Florarium of Cactuses: An Island of Beauty And Exotics

These cactus plants decorate many interiors of residential and non-residential premises, blending seamlessly with the existing domestic vegetation. They have gained world popularity, create incredible compositions out of succulents, and  looks as original – luxurious and exotic.

Vegetable terrariums, also known as terrariums, are a fashionable trend of floriculture, and creativity, aimed at breeding succulents in glass tanks. As practice shows, closed containers made of glass create ideal conditions for some succulents – a lot of heat and high humidity. And if you choose the right “inhabitants” and equip them with a “home”, the florarium will become a real ornament, the pride of the cactus master.

Florarium: what is it and what are its features?

Florariums ( small scale Terrariums ) are called succulent plants in glass, as a container you can use an aquarium, flask, can, high glass, or another glass vessel. They look very impressive, behind the transparent walls you can see everything that happens in the tank and not only the above-ground parts of flowers but also their roots and structure of the soil substrate.

Such a composition has a very compact size, so it is suitable for decorating even a small room. It takes up much less space than a floor or suspended flower pots, pots, and other large containers.

If the owner of the apartment has a desire to put up an aquarium, but there is no time to take care of its inhabitants, whether they are fish or amphibians, then the container with cacti will perfectly replace it and will require minimum time for care.

Not all succulents in an aquarium will feel well, for example, large, volumetric specimens will be crowded. It is better to take compact varieties of cactuses, which are suitable for such conditions.
Sometimes the glass tanks are not suitable for the room, as they are not quite safe.

If there are children in the house or home, freely moving, live, you can use containers made of plastic. Also, there are models made of combined materials – plastic, wood, ceramics.

Tanks equipped with a lid or corked, it is recommended to periodically open for ventilation, so that the microclimate in them is kept, and the air does not stagnate.

About popular compositions

As already noted, plant terrarium can be used almost any container of glass, but the most optimal option – an aquarium, which has additional lighting and a lid. With the growth of succulents inside the tank is established its own, well-established ecosystem, which does not require additional intervention.

Desert Theme Cactus

The easiest to care for cactus is desert inhabitants, who do not require complicated care. Small flerovium with prickly inhabitants can be decorated with a small window sill, workplace, shelf on the floor, or other small space.

The main component of the mini-desert is sand:

It looks effectively colored, which can be placed in layers – horizontal, vertical, or chaotic.

Suitable for small, collected from the river, pre-washed and steamed or sea, also processed.

Beautiful looks the composition, in which the golden sand is mixed with dark pebbles.

Additional elements may serve as a rounded shape stone, crumb ceramics.

Forest of the Tropics

For such a composition it is recommended to place tall specimens in the background, while in the foreground there are squat succulents. All tiers must be visible.

In addition to small cactuses, you can plant plants that love warmth – fern, ficus, asparagus, ivy. Flowers should have the same preferences to the soils – breathable, not trapping moisture, consisting of leafy soil, peat, and sand.

To create an ideal microclimate inside the terrarium it is recommended to place a tank filled with water, or even better, to arrange a mini waterfall.

Mountain Views

For the fullest possible transfer of the atmosphere of the mountains should be planted in a glass container copies, which in nature grow on the foothills and rocky terrain. These can be both cactus and ferns, other succulents, senpolia, ivy.

For the reservoir to create its microclimate, its volume must be not less than 7 liters.

The nuances of composition cactus

It is better to start with small containers and to plant no more than 5 copies. Plants should be no more than 20 cm high, well-tolerated high humidity, and lack of light.

Florarium with succulents can be open or closed and each option has both advantages and disadvantages:

The advantages of an open tank cactus

1. Access to the landing is not difficult.
2. The air is freely circulating.
3. A microclimate is created, to which cactuses are used.

Shortcomings

Air penetrates the container, causing the temperature of the medium to drop, which does not like the heat-loving vegetation.
As a result of oxygen access, succulents grow rapidly, requiring more frequent pruning.
The structure requires a firm fixation.

A closed structure also has the advantages of cactus

1. A minimum watering is enough.
2. The plant grows more slowly because there is no air access, which means that it retains its decorative effect.
3. Care is simple enough – a rare pruning and cleaning of dead leaves.
4. High humidity and high temperature are what forest cactuses need.
5. Moisture can accumulate in the soil, provoking roots to rot. To avoid this, it is recommended to create a “double bottom” through which extra water will flow
6. Cactuses, like most succulent plants, feel more comfortable in open containers. It is important to take into account the speed at which they grow, especially when it comes to building a multi-level florarium. If the vegetation in the foreground will quickly increase in size, overlapping the other copies, the composition will be broken.

Which plants are suitable for the Florarium

Among the variety of cactuses you should choose compact, spectacular views, which are suitable for the microclimate of glass containers:

Echinopsis – Young succulents have a nice spherical shape. Subsequently, they are stretched out or take the form of a pole. However, in a limited space they remain attractive “balls”. It is possible to plant almost all popular varieties – spicy, Syria, hook, has, chametsereus, and others.

Astrophituses – Are cute ribbed cactuses that look like stars. If the owner does not want to bother with the selection of flowers for the flerovium, you can make a mini collection of several “stars” without adding other succulents. But even with other plants, they look very impressive.

Pupils – Only low-growth varieties are used to decorate terrariums: Berger Pupunias, Long-tailed Pupunias, and others.

Notococcus – A common type of succulents from the genus parody. These cactuses in the form of a ball or a shortened cylinder are decorated with white edges.

Rebuilds – Dwarf species and varieties of cacti will feel good in an aquarium or other reservoir that will perfectly combine with other inhabitants and decor.

From the leaf, company cactus can be composed of echeveria, haberdashery, lithops, milk, male fear, dwarf hybrid species of aloe, Kalanchoe, Rowley’s godson.

Step-by-step cactus technology

To create a florarium of succulents, you must prepare the following:

Cactuses of several species, which look harmoniously together. Before transplanting, it is recommended not to water the plants for 1-1.5 years; this will facilitate their extraction from the ground.
Tank made of glass.
Drainage material: expanded clay, marble chips, vermiculite.
Soil substrate is intended for cactus and succulent plants.
Tools: garden spatula, watering can with a nozzle, wooden stick.
Decor: stones, balls, figures, flowers, etc.
The tank should be thoroughly washed with soap and dried, and then pour a layer of drainage on the bottom, not thicker than 30 mm. It should be leveled.

A little soil mixture is placed on top to cover the drainage material completely. There is no need to seal the soil. After you can start planting cactuses:

They are removed from the pot, carefully remove the soil from its roots.
Using a thin wooden stick, make in the ground the right number of holes.
Plants are placed in recesses, sprinkled with the substrate, and slightly tamped, but not strongly.
If the soil is too dry, you can bring a little moisture. Watering is not the whole substrate, but only small areas around the succulents.
The installation of decorating elements completes the creation of the flerovium. Looks great snow-white marble crumb, aqua grunt, or bright colored sand, the texture of which does not change at any moisture substrate.
If you are careful and do everything correctly, the plants adapt perfectly in new conditions and soon the owner will be able to admire the work of his creativity. But, despite the unpretentiousness of the succulents, such a composition still requires minimal care.

How to take care of a plant terrarium?

Regardless of where the indoor flowers grow – in an ordinary vase or aquarium, they require light, moisture, feeding, protection from pests, and other activities for full activity. The owner should pay attention to the following points:

Lighting

Keeping the flerovium away from direct sunlight is recommended, as it can lead to a significant temperature increase in the tank. Blooming succulents need the most light, but the lighting should be diffused. If there is not enough natural light, it is recommended to provide the plants with additional artificial lighting.

Watering Mode

As in other cases, succulent plants need very moderate watering. The main problems of all terrariums are the excess moisture, as there are no drainage holes in glass tanks and excessive water accumulates at the root system.

Watering the honorariums poorly, as their inhabitants get the lack of moisture from the condensate collecting on the walls.

It is important to monitor the state of the ground, moisture is brought only if there is no condensation on the glass. At overflow is recommended to insert into the soil a few sheets of paper, rolled up in tubes, they absorb the excess water. Also, it is desirable to put the tank itself in a place with abundant natural light, so that the moisture evaporates more quickly.

Pruning Process

With comfortable content, the cactuses will grow more intensively, taking up more and more space. However, the space in the container is limited, so the process must be controlled, otherwise, an attractive composition will turn into thickets.

Plants are pinched or trimmed, which preserves their decorative effect. Some bushy varieties should remove shoots or too long twigs. All damaged, rotten or diseased parts should be pruned and removed from the ground.

Fertilizer application

Many experienced florists do not advise to feed plants living in terrariums, as this can lead to the accumulation of salt in the ground or accelerate their growth.

But if the succulents have yellowed or discolored stems or leaves, and there are no visible reasons for this, the reason is likely a lack of lighting and they need to be fed. The dosage of nutrients should not exceed 25% of the recommended.

Ventilation

Closed reservoirs should be periodically opened to allow their inhabitants to get additional oxygen. You should also take care of the cleanliness of the container.

Conclusion

A miniature composition of cacti in the glass looks like a real work of art. But, unlike the museum’s exhibits, it is alive; it grew and blossomed, delighting not only its owner but also everyone around him with its peculiar beauty. To create such a masterpiece of floriculture is not difficult, it is enough to apply a minimum of effort, to show imagination and enjoy the result.