I used to hate on terrariums until I built one myself last spring

For years I thought terrariums were just dusty glass boxes people forgot about. Then my neighbor handed me a 10-gallon tank and said just try it. I threw in some moss from my yard, a fern I bought for $4, and a random isopod I found under a log. Now I check that little ecosystem every morning and it's wild how the humidity cycles on its own. Anyone else get hooked on closed terrariums after swearing them off?

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the_thomas1mo ago

Oh man, completely get this. I was the same way until I built one with a jar and some dirt from my backyard. Now I can't stop watching the water bead up inside the glass.

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claire_young761mo ago

Try adding a bit of gravel at the bottom of your jar before the dirt, @the_thomas - it really helps with drainage and stops the soil from getting waterlogged. I learned that lesson the hard way after my first couple setups got all moldy inside. Once you get that layer right though, it's honestly mesmerizing watching how the whole thing stays healthy on its own.

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