Sounds like you've got a good start. You don't have to use the charcoal but why not? You could mix it into one of the other layers or use it as its own layer. Aside from drainage benefits, it keeps the mix "sweet"...and absorbs any odors. I've never noticed any odors myself, but then I did put a layer of charcoal (ten years ago). If you can't get it or its difficult to find, skip it...but if readily available, might as well use it.

Thank you MrBreeze. I will get the special charcoal at Lowes (if they gave it) along with the silicone. By then my plants should have been delivered to me. I pretty much have everything else. I am thinking of purchasing an African Violet for my flower plant. Do you have any other suggestions for mini flowering plants that do not require direct sunlight? I am also starting another hobby, a Phal. Orchid area that has artifical and indirect light. Along with small tropical aquarium and large outdoor Koi pond. Believe it or not, I have very few plants inside my home. I guess I am a late bloomer. Ha! Well it doesn't help if you have cats that like to munch on green plants. Theresa

I don't think you need the layer of sphagnum moss on top of the soil. It will tend to stay too soggy, IME. You could definitely get a mini AV to go in there as well. The Rabbit's foot fern will eventually get too big, but not too quickly. They are epiphytes, BTW, so it will actually prefer to grow on a piece of driftwood or something similar, out of the dirt. This also keeps the furry white 'roots' nice and clean-looking, and visible, for your enjoyment. You won't need a container of water for the humidity. Just mist your tank occasionally, and keep the lid on. The moist soil and closed environment will naturally keep the humidity nice and high. You don't NEED charcoal, but like Mr.B said, it can't hurt. I put some in my terrarium originally, but when I switched from soil to bark chips, it sure stank! Probably because I was digging it up though. I never noticed any smells when I would just open my terrarium to mist it. The charcoal will absorb organic 'stuff' from the soil, though it will become full over time, and stop working. So it's really up to you whether you use it or not. Personally, I'd save my money.

As for siliconing your terr, you need to first strip off any old silicone, and then clean it with vinegar, and then put the new stuff on. Do it all at once. You can use a caulking gun or your finger. The gun is neater, but you can always 'clean up' a finger job with a razor. Make sure you let it cure for a day or two before adding any water to check for water-tightness.

Cats can be trained not to eat houseplant. I have the same problem, and I've found that a water gun or a mister set to 'jet spray' does the trick, as long as you are home all day and can catch the cat in the act. Otherwise, try the bitter apple spray sold at pet stores.

Hi sahoyaref,
I guess look for a small driftwood for my new Rabbit's foot fern. That would have a nice effect and also suited for this fern. Thank you for that needed advice. What is an AV? I am new so be patient with me. Since this terrarium has a lid, I don't have to worry about my cats. I will take your advice on the silicone. What is a good mini flowering plant for this type of environment? I thought about African Violets but they don't like to have their leaves misted on. I do have a small Grow Spot Light. What would be required for placing this terrarium? In front of my Great Room window with Grow light or place it on an end table with lamp light. This room tends to be dark, so I will have to use artifical lights for the plants.
Thank you,
Theresa

AV=African Violet. =) I've found that they don't mind their leaves misted, as long as you only use RO or distilled water. The minerals from tap water are likely what causes those brown spots. As for placing and lighting, what kind of 'grow light' is this? I mean, what type of bulb? Incandescent? Fluorescent? Halogen? Natural sunlight is always best, so you should put it in front of a window, but if it gets too much sun, it will get very hot in there if it is totally sealed. You need to have a small crack in the top of the terrarium to allow the heat to escape. A very small crack won't interfere with keeping the humidity up. You could also put it on an end table with lamp light, as long as the bulb in your lamp is a cool white or Daylight compact fluorescent in the highest wattage you can find. They screw right into a regular light fixture. Which direction does your window face? And where is this end table? Would the terr get any sunlight at all if it was there?

Good evening Sahoyaref,
My Grow spot light is I think incandecent. I bought it at Walmart stating that it is a Grow Light. This evening I bought a 4" pink AV and shapely small driftwood for fern, Miracle Grow charcoal (bought just because) and potting soil to be put in my terrarium. I also purchased aquarium silicone that I have already sealed my terrarium. Tomorrow I will check to see if there are any leakage. If container is ready, I will plant fern, Mondo grass and AV into foundation. My question is how do I attach the small White Rabbits Fern to the driftwood? So this fern does not need to be planted into soil? Right now I have all my little plants in my window-sill staying moist with indirect sun. I am also working on an Orchid Project building partial shelves on each side of window with overhead florecsent light. A week ago I bought one baby Orchid (not blooming) at Lowes. I made sure this little plant in a 1" plastic pot has air getting to roots by poking med.size holes to the sides of the pot and using a drywell method for humidity. I am very excited about both projects and appreciate all the support and advice.
Thank you so much,
Theresa

Incandescents are completely useless, so throw that bulb away (or put it in a different lamp) and get a compact fluorescent. You sound like you have everything you need. You don't need a very deep layer of soil. 2-3" should be good. The plants will have more horizontal room for their roots than they would in pots, and I've found that, given a choice, most plants will send their roots sideways, not downwards so much. In pots they have no choice.

What is your orchid planted in? If you got it from Lowe's, it's probably in the correct medium, but I didn't know they sold smaller orchids. Try to find out what kind you have. It could be that it is blooming size. Some orchids are minis, and will never outgrow a 1" pot. Personally I greatly prefer clay pots to plastic (for all plants except bog plants), as they allow the medium to 'breathe' more. You can also drill your own holes in clay pots with a masonry bit. Just make sure the pot is soaking wet first. All that said, many orchid growers do use plastic pots, with great success. And if your orchid really is a seedling size, it will need to stay a little more moist, and a plastic pot will help with that. Any more orchid questions, post them on the orchids forum. The people there are geniuses, and it's because of them that I have finally been able to rebloom all my orchids after 6 or so years of growing them. =) BTW, what is the 'drywell method'? Oh, and if you haven't already, find out about your local orchid society. Lots of orchid shows happen in the spring (mine is next weekend), and you wouldn't want to miss one! Good place to get inspired, and buy more orchids. =) You can also talk to members of the society and they can answer any questions you have.

Oh yeah! One more thing you need to buy is a misting bottle. The ones with adjustable spray patterns are best (usually accomplished by just twisting the nozzle). They are usually sold in the plant department. It doesn't need to be really fancy. You could also get one from a dollar store.

Good evening sahoyaref,
After doing much reading I found out incandescent is not a good plant light. Well I planted my terrarium and it is setting next to an East window. I will move it around to get florescent light also. I really am enjoying it.

My little Orchid is a Moth Orchid Phal set up in a drywell with side holes for roots to air. I just got another one that is 15" tall with beautiful flowers in clay pot with side holes. It too is in a drywell method for humidity. Both are sitting under a florescent light in the Kitchen window West.
Theresa

What is this 'drywell method' you speak of? I assume it is something you read in a book, and I did see on the orchids forum that you had posted there, and got lots of good info.

An east window with a grow light should be okay. Go by whether your african violet (if/when you get one) flowers well or not. If it doesn't, move it into a west window so that it gets more light. Also, keep it in it's pot. I have had no luck with AVs in terrariums. They do seem to need to be pot-bound in order to bloom.

Good evening sayhoyaref,
I am really impressed with your terrarium photo and your background of Orchids. Well after reading information from books and internet (you really know this)a Drywell is a container of gravel or pebble rocks holding water for Orchid pot to be placed on without getting root wet and getting humidity from it. My 2 Moth Phal Orchids are sitting on a partial shelf kitchen window facing West. I just love the Orchid flowers as much as I love Water Lilies in my outdoor Koi ponds. Hopefully my florescent light and indirect light will be enough for this type of Orchid. If not, I will then invest in a brighter light for them. One step at a time before I venture in pouring more money.

My terrrium is very small but now planted with African Violet in pink bloom, White Rabits Foot planted in rich Mircle Grow soil next to driftwood and Mono Grass and I even put a shot glass of water for humidty for "just because." I unfortunately removed all plants and planted them into the mini terrium with of bit of Sphag. Moss, layers of Miracle soil & chacoal and plastic mesh and gravel in that order. I am using the East Window and Florscent light for them. Lightly fertized with a spray mist of water mixed with a tsp of Mircale Grow in a 1/2 gallon container.

Thank you for your guidance and appreciate any information you may give me,
Theresa

Ah yes, the old humidity tray. there is some debate whether it actually raises the humidity or not. I checked once, and I found that it only keeps the humidity higher about 3 inches up into the air. Now, most of my orchid pots are that high, so it's probably not doing any good, but when you live in a dry climate like me, you do what you can! =) Grouping plants closely together also makes a world of difference in keeping the humidity up. Can you post a pic of your completed terrarium? It sounds nice!

Hi sahoyaref,
This week I will post a photo of my newly planted terrarium. Already it looks overly crowded with 3 plants and driftwood. I may have to cut the driftwood in half. For my Orchids, how about a small fogger for humidity until Summer? This summer, I will have plenty of humidity. My larger Orchid has not changed since I bought it but keeping it's blooms. It's leaves are a nice green to a little yellow green. I am a little concern for my tiny not blooming Orchid. The two leaves are a dark green and the third smallest dark green leaf is sort of purple towards the stem. In the morning a couple times a week, I lightly mist the plants with gal of water mixed with tsp of Miracle Grow. Once a week or when they seem completely dry, I give both Orchids a good amount of room temperature water and drain.
Thank you,
Theresa

Actually, the purple is a very good sign. It is like a suntan. It means that your orchid is getting plenty of light. It also means that it will probably have pink flowers when it does bloom. White flowered phals. will not 'tan' much, so their leaves should be a nice apple-green colour. A fogger or mister would be a good idea for humidity. Then you could put it on a timer, which makes things a lot easier for you. Just make sure the water resovoir doesn't run dry! =)

Good day to you Sahoyaref,
I will post 3 photos at a time of my new mini terrarium.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1269092}}

Here is the 2nd photo of little terrarium.
Theresa

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1269156}}

This is final photo of my little terrarium. My cats cannot get into with the lid. Also I had my husband saw down the driftwood and made a hole indent in the wood for Rabbits Foot fern to set in. I also have a Aftrican violet and a patch of Mono Grass. The top layer is dry moss to give it a more natural look and a shot glass of water for some humidty. Not sure if I really need it since I spray a mist of water mixed with Miracle Grow. Thank you again sahoyaref for all your help. I will post my 2 Orchids on the Orchid forum posted under Orchid saga. So you can see how they look. Thank you so much.
Theresa

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1269154}}