How I built my dream terrarium ✦

How I built my dream ikea 'rudsta' terrarium cabinet.. I'm happy to share what I've learned from this build, so let me know if you have any questions! I can't wait to see how everything grows in.
Huge thank you to Yamaguchi Bonsai Nursery for the beautiful plants!
yamaguchinurse...
For more updates, check out my instagram ~
✦ Instagram: / mcmintea
Thanks for watching!
#terrarium #vivarium #bioactive

[@forggotenstuff78]

My dream is to have one of these with my phalaenopsis orchids 🙂. I think the color of the blooms would look great with green ferns and philodendrons.

[@Padfooted04]

This was the perfect video to find! I was looking at the exact same cabinet and wondering how well it would work. Beautiful job!

[@confusedsnake]

Beautiful! I'd love to see how it goes over time. I made my first vivarium last summer, and a few days ago I saw a picture of how it was then and I hadn't realized how much the plants had grown (except the ones I killed on the way :( ).

[@danasmith8557]

Wow that looks amazing , are u going to put anything live in there ? Like a lizzard, dart frogs, or any geckos , they wud have a great beautiful home !!❤

[@ThePlantasticNerd]

Wow you have done such a great job! It looks so natural!

[@greenfingersofcecilia]

I’m about to buy the same cabinet. What kind of light is it? Does it get condensation on the glass?

[@estellesilbande6592]

Hi, wow so beautiful. Can we have an update on your beautiful terrarium? Thanks

[@GreenChords]

This looks so cool! So you added some pots in and covered them with moss to hide them?

[@ferrinleonsons6620]

dairy cow isopods!!! yeeaah!!!!!

[@pearlynlii7347]

🥲🫶🥹 incredible

[@mcmintea]

thank you thank you 🥲❤

[@caleb10856]

Excellent work! Did you add any reptiles or amphibians to your setup ?

[@AutumnsDawn]

Ooo it turned out so nice! Love seeing the process and how this all came together.

[@mcmintea]

thank youu!!

[@supermanriver]

absolutely huge fan of the works and thanks for sharing detailed steps! Was wondering what if the water/weather seal are not applied on both sides of the cabinet/gap, would these gap be ok to served as vent and maybe I won’t need to drill holes at the top for air exchanging?

[@mcmintea]

I would recommend sealing the sides if you are going to have substrate on the floor of the cabinet, but the top vents are not necessary. hope this helps!

[@supermanriver]

Thank you!!!☺@@mcmintea

[@vplantlady]

I just built a terrarium! Have any of your plants struggled? I'm having trouble regulating the moisture with the top of the tank drying out faster than the bottom of the tank because of the light. Are you having similar issues?

[@mcmintea]

I later on installed an automatic mister at the top, behind the light!

[@Mygreenplantdiary]

How did you install the mister?

[@syon600]

Fan?

[@syon600]

I'm planning to build w fogger and fan behind inclined back. Lots of builds on youtube

[@zakeywak]

@@syon600you got any links?

[@leons5k]

So beautiful. Thank you for sharing

[@reallyfishyy3839]

What light is that??

[@v4k_foto716]

Amazing work! Can I ask the dimensions?

[@paulinabm_]

Impressive ❤ I'm surprised the ikea cabinet is solid enough to take those layers. I got one of the smaller ones for my books and decided not to put too many of them, I'm scared it might not take the weight. But is a good place to put my origami, unframed watercolors and my brushes to protect them from dust.

[@gwangseopshin]

Did you put glass in the most bottom layer?

[@cnartz1527]

Is it waterproof

[@baderalsharhan5524]

What kind of foam do you used 🤔

[@N8DitHwtFTMCHS]

That light looks very bright! What brand is it?

[@mcmintea]

Arcadia Reptile!

[@chris-z3tk]

beautiful work! please, how did you stick the soil and spangun moss on the wall? 2:33

[@mcmintea]

I poured a generous amount of a mixture of peat moss and sphagnum moss (make sure they're dry) over the spray on foam while it is still wet, there will be a lot of moss that falls off after the foam is cured ~ hope this helps!

[@chris-z3tk]

@@mcminteaok, thank you

[@alyceaill9517]

Your terrarium is gorgeous!! I hope to have the chance to build one myself one day!

[@mcmintea]

yess! i'd love that for you

[@cygnusArt]

looks amazing! now I wanna build my own terrarium........

[@mcmintea]

thank you!! it is such a rewarding feeling when the build is done and all you have to do is water it and enjoy 😊

[@adityarai4646]

Where did you get the moss from?

[@craigsmart1986]

😍

[@joemeenie]

I might have missed it, did you put springtails and isopodes in?

[@mcmintea]

yes i did! :)

[@MrWurthit4660]

@@mcminteawhat is the brown substrate you silicone to the back along with the green moss?

[@letealeaf]

Ohh it looks so fantastic, Maggie! I've been wanting to do one myself after watching some other clips before, but currently can't -- did you get inspired by Benji?

[@mcmintea]

yes! he was one of the inspirations :)

[@MR-gq8nb]

How is the spray foam backing holding up? Have you had any issue with it peeling off the metal or getting moldy?

[@mcmintea]

It's holding up, at the beginning I had mold issues and used hydrogen peroxide to combat it. So far, no problems!

[@lietchen5574]

That’s BEAUTIFUL omg why isn’t this viral??

[@shannarafryer3111]

Because social media apps hate anyone who isnt already successful 😢

[@codythecoffinwizard]

Because it’s been done 10000+ times and its is a massive dedicated hobby for millions of people…

[@ngaming2185]

that gudgeon?

[@RoronoaJaszy]

How many cans of foam did you use and what brand I’m finally getting ready to make mine but the foam is the one factor I don’t know how much to get without overspending 😭

[@mcmintea]

I struggled with this problem too! I originally bought 2 cans and kind of messed up during the build process while learning how to use the spray foam, so I ended up buying 2 more cans. I think maybe 3-4 cans is a good place to start.

[@RoronoaJaszy]

Thanks so much!!

[@surgeinc1]

@@RoronoaJaszyconsider using black landscape and pond foam. Worked well for ours.