooglesearchfoundthisplace
http://www.greenglassterrariums.com/#!/gallery

Reply

fluffypink(/member/fluffypink)

ayearago

Reply

Youcanbuyactivatedcharcoalatpetstores.It'susedinaquariums.

gbet(/member/gbet)

2yearsago

Reply

Organgrinder,younevermadeacommenteitherfororagainstpreservedmoss
thatwon'tgetmould.ShouldIassumethatyoudon'tlikeit?Granted,Iknowreal
mossismuchbetterlookingbutifthere'sachanceofitgettingmould,andhaving
tobereplacedtimeandtimeagain,isn'tpreservedmossatleastanalternativeto
havingahealthyenviromentinsideaclosedterrarium?I'monlyaskingthisinorder
tolearn.I'mnottryingtotellpeoplewhattheyshoulddo.
Thankyouforyourtimeandforyourknowledge,
Gordon

X
8

organgrinder(/member/organgrinder)(author) . gbet(/member/gbet)

Reply

2yearsago

hiGordon,I'veneverusedpreservedmossandsticktothereal
stuff.LivinginBrisbaneitisveryhumidhereandourlocalmosslikesthatso
tendstodowellinclosedTerrariums.
Ialwaysencouragemystudentstogivethingsagoandseewhathappens.
HaveyouusedpreservedmosssuccessfullyinclosedTerrariums?
Aroundhereyoucanalsopickuphobbyproductsthataremadeofplastic
andareagreatalternativetousingrealmossifyoujustlikethelookofthe
Terrariumbutdon'twantthehassle.

gbet(/member/gbet)

2yearsago

Reply

Weallseemtowantbeautifulmossineitherouropenorclosedterrariums.
Regularmossseemstonotliketheveryhumidatmosphereinaclosedterrarium
andwilldevelopmoldwhichcanspreadeasily.
TheonemossthatI'vefoundthatwillnotproducemoldandwilllastforyearsis
preservedmosswhichyoucaneducateyourselfaboutitusingthesearchengine
ofyourchoice.Thismosshasbeentreatedandneedsmistingwhenyoufirststart
toinsertitinsideyourterrarium.Goodluck!

yanjing.pak(/member/yanjing.pak)

2yearsago

Reply

IamgladtoseeyourinstructionsandexperiencesonTerrarium!Igetstartedover
thelastweekendandhopemylittleplanetwillgrowwell.Thankyouverymuchfor
yourtips!

X
8

organgrinder(/member/organgrinder)(author) . yanjing.pak
(/member/yanjing.pak)

2yearsago

Reply

2yearsago

Reply

goodluck!

AatroxD(/member/AatroxD)

Hi,Iamplanningtodoaterrarium,IwillbeusingmossbutIwillbutasnailinit,I
haveaquestion.Whatistheactivatedcharcoal/carbonusedforandifmyplanis
ok

X
8

organgrinder(/member/organgrinder)(author) . AatroxD(/member/AatroxD)
2yearsago

Reply

theactivatedcharcoal/carbonhelpstocleanthe
environment/actsasafilterasalloftheair/moisture.Theair/moisturekinda
cyclesthroughthecarbon.Someonecanprobsexplainthatbetterbutitis
essential.Aquariumshopshaveit.

Ionceboughthomeasnailwithsomemossandhaditlivinginmycontainer
ofmossforabout8weeksbeforeitdied(notsurewhyitdied,maybeit
didn'tlikebeingconfined,lackoffood,orsnailsdon'tlivesolong).Ididn'tlet
thesnailgoasIknewitwasbestleftinthemossitcamealongon.Iusedto
popthetoponthecontainerofmossandletthesnailgetsomefreshair.
OtherthanthatIcanoffernosnailadvice.Isitapetsnail?Askthepetshop
peoplewhereyougotit?

kelly.a.smith.969(/member/kelly.a.smith.969)

2yearsago

Reply

Whatkindofseedsdoyourecommend?

X
8

organgrinder(/member/organgrinder)(author) . kelly.a.smith.969
(/member/kelly.a.smith.969)

2yearsago

Reply

Ihaveusedgrassseedsfromtheyardaswellasbirdseedandanyother
weedseeds.Givethemallagoandseewhattakes:)

AatroxD(/member/AatroxD) . organgrinder(/member/organgrinder)

anytype,aslongasitcansurviveintheenviroment

lolanilly(/member/lolanilly)

Reply

2yearsago

2yearsago

Reply

Hi,
Inoticedyouusedthefingerlikesphagnummoss.Ihavebeentryingtousethatin
myclosedterrariumbuthavehadtousereconstituteddrymossfromacraftstore
sinceit'shardtofindlivemosshere(IliveinArizona,it'ssuperhot&dry),I'vehad
alotofissueswithmold.Itoccurswithinjustafewdaysofcreatingtheterrarium&
Ihaven'thadonesuccessfultrialwiththatmoss.I'vetriedexperimentingwithjust
pebbles/nosoil,sterilizedsoil,verylittlewater,waterwithhydrogenperoxide(Isaw
anarticleonthatelsewhere),cultivatingasmallbatchfirst,afewothermethods,
withnosuccess.Ifinallygaveup&orderedlivemossonlinebutamcuriousifthis
isacommonissuewiththatmossspecifically?Ieventried"washing"it,Igetmold
everysingletime.Isitpossiblethataclosedterrariuminsuchahotclimatejust
isn'tgoingtowork?Anyideas/advicewouldbeamazing!
Thanks!

X
8

organgrinder(/member/organgrinder)(author) . lolanilly(/member/lolanilly)

Howdidthingsgowiththemossyouordered??

2yearsago

Reply

Iamthinkingthatthismustbemouldsporesthatareparticularlyinsidious.
Asyouareinahotanddryclimateyouprobablydontgetalotofmould
takingholdbutmusthavemouldsporesfloatingaroundalloverthatgetin
theterrarium(whetheronthemossorevenjustintheair).whenthosespores
getintotheterrariumenvironmenttheythrive.
I'drecommendtryingtouseaLOTmoreoftheactivatedcharcoal.Iusedto

havealotofproblemswiththemossIcollectedoutinthewild,italwaysgot
mouldpatches.HereinBrisbanemouldisaproblemasitishumidand
we'vealsogonethroughafloodseasonrecentlythathassetmouldrunning
crazy.
Doyouknowanyonewithagreenhousewheremossisgrowinghappilyand
mouldfree?Iwouldrecommendtryingthat.
HereinBrisbanetheworsttimeforthemossislatewinter,eveninthe
greenhouseitisabitgrossandwhenIpickitIgetmouldissues.Usuallyjust
smallpatchesIcanisolatethough.
Iamnotsureifyourhotclimateisanissue(howhotdoesitget?)aslongas
youkeepthemoutofthesunandveryhotspots.Andusuallyinadryclimate
peoplehavetroublekeepingtheirterrariumsmoist.
Goodluck!

munderwood9(/member/munderwood9)

2yearsago

Reply

HiOG(teehee).Quickquestionaboutyourinstructionto'cultivate'themossfora
coupleofweeksbeforeputtingitintoaterrarium.Doyoumeanweshoulduse
anotherterrariumenvironmenttocheckitout,orissomethinglikeanicecreamtub
suitable?

X
8

organgrinder(/member/organgrinder)(author) . munderwood9
(/member/munderwood9)

2yearsago

Reply

hi.Thecontainerneedstoletlightthrough,soaclearorfrostedicecream
tubissuitablebutnotonewherethemosswillbesittinginthedark.Lidis
essential.

jdempsey4(/member/jdempsey4)

2yearsago

Reply

HeyIliveontheSunshineCoastandIwaswonderingifyougetyourcarbonstuff
localorshippedandwherefrom?Thanksheaps

X
8

organgrinder(/member/organgrinder)(author) . jdempsey4
(/member/jdempsey4)

2yearsago

Reply

WegotabagofActivatedCarbonfromaBrewShopintheSpringwood
area(southofBrisbane).BunningssellingcharcoalthatisNOTactivated.
Aftersomeresearchthisisusablebutyouhavetousealot.I'dsayabouta1
cmlayer.

alittle(/member/alittle) . organgrinder(/member/organgrinder) 2yearsago

Reply

Youcanactuallybuyactivatedcarbonatmostpetstoresthatsellaquarium
supplies.Itgenerallycomesinmuchsmallerbags/cartons,soyoudon'tneed
tomailorderinbulk.A$6UScartonwilleasilybeenoughforacoupleof
terrariums.
Greatinstructable,thanksforsharing!

lamdee1(/member/lamdee1)

2yearsago

Reply

Doyouknowifaterrarriumwillsurvivewithartificiallightalone?Ihaveatinyoffice
inaschoolandithasnowindows.Iwonderedifregularfluorescentor
incandescentlightwouldwork.Icouldmoveittoanofficewithawindowfor
weekendsandholidays.

X
8

organgrinder(/member/organgrinder)(author) . lamdee1(/member/lamdee1)
2yearsago

Reply

3yearsago

Reply

Artificiallightisnotenoughbutitmightbehappywithjust
beingainaroomwithawindowontheweekends.Youshouldestablishit
first.Todothatbuilditupandthenkeepitathomeinanicelylitspace(no
directsun)forabout2months,thentransfertoyourschooloffice.Afterthat
ensureyougiveitnaturallightweekends.Ifitstartstolooksadsimplytakeit
homeforaweek:)

annapippen(/member/annapippen)

HeyIwaswonderingwhattypesofseedsyouuse?

X
8

organgrinder(/member/organgrinder)(author) . annapippen
(/member/annapippen)

2yearsago

Reply

hi,Iusegrassseedsfromgrassesthatgrowaroundtheplaceandbird
seedsandanythingelseIfindaseedof:)

X
8

organgrinder(/member/organgrinder)(author) . annapippen
(/member/annapippen)

2yearsago

Reply

SorryfornotrespondingAnna,Idon'trecallgettinganotificationofyour
comment.Iusebirdseed,grassseedsandjustaboutanything.Youcan
alwayspullthemoutiftheygettoobig:)

JakeSteel(/member/JakeSteel)madeit!

2yearsago

Reply

Icombinedthesehelpfulinstructionswiththedirectionsfoundhere:
http://www.teamdroid.com/diyhollowoutalightbu...
(http://www.teamdroid.com/diyhollowoutalightbulb/)
I
ranintoafewproblemstryingtogetthemossinsidethelightbulb
withoutbreakingthepiecesuptoomuch,butIamhopingthatthemoss
spreadsitselfaroundtofillthegaps.
Overall,Iamhappywiththeresults.Fewplacesgointothelevelofdetailthatyou
didinthisinstructable.Thankyou!

(https://cdn.instructables.com/FF5/5V4O/HURHQLW3/FF55V4OHURHQLW3.LARGE.jpg)

X
8

organgrinder(/member/organgrinder)(author) . JakeSteel(/member/JakeSteel)

2yearsago
Reply
Great!IhavemadeTerrariuminsidetinyjarsandfind
thatapairoffinetweezersworkswell.Evenifthemoss
isbrokenupwhenitstartstogrowitshouldspreadaround&takehold.Also,
youcancleanyourterrariumwithsometissueontweezersorapaddlepop
stickwithtissuewrappedaroundit.
Howisitgoing?

JackCorsair(/member/JackCorsair)

3yearsago

Reply

Ihavebeenatthisforabout2yearsnowandIfoundyourinstructablesohelpful.
therewerejustafewlittlethingsIhadbeenmissing.Likehowtodealwithmold
andwhyuseactivatedcharcoal.thankyouthankyouthankyou!

X
8

organgrinder(/member/organgrinder)(author) . JackCorsair(/member/Jack
Corsair)

3yearsago

Reply

Goodluck,Jack!IhopeyougetsomegoodTerrariumsnow.Thereisalways
moretolearn,though.Irecentlyrealisedtheverybackofoneofmineis
gettingalittlesunlightonitandthereissomeorangesludge.Bewareof
directsun!

JackCorsair(/member/JackCorsair)

3yearsago

Reply

Ihavebeenatthisforabout2yearsnowandIfoundyourinstructablesohelpful.
therewerejustafewlittlethingsIhadbeenmissing.Likehowtodealwithmold
andwhyuseactivatedcharcoal.thankyouthankyouthankyou!

je5ta(/member/je5ta)

3yearsago

Reply

Hello!
IwaswonderingwhereaboutsinBrisbaneyoufoundthismossorcanyousuggest
someplaces?Iliveinnercitysobarelyanycanbeseenaroundme=)
Thanks!

X
8

organgrinder(/member/organgrinder)(author) . je5ta(/member/je5ta)
3yearsago

Reply

3yearsago

Reply

Iaminthenorthernsuburbsoutneartheairport.I'vealso
sourcedsomefromoutLoganway.Ifyouareinnercityyoucouldpopoutto
theBotanicgardens,romastparklandsornewfarmparkforawanderabout
andmaybegoonawanderroundwestend,sthbankareaasastarting
point,zigzagthroughasmanystreetsasyoucan,especiallyafterrain,like
today:)Afterawhileyougettobeanexpertatspottingit.Ispotit
everywherenow!

mrmerino(/member/mrmerino)

Justaquestion:WhathappensifIleavethoseanimalsin?Willtheyeatthemoss?

X
8

organgrinder(/member/organgrinder)(author) . mrmerino(/member/mrmerino)
3yearsago

Reply

Thelittlebugsthatmayhatchorthemicroscopicones?If
yougetlittlefliesoranimalsyoucanseehatchIletthemoutbecausethey
willdieotherwise(butwonteatthemoss).Themicroscopicanimals(like

tardigrade)youdefinitelywanttostayinandlive,theyproducecarbon
dioxidefortheplantstofeedoff.Idon'tthinkthemicroscopicanimalseatthe
moss,theywouldeatthesludgeoffthemoss.:)

20kdk(/member/20kdk)

3yearsago

Reply

3yearsago

Reply

Ok

20kdk(/member/20kdk)

Whathappensifyoudon'tuseit

HrdWodFlor(/member/HrdWodFlor) . 20kdk(/member/20kdk)

Reply

3yearsago

Yourunintoabiggerchanceofmoldwithoutit.

HrdWodFlor(/member/HrdWodFlor)

3yearsago

Reply

Trycheckingoutpetstoresforacitvatedcarbon.Mostplacesthatsellfishwillsellit
forthepeoplethatmaketheirowntankfilters.That'swhereIhaveboughtitinthe
past.Greatinstructable,nowIwantone.

20kdk(/member/20kdk)

3yearsago

Reply

Doyouneedactivecarbon?

X
8

organgrinder(/member/organgrinder)(author) . 20kdk(/member/20kdk)
3yearsago

Reply

hi,ActivatedCarbonorCharcoalhelpstocleanthe
environment/actsasafilter(liketheactivatedcarboninfishtanks).Ifyou
don'tuseityourmossandplantswillprobablynotliveforverylong.
TerrariumsIhavemadew/othecarbondieinabout3months.Thosewith
carbonareabout9monthsandgoingstrong!

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