Just a Few Terrarium Updates (Bottle, Jumbo and No Opening Terrariums)

[@SerpaDesign]

Another update is here! Also this is my 100th upload! I just wanted to take a moment and thank you all for your continued support! Like I've said countless times, this would not be possible without each and every one of you. 💗 Here's to another 💯

[@quintoncheung9588]

SerpaDesign congrats on the achievement!

[@Collection_of_unseen_nature]

That could be a fertilizer in the soil ...

[@vogelkonigin3303]

Congrats on 100 uploads!!!

[@luis3810]

I used locally made potting soil and the terrerium did great

[@tamarrajames3590]

SerpaDesign Would any of these closed systems support those tiny orange newt/salamanders? It would be cool to see tiny creatures living in any of these. Your design sense is brilliant...as is the creative process...you seem to be very empathic as part of your own process...like you are the one who will be living in there. May I congratulate you for your silver play button, it is well deserved. 🖤🇨🇦

[@goblinisland]

I struggle with severe anxiety (and other things) and your videos always calm me down & help me reach a peaceful state. Thank you so much for making these videos. They're very relaxing and informative. All the arrangements you've done on camera/shown are beautiful. :)

[@MaryLNeal]

Ditto! Just discovered one of your videos this morning while trying learn about my African Dwarf Frog. I honestly don't know why you popped up but I'm grateful. I don't have severe anxiety but... sometimes I just need something fascinating to focus on as I'm an artist and hit artist block many times. Your video really relaxed my mind and propelled me into thinking up all types of creative ways to incorporate for ideas into my World of Art. Your World of Art is so creative and magical. I want to stop what I'm doing and delve into terrariums but... I can't let your expertise drive me in a different direction. It does awaken the creativity and that has been terrific. A magical excursion into a tiny forest, I can't think of a better respite. Thank you... I'm now a fan.

[@djssquibbs3295]

He's great. Good way to take my mind off of all the words in life and focus on nature. we're lucky to have a guy like this who's so willing to post and educate.

[@stephaniem5091]

'I struggle with severe anxiety'. Me too. ...that and depression. I find they help me too. Besides, watching tanner's video's has given me a new hobby!! :)

[@ToxickArt]

Funny enough I have been having bad anxiety lately and have come across these videos. Now I have terrariums and less anxiety

[@MaryLNeal]

Just discovered one of your videos this morning while trying learn about my African Dwarf Frog. I honestly don't know why you popped up but I'm grateful. I don't have severe anxiety but... sometimes I just need something fascinating to focus on as I'm an artist and hit artist block many times. Your video really relaxed my mind and propelled me into thinking up all types of creative ways to incorporate for ideas into my World of Art. Your World of Art is so creative and magical. I want to stop what I'm doing and delve into terrariums but... I can't let your expertise drive me in a different direction. It does awaken the creativity and that has been terrific. A magical excursion into a tiny forest, I can't think of a better respite. Thank you... I'm now a fan.

[@funkyfreshwizardry]

A lot of your plants in these terrariums show signs of severe nutrient deprivation. As we already saw, potting mix (especially Miracle Gro) is not a good solution to this problem. Not only does Miracle Gro (and many other potting mixes) hold too much water, several other users have mentioned that the manures and composts in it probably led to a buildup of toxic gasses. However, I believe you will see much better coloration in your terrarium plants if they have access to a little nutrition. The base nutritional content of your standard terrarium substrate is very low. I suggest checking out possibly adding a small amount of Maxsea 16-16-16 into a terrarium to see if that helps. It’s a water-soluble fertilizer, and it’s strong and evenly balanced. Plus it’s very easy to dilute the dose to levels that would be safer for a terrarium. I would start with maybe a 1/4 dose. It’s a very safe and reliable fertilizer, with no weird chemical stuff in it - it can even be used in low doses on carnivorous plants without harming them. A penny for your thoughts, or maybe for a future experiment. A small amount could be added to the water either when you initially water the terrarium, or when you open it up for maintenance.

[@CanIpleaseSubscribers]

I noticed this as well and the bark requires nutrients to break down so its not helping either

[@CanIpleaseSubscribers]

And I think he should add worm castings in his substrate plus some rock dust instead of the fertilizer

[@hotakmomma101]

Plus the carbon depletes nutrients as well as impurity’s.

[@tonyhinderman]

These are long standing terrariums, Maxsea 16-16-16 would only provide an initial boost in nutrition without adding any system for replenishing those nutrients, he would have to keep adding the fert to the terrarium every so often. You are right though a more nutrient rich substrate is the solution, Earth worm castings (or live worms) as well as Basalt rock dust (as the other poster has suggested) are likely the best bet as you do not need to replenish them once added.

[@shuckle5013]

Do springtails and isopods help?

[@NatachaWasylykVinette]

Really cool update ☺ My daughter wants to get in to doing some and I'm all about it! She's 9 and my older kids didn't take a liking to plants and bugs but I'm so happy she has. We will be watching your vids and look for updates ☺☺

[@Lazy_Fish_Keeper]

Surprised so few people engaged with this video. Thank you for sharing your learning curves with us, and keeping it real! Now I am going to look for your enclosed round terrarium remake.

[@ToxickArt]

I really hope you redo the globe. I really liked that design and I know you can fix it with your tried and true methods

[@paperdoll1982]

Love that you show your successes as well as terrariums that don’t turn out as you’d hoped. I can’t wait until you do the large jars. Maybe this spring I’ll have to try and make one myself!

[@Lisa-no4jv]

Thank you so much for your updates...so many people show the development of a project, but not how it progresses or even if it is successful! It shows you have integrity and are a little brave! ;)

[@shawncraib]

I'm glad you show the good and the bad keep up the good work. 🌱👍

[@shelleoshelle7252]

Excellent update. I look forward to the new build on the no open terrarium.

[@MsOceanRiver]

WOW! Really looking forward to the jumbo jumbos.

[@pallemaniac]

Hahaha , I really laughed out loud when you took that third whiff 🤣

[@GOP4USA]

I absolutely love what you do. I’m going to try and find someone here in my neck of the woods to figure out how to start doing this. I am totally fascinated

[@Deeda241]

Learned a bit on this on. Do not add potting soil. Thanks for your videos. Great learning tool!

[@eyeeverything342]

OH YES I CANT WAIT TO SEE THE JUMBO JUMBO TERRARIUMS!!!

[@00through99]

I can watch this stuff for hours

[@samf1155]

Are you planning to make a terrarium with all fungi in it in the future? It’d be really cool to see some oddball plants like violet webcaps in a terrarium.

[@patrickbrown6810]

It couldn't live long term

[@vinnypayen]

Grats !! for your 100th upload! and thx for the terrariums updates.

[@aronmoehn2091]

About winter and terraria: i built my 1st terrarium in the winter and heavily overwatered it at the time. But it didnt show up because the sun wasnt powerful enough, so no mold... Few months later: sun is getting more powerful and the overwatering started to show, and mold started showing..... Sooo i removed a lot of water, and saved the terrarium just in time. Moral of the story: dont overwater your terrarium ;)

[@drewsuschrist]

Yo, you got me at the de-cork sniff. I really appreciate these videos. Thank you very much for these.

[@randystache78]

I also had 2 terrariums fail when i used potting mix. It was organic so not sure why. My other ones are fine. Cool video!

[@SerpaDesign]

At least I'm not the only one!

[@27Tigress]

I just used that exact potting mix cause I didn't have any substrate yet.... and over night mold grew on my terrarium and stunk like barn yarn. I think I am going to go out tomorrow and gather some substrate from nature and see if that changes anything.

[@FantasyAddict95]

I had gotten that potting soil but with a slightly different formula, (organic raised bed, it has a blue label instead of brown) because it was for a tortoise habitat and I didn't want any fertilizers, but I think the bag you have there has fertilizers and things like poultry mulch and earthworm castings, basically stuff that can produce methane and/or ammonia as it decays and poison your plants in enclosed environments.

[@FantasyAddict95]

poultry litter, not mulch lol

[@SerpaDesign]

No doubt, that's exactly what happened! I should have inspected the label ahead of time, but I thinking "I'll just give it a try!"

[@FantasyAddict95]

SerpaDesign Yeah, and the whole 'organic' thing can be really misleading. But hey, you tried, you learned, and you still have the mesh and aquarium to try again, so that'll save you a bit of work when you give it another go. :)

[@winter_3407]

Theres three approaches i have to the potting mix dilemma either those plants weren’t adapted to that potting mix giving stench and death , the potting mix was bio-active meaning that if you washed the roots of the plants before hand you essentially opened them up to infection giving stench and death or the plants had preexisting root rot which was helped by the potting mix giving stench and death . i buy my plants for my terrariums already in the companies potting mix i use so the plants are adapted already and i use tropical mix which has pretty much everything your substrate uses with a little bit extra to help growth

[@flipAgoat]

Potting soil is usually a lot of fertilizer which is gonna put of some gasses mix more regular dirt into it to break it down

[@Alicia-gj2nl]

I have learned the hard way also that it all in the substrate. I couldn't work out why some of my terrariums seemed to rot. But yes its the potting soil's. They have to much extras added to them but in a closed space they let of gasses.

[@Lazy_Fish_Keeper]

Yup

[@bubby211]

The Nature's Care organic potting soil isn't super bad. I used it for my first one. It was a little higher maintenance in its early days but is still going two and a half years later. I only got it because it was a smaller bag and was cheap. I did keep it in its original bag too long and it made some later terrarium attempts moldy. I wouldn't recommend it for any big and or expensive attempts but for someone's first few experiments it is good.

[@itubeyuutube]

hahaha i gave the video a like at the part when you took a sniff... thanks for the update! really great!

[@kRVRKV]

Hi Serpa, I was wondering if you know what is wrong with my springtails. No matter what terrarium (big or small) I make and put them in, they always sit on the glass and almost don't move at all. The only way to cheer them up is to throw some rice, then they gather around it and begin their feast. When they are done - back at the old spot. Is that a sign that they are starving? Cold? Need more moisture? I'm very worried and too scared to stop feeding them and leave like you do for multiple months. Thanks, love your videos! You've inspired me to get into this hobby.

[@MsOceanRiver]

i play gomputer I have springtails in one of my terrariums that are doing the same thing. They are all congregating on one small spot on the glass. They seem to be ok. I'm not feeding them and it has been about a month.

[@ramslak]

Same here! I hope he has an answer :)

[@janelleleonard4994]

Weird mine don't

[@bryanlorenzo9808]

You've got my subscription. Great videos. I'm new to terrariums and I definitely learn a lot from your videos. Keep it up!

[@happyshabbygames]

I’m sorry the no opening terrarium didn’t work out but I lost it seeing your reaction to the “thrrwwwiiipp” noise it made 😂

[@SerpaDesign]

Lol nice comic book sound effect!

[@FantasyAddict95]

it farted, I think that is the appropriate expression when your plants fart at you. XD

[@195dm]

Bravissimo! Io ne ho uno con fittonia red chiuso da 4 anni.

[@SimplyAnchored]

Great video as always! Unfortunately I added that same exact potting mix to two of my newer terrariums, so I’m curious to see what happens and if they don’t survive I’ll know why!

[@SerpaDesign]

Good luck! I hope that the same thing doesn't happen to you. Let me know if it does though. I will add it to the video description.

[@FantasyAddict95]

it may be fertilizer or other materials in the soil decaying. I have the organic raised bed formula to use in my tortoise's home, since it was the only one I could find without it. If you look at the ingredients in the back, you may get a better idea. mine has processed forest products, sphagnum moss (idk how to spell it) peat moss, poultry litter, earthworm castings, and a few other things.

[@bubby211]

I used it in my first couple. The first one is still going two and half years later. I have had a problem with mold in the later few but I kept the soil in its original packaging in my garage for several months to that's my fault.

[@PaulM708]

I enjoy watching your videos so much. They are so informative and interesting. I have been wondering if you have created any terrariums that involve carnivorous plants?

[@Lazy_Fish_Keeper]

I would love to see a carnivorous terrarium!!!!

[@josephackerman9068]

You are a genius in my book! Happy New Year!

[@smeedgar]

Thanks for also showing us the one that didn't go well. Great Video! Do you know where I could buy some of these plants?

[@ConnorKennedy16]

I'd be extremely surprised if those roots in the first terrarium were from the creeping fig unless it grew into a massive bush and then died back. The philodendron is your culprit there for sure, I'm almost certain. Not to mention that those have the look of philodendron roots

[@tobioc8148]

I'd like to inform you that your thumbnail says "12 yr" for the first terrarium when I think you must have meant months OR 1 instead of 12. regardless, fantastic video! Excited about the larger terrariums! I made one local terrarium after your "Free!" video and got hooked 😂

[@SerpaDesign]

It says 1.2yr, enlarge the thumbnail lol! I'm glad that you made your self a free terrarium as well. It seemed like a ton of people took action after that video.

[@tobioc8148]

Woops! My apologies! Also yeah I was really excited about the video when it came out, the next day I made my first, waited a few days to be sure everything was correct, and now I've made 7 more of around the same size and am waiting to see if they work out 😅

[@advait2x]

serpa design your videos always keep me excited and make my day!

[@robertblixt9676]

I have a idea that i did not test yet. Attach a little electrical lamp on outside of glass and control it with a timer. Then you can place it inside far from a window and have it as a nice lamp terrarium.

[@DrOctagon]

Closed 2.0 please!?Great work as always.

[@evanlewis3841]

Great video. Bad luck on the no opening trrrm. I know that smell. I got it from the plastic trrrms of mine that didnt make it. Can't wait for the new jumbos

[@SerpaDesign]

It happens. Not all of them will be a success!

[@4Paok4Eptalofos]

I found your videos very relaxing and just random find out about these kind of type of terariums i will try to make mine soon just gathering info from your chanel thanks. : )

[@nothinginterestinghere7612]

I love how you just had to get a third whiff for our sake

[@AshLilyNeko]

"so have you been to your local barnyard lately?" SMH OMG I'M DYING 🤣😂🤣

[@KeillorChristopher]

For the past two years I have been trying failing to do a bonsai bottle terrarium I am in Montana Helena Montana and I technically am homeless I live in a school bus so it will get cold in with stove it'll get warm or stay somewhat warmer what would be a good tree should I go from seed or seedling what would be a good tree to work with something that I can trim from the neck of the bottle Bend and do bonsai type things

[@clutontalks1353]

I made my first terrarium i hope that it works, i used your free terrarium tutorial-ish video

[@felipecastro4714]

are you gona try the no opening terrarium again?

[@AliciaOnlineGameplay]

Hey Tanner, do you know why my oak leaf creeping fig wont grow? It's acting like the one in the first terrarium. Ive moved it from a closed terrarium since it wouldnt grow to a vivarium and not a single leaf has popped up for months. That specific plant is so hard to come by in Sweden and i really want it to grow so i can have plenty to decorate my work with! Thanks in advance if you answer...

[@iamlove7110]

Plants love you.

[@carolharrell7505]

You make everything interesting 👍

[@EmIsLegend]

His reaction at 18:10 is priceless.

[@jvon3885]

I'm going to begin my terrarium. I'm ordering two sets of sensors that work with arduino. I'm hoping to collect enough data to see if my GANS Plasma will help life out. I'm super excited.

[@tuckerplum8085]

Regarding the "No Opening" terrarium ... Is it not true that you used no charcoal in the outer ring? Could that have been a contributing factor to its failure?

[@Lazy_Fish_Keeper]

I need to go rewatch the no-opening terrarium video, and see. I thought Tanner used the wood charcoal in that one... maybe not?

[@xiiixiiih.16]

Put plain jello on the in side of the one ball jar.

[@CowgirlForJesus77]

That kind of potting soil still has organic material that is still breaking down and in a closed system there was to much heat from decomposing material and gases as well and in a closed system they had no place to go. This should only be used for potted plants and open terrariums

[@embracenreborns6997]

Awesome video thanks for sharing and keep up the giid work , btw do you sell plant samples or Ziploc bags of soil to start and terrarium

[@dogleghobag]

Maybe the glass of the bottle is obstructing the light getting in? like maybe it's a kind of bottle that's designed to protect whatever liquids were kept in it? IDK. on that topic, do you know if growing plants behind green-coloured glass would hurt them? I have a green vase I've been looking at converting

[@comradegarrett1202]

bohn only's probably don't put plants in under green glass, chlorophyll doesn't absorb green light.

[@SerpaDesign]

I doubt it. I have other containers with a similar shape, that don't have any issues. I definitely think it was the potting soil. To answer your other question, I think it would work. Obviously some amount of light will be filtered out, so your best bet would be some low light plants.

[@dogleghobag]

Thanks for the heads up! I got confused if this was the case, or the opposite.

[@JaneilsonHD]

Besides the low chlorophyll production you also will loose visual too.

[@CanIpleaseSubscribers]

His substrate just simply does not have any nutrients and the orchid bark is not helping because it requires nutrients to break it down

[@tinyworldcreations]

Ive made 5 different terrariums. The first one i made has been doing great but the others have been struggling and ive had to redo them a couple times. And now im seeing some mold growing in a couple of them that i just started about a week ago. Im not doing anything different from the first terrarium but i dont seem to be having the same luck. Any ideas?

[@gonewildwithlovehjq]

i love your videos, if you make a book about the plants you use... bro, I will buy it. I like your ideas but i dont want to look for the video to find the plant you used in "blank" video. or at least can you put in the discription what plants you used. please that will be super helpful to me.

[@aylahickey3829]

hi there! I have made a handful of terrariums and I have noticed that in some plants tend to grow strangely. sometimes they become pale. I noticed that happened in the first terrarium you are showing in this video. Have you considered that maybe it's because of the glass? perhaps how thick it is or how it curves might affect the way light enters...

[@CrossCultural-c7f]

Not enough light. I say that because many of the foliage are light green. Philodendron silver is a variegated plant and it is my understanding that since varigated plants don’t have as much chlorophyll as all green leaf plants, they do need more *bright light* (not direct sun) in order to have comparable photosynthesis as the all green plants. It is my understanding that the reds in a lot of red colored leaf plants increase in intensity when there is bright sun.

[@Madd69Hatter]

Oh wow. I wish I would have watched this before you're other tutorial. Lol I have 4 terrariums that are probably done for.

[@samanthamonholland1444]

Is there any way to salvage plants from a terrarium that have started growing mold? I know you use your springtails to help with that problem, I just haven't gotten any to use in mine. I can't wait to see what you do with those enormous jars!

[@michelleford9951]

Could you tell us where yu get some of your plants I have found some by looking on the side of the road on my travels

[@xiiixiiih.16]

Could you wanna try the one idea

[@tamarrajames3590]

Perhaps more charcoal, soil bacterium. Nematodes and small insects and snails might also help prevent souring of the substrate. You could even try a pair of very small amphibian predators for the aforementioned. What was the PH when you opened and reworked it if I may ask? 🖤🇨🇦

[@MudtimudWowi]

Are the springtails and earthworm in the bottle terrarium still alive after 11 months of no maintenance?

[@EngineerNick]

Ah that's a shame about the no-opening terrarium. I suppose it depends on the potting mix because I haven't had trouble with it. In my two terrariums I have used a thin layer of potting mix on top of a clean layer of pine/jarrah sawdust mixed with white sand. I have had a lot of issues with flying bugs breeding in them but that seems to have died down. I dropped a jumping spider into one of them and left the lid ajar so that might have helped :P. I have opened my terrariums fairly frequently however to control moisture levels so I have cheated a bit.

[@SerpaDesign]

It stinks, but failure happens. Sounds like you had a fungus gnat infestation, which can be a pain. They tend not to last very long, but are quite annoying. In your case I guess the gasses couldn't build up, so it didn't cause any issues. "Cheating" aside, I'm glad you're having success!

[@jarrodsviewoftheworld9406]

I love the vids With the sealed terrarium that died, maybe if you use aquatic silicone and let it cure for 1 week, then build it. Silicone releases fumes till cured. It could have been that.

[@djssquibbs3295]

On the little no open one, maybe it was to much water. what would the potting soil have had to done with it? it doesn't look like you put in as much false layer like you usually do. I thought that was one of your laws :)

[@janbijl7274]

Love your video's! Have some terrariums myself. Yours are very inspiring

[@30DayReviews]

as always good vid thanks for the update

[@BrianTheLog]

How do you deal with mold or fungus from killing off your plants?

[@cameronhay1829]

Hey man you might already have a video somewhere but do you have any tips on stopping mould... I have some small shoots of mould starting on one f my plants

[@Sylkis89]

Springtails and isopods

[@madiis18account]

Did the no-opening terrarium have springtails added? Potting mixes generally have added fertilisers so the risk of rot is way higher in a closed environment (I imagine without springtails it would be impossible to avoid rot with potting mix in a terrarium). I agree with your decision to just not use it though, youve got a mix that works well so it's easy to stick with that ^_^

[@SerpaDesign]

I did add them, but I don't think they lasted very long with the buildup of gasses unfortunately. It didn't take very long for that terrarium to fail, I just didn't show it immediately. Oh well, live and learn!

[@madiis18account]

Such a shame, it's a really cool design, can't wait to see the rebuild :)

[@masons.8321]

Sorry that the terrarium without an opening didn't turn out well. Great update though! That jumbo terrarium is great! Also, when is your next contest?

[@SerpaDesign]

I don't intend on doing another contest any time soon. Possibly next year is when I would do another round.

[@dragom2009]

What should you use instead f organic soild mix?

[@KeillorChristopher]

And where would I get a jar like that giant bottle terrarium you got

[@brans7269]

What did you mean by...do not use that potting soil do you mean in general for plants, in terrarium or sealed terrariums? Great videos btw👍 can't wait to see the huge ones.

[@SerpaDesign]

I just meant for closed terrariums. As I said in the video, "I'm sure it has other practical applications." Thanks for watching!

[@ShayLaRae75]

Are you a Pittsburgher, @SerpaDesign? I just wondered because I am and we say a few words similarly an I attribute that to being a Pittsburgher myself. lol

[@elainesantos4808]

Hello i'am from Brasil

[@luis3810]

Pls also look at the soil as well because it looks way different than it was first made

[@bucketsAMF]

Would it be possible to do a terrarium with nothing but herbs? Oregano, basil, thyme, mint, etc... Would plants like these do well in an enclosed environment like this?

[@syphira1650]

Where do you get jars from?

[@isofleecie8808]

I had a beautiful native terrarium but my mom took it out of the sunlight to clean, and killed it :/ gotta start from scratch now.

[@SerpaDesign]

Aww man that stinks!

[@BEEFERONII]

what kind of plant was in the big terrarium?

[@Ownd4h3r]

“That is gross”; goes for second sniff, lmfao

[@Purserr]

Is there a link where you get those JUMBO Containers ??? ^^

[@sp948]

springtails or isopods in the no opening?

[@maxmackenzie1980]

Why do these terrariums have to be closed? could I have an open one or would that not work?

[@NathalieBee]

Can you try again the no opening terrarium ??

[@NathalieBee]

yes ! I can't wait to see the new one !!

[@SerpaDesign]

Yes I said I would in the video. I will probably upload that in a week or two!

[@NathalieBee]

SerpaDesign can’t wait, i love your work!!!!!!!!!

[@evilgenius97]

The next Gen will be interesting

[@migratingeagle5497]

Just got back from Oxford OH hike to river

[@cynthiakitty8344]

what is your default substrate? :)

[@bonlynx]

What do I do if I've got mold in my moss? Start over? Or can I save it somehow? I added springtails in the beginning but the mold keeps growing and growing...

[@SerpaDesign]

I would try manually removing it with tweezers. Eventually it should go away.

[@michelleford9951]

What do you use for your substrate

[@NAMEERKLIFTS]

Use dirt and you can add soil

[@Garrettito6671]

18:50 you described working at my last job perfectly (I worked at the university research farm for a year and a half)

[@matthieuinduni3156]

Do springtails survive in a closed terrarium?

[@NAMEERKLIFTS]

Yes