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ENSC 101 Lab
Closed Terrariums
This lab will utilize Terrariums as a model way to study the effects of ecosystem variations.
Objectives
1. Students will learn the proper way to create a closed jar terrarium.
2. Students will observe and record the effects of physicochemical parameter variations on
the overall health of the terrarium.
3. Students will analyze their results and extrapolate their analysis to the effects of
environmental changes in a real world ecosystem.
Materials
1. 2 Wide Mouth Glass or clear Plastic Jars

2. Gravel (the kind you find in the pet shops or similar from your yard or hardware store)
3. Activated charcoal (found in pet stores or aquarium aisle in Walmart for example)
4. Soil (either potting soil or soil obtained directly from your selected site)
5. Moss (if you cant find it in nature you can buy moss on a garden center)
6. Ferns and other suitable plants (You don’t have to buy them if you go look for them in
nature)
7. Clear plastic sheet
8. Sharpie
9. Ruler
10. Spray bottle for water (an old detergent bottle would do but make sure you rinse it
THOROUGHLY to get rid of the detergent residue)
Background
A closed terrarium serves as a wonderful model of the Earth and the biosphere in that it is a
closed system just like the Earth is. No significant amounts of matter enter or leave, but energy is
absorbed and radiated freely. All the materials needed by life in the bottle must be there at the
time the lid is snapped on. Biological processes recycle most of the matter in the bottle, just like
on planet Earth. The Closed terrarium has its own climate, water cycle, carbon and nitrogen
cycles, and other ecological systems that achieve a balance over time. The terrarium also has its
own unique biodiversity, which includes the plants you introduce, as well as myriad soil
organisms. The soil may be home to nematodes, fungi, algae, bacteria, protozoa, soil mites,
springtails, mollusks, centipedes, and many others. And like the Earth, the closed terrarium,
responds to changes imposed on it. If for instance you deprive the bottle of light, the green plants
may die, and fungi, followed by bacteria will likely take over. Similarly, exposing the bottle to
direct sunlight even for short periods of time will induce a kind of global warming in the bottle,
making conditions inside unfavorable for green plants.
This study source was downloaded by 100000806437590 from CourseHero.com on 01-06-2022 19:55:42 GMT -06:00
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Site selection
Start by selecting the site you will use as a model for your terrarium. Pick a site you have access
to, with small plants suitable for your Jar, such as mosses and ferns. If you decide to do a
terrarium mimicking an ecosystem that you do not have access too, you will need to perhaps
purchase plants and materials to complete your project. For example, if you want to create a dry
desert, you will need sand and cactus, or succulent plants, and you would need to have an
adequate way to maintain the necessary temperature.
Common houseplants can be used in the biosphere bottle, many of which can be cultured from
cuttings. Look around: there may be many potted plants from which cuttings or slips may be
taken. Ferns, spider plants, and ivy are common and work well in a terrarium setting.
Houseplants suitable for a closed terrarium are available at the best prices direct from local
growers. Call local greenhouses and ask for recently started young plants. Or start your own
from seeds. Consult with your local grower for the best available varieties.
When selecting your site, consider the most important factors to the study; such as sun, water,
climate, dominant vegetation, light, soil moisture and temperature. Think about how would you
reproduce these factors in your closed terrarium. For example, in a moss and fern terrarium,
which factors are most important to mosses and ferns? Which might limit their growth by its
absence? Consider what the moss systems range of tolerance might be for the various factors.
How much light can the moss or fern tolerate? What temperatures will it tolerate?
The closer your closed terrarium resembles the actual site you are investigating, the better the
data you will get and the better the analysis that will come from it.
After identifying and analyzing your selected site, plan your closed terrarium using the following
table.
Proposed site
Conditions Original Site My Terrarium
Soil Type
Temperature
Sunlight
Water/Humidity
Salinity
Vegetation
Insects or animals?
Making a Closed Terrarium – Stage 1
Each Student should make 2 terrariums. You should make them in
identical jars and you should try to make them as similar as possible in
terms of the plants and elements you include. One of the terrariums will
remain unchanged and will be your control, the other will receive a
variations on stage 3 and it will be your experiment. On stage 4 you will
observe and record data from your terrarium and you will compare your
control to your experiment terrarium.
Prepare the Container
1. Spread some newspaper or plastic sheet over your workspace.
2. Mix the activated charcoal and gravel and pour into the bottom of the container. You will need
a layer 1 inch deep, depending on the size of the container or Jar.
3. Add a layer of soil to the container. This layer will need to be about 2 to 3 inches deep over the
gravel.
4. Spray the soil down with water, depending on how dry is the soil. It should be enough to
moisten, but not saturate the soil.
Insert the Plants
5. Prepare 3 or 4 young plants. If you bought potted plants, start by removing them from their
plastic pots, and gently shaking some of the soil from their roots. Remove only enough soil to
allow each plant to fit through the mouth of the bottle. If you collected the plants make sure you
followed the instructions.
6. Decide how you would like to arrange your plants. The smallest should go towards the
outside, and the largest (or those that will eventually grow to become the tallest) should be
planted in the center.
7. Insert the smallest plants first. Make a hole in the soil down to the level of the gravel, and
wide enough to accommodate the roots of the plant. Drop the plant into the jar, and nudge the
plant into the hole, roots first. Push a little soil up around the plant stem to cover the roots.
Gently pack the soil around the roots and stem of the plant.
8. Insert the remaining plants, as above. Leave space between them. If you have mosses, plant
them last.
Add Water and Decorations
9. At this point, the soil should be moist, but not wet. Use the plant sprayer to gently mist the
plants. If any soil clings to the side of the container, adjust the plant sprayer to the “squirt”
setting, and wash the clinging soil down.
10. Scatter the woody materials - bark and twigs around on the soil between the plants. A
decorative stone or two can add some interesting visual detail.
Seal the Bottle
11. Seal the bottle using a cap. Be sure you can easily open it again to add more water if
necessary.
12. Monitor the condition of the plants over the next few days. If they appear to wilt slightly, add
more water with the plant sprayer. Use a little water at a time. It is important not to overwater: if
the soil becomes saturated, the plants’ roots will rot, and undesirable bacteria and fungi will take
over and kill the plants.
Is This Working? Proper maintenance of a Closed Terrarium – Stages 1

and 2
If everything has been done carefully, very little care and maintenance is required to keep your
plants growing and the terrarium healthy.
1. Keep the container away from direct sunlight. Sunlight may heat the air inside the bottle
to a temperature that will kill the plants.
2. Place the bottle near a window where it can get indirect light.
3. Keep the bottle sealed. Do not water or fertilize. The plants inside will adjust to the
amount of water and nutrients, and will not be helped by adding more water, or more
fertilizer. It is important to not over-water the terrariums. The excess water fills the
spaces between the soil particles creating conditions that favor undesirable fungi and
bacteria, which ultimately kill all the plants. It is best to water the bottles sparingly.
4. Watch the plants over the next day or two for signs of wilting. If the plants appear to be
wilting, use a plant sprayer to add water.
Note: Not all terrariums work out the first time. It is possible that soil fungus could develop in
your bottle, or that other problems could occur which kill your plants. If this happens, discuss
your options with the professor.
Testing and documenting your Closed Terrarium.
1. Using a sharpie, make a grid of I inch squares on a piece of plastic. A mica plastic cover
for a report folder or a plastic document sleeve works fine.
2. Once your Terrarium is stable and ready (within a week of starting), place the plastic grid
on top of the terrarium and take an aerial photo using your phone or a camera. You will
do this for every week until your terrarium project is complete. Also take side views, but
make sure you always do it from the same angle. You might want to make a small mark
in the jar in order to remember the side you took the picture from.
3. Use the picture to count the number of plants per square in the grid.
4. You can also make other calculations, such as exposed soil surface, etc.
5. You should also monitor room temperature on your terrarium. If you do not have a room
thermometer, you can download one to your phone for free.
6. Record your observation of other physical components, such as condensation on the jar,
height of plants, or any other thing that could give you a tangible measurement of the
health of the ecosystem you have built in your terrarium.
Introducing Variables – Stage 3

Once you have obtained your initial measurements and your terrarium is stable, we can start
introducing variables. Students should have two similar terrariums. One of these we will call
the control, and we will continue monitoring the terrarium without altering any of the conditions.
The other terrarium, will be altered and compared to the control.
Choose one of the following Possible Variables to alter in your terrarium.
Temperature – What will happen if one of your terrariums is kept inside the freezer for one
night? What if the terrarium is kept for one night in the oven at 120 degrees? NOTE the oven
will only work if you have glass jars with metal caps, don’t try it with plastic jars!!!!
pH - What if one of your soils was treated with lemon juice (Acidic Conditions) or with baking
soda (Alkaline conditions)? Note if you pick one of these use two spoonfools of either lemon
juice or Baking Soda powder dissolved in water.
Fertilizer – What your terrarium was treated with fertilizer? You can use either commercial
house plant fertilizer or a home made one like watter with fish guts that you can get from your
local fishmonger.
Water Activity – What if your terrarium was overwatered or left open for a night to dry?
Sunlight – What if your terrarium was kept in a dark cupboard for 3 days?
Biodiversity - What if a different plant or animal was introduced?
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ENSC 101 Lab

1. 2 Wide Mouth Glass or clear Plastic Jars

1. Spread some newspaper or plastic sheet over your workspace.

Insert the Plants

Add Water and Decorations

Seal the Bottle

Is This Working? Proper maintenance of a Closed Terrarium – Stages 1

Testing and documenting your Closed Terrarium.

Introducing Variables – Stage 3

Choose one of the following Possible Variables to alter in your terrarium.

Biodiversity - What if a different plant or animal was introduced?

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