Self Sustaining Ecosystem In A Jar | Part 1

I am skeptical of the term self sustaining ecosystem so in this video I want to test just how self sustaining a terrarium can be. Making a self sustaining ecosystem in a jar is simple in concept but there are a few prerequisites; a large container, good quality terrarium soil, springtails (collembola/folsomia candida) and decent terrarium lighting for plants are important. I’ve chosen the plants: nephrolepis exaltata marisa, peperomia rotundifolia and begonia schulzei. This is an experiment and I’m excited to see how it turns out.
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[@WorcesterTerrariums]

What is the longest you've left a terrarium sealed up for?

[@spacemushroomleo9644]

1 year :-)

[@susanagween432]

I have a terrarium that is a 3 gallon bowl. It's 4+yrs old now. I open it up 1xyr to trim the plants and clean the glass then re-seal. Brazilian pennyworth does really well. It's in my office,so AC and on a south facing window that has a bit of sun blocking film.

[@priyanthadevapriya9069]

Not sure about this because I don't really keep track but one me and my friend built survived for ~2.5 years. It died because in the summer months the rubber band used to hold the lid on kept snapping and eventually a grass seed or something got in. Totally disrupted the whole ecosystem. I tried saving it but it was two late all the plants had gotten wiped out and the grass didn't survive long term due to high humidity. After the extinction of the last plant (aka the grass) the springtails and other bugs died due to lack of oxygen.

[@prokux2529]

2 weeks so far but it's my 1st one. Mold everywhere.

[@jamus9_games967]

I kept a completely sealed terrarium for 6 years. It thrived and was fascinating to see it evolve and adapt. It never failed but I had to dispose of it as I moved overseas. If you view a fully sealed terrarium more as a science experiment it’s possible to get more joy and fascination out of one

[@BillyKal]

I started experimenting with sealed terrariums a couple of years ago and to be honest I wasn't able to keep any of the plants alive for more than 6 months. Eventually they all died but for the past year I tried something else. I gathered some plants from the mountain. From really wet areas actually and to be honest it's been a year now and they are still all alive and flourishing!

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Amazing! I'd love to see photos :D

[@curvingfyre6810]

Because you aren't feeding the terrarium, it needs more nutrients than you think. the leaf litter is a good call, but I'd have gone for bits of healthy decaying wood too. something like chunks from an old stump that have already been partially eaten. You'll want a deeper than normal drainage layer and a bit more water than you expect. and using slow growing plants is good, but some faster growing plants are also good. they'll grow then die then decompose, and go back into the system having a boom bust system is actually desirable so long as its intentional and controlled. Your livestock is wrong too, you want to add isopods and some kind of burrowing worm to aerate the soil. and they're rare-ish in the pet trade, but some isopod-eater scorpions are good. they eat exclusively isopods, but they're small and dont eat very many, so you can have a small population without killing all the isopods. that'll recycle nutrients effectively too. they're semi territorial, so they'll control their own population. Oh, and since it's fully sealed, flightless fruit fly colonies are another recommendation. they aerate the soil and eat decomposing matter as larva, and then transport it from the low soil back to the topsoil when they hatch as adults, and the population will never outgrow the edible soil, nor will they eat plants when hungry.

[@IVMRGREENXX]

loving your channel brother. currently building my first 1 gallon. learning a lot from your vids. appreciate it. cheers

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Thank you very much! :)

[@joeswampdawghenry]

@@WorcesterTerrariums i hav a terrarium in me panties...is that good or bad?

[@observingsystem]

I just found your channel, I'm getting excited to try making one myself!

[@MrTubatron]

I think the longest I have kept one of my terrariums closed is about 10 months it seems to be doing ok so far :) when do you plan on doing an update video on this?

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Cool! I'll do an update in a few months :)

[@michelgrave2371]

Hey, where is part 2 ? I love what you do by the way.

[@lella7]

I m excited about this, can wait how it is going to be💚

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Me too! Stay tuned for an update!

[@victarine]

you look like heath ledger omg... also im so excited to make one for myself!!

[@Bubba_fett]

Its hard to find a container big enough. In the 80's I had one of those dome like terrariums and it had about 12-18" depending on soil level. It was plastic and didn't last that long.

[@CammieRacing]

2:00 yum Nesquik cereal.

[@CunaguaroZ]

Nice work, i'm looking forward the updates! Quick question, i have always read that cold white light is the Best for plants. Do You see any difference between them? (Cold or warm).

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Hi Henry, I'm no expert but both work. I just prefer the light colour of the warm white bulbs

[@pauleggett7507]

I totally dig the music for the passage of time.

[@101logickey]

So from what I understand, the best way to ensure long term survival of a completely sealed no maintenance terrarium, you need to add alot of living mites, slaters, bugs worms etc. Also a decent variety of slow growing & small/short growing plant... then it needs t9 be maintained until the system reaches equilibrium, 6 to 12 months... Once it has reached equilibrium it can be permanently sealed up & should last indefinitely...?!? At least that's what I can gather from what I have seen & read...?!? I'm no expert lol

[@SezArrow]

Really enjoying your videos - new to terrariums. Was interested to see you use those clay permaculture balls in the bottom, haven't seen them used in a terrarium before. Have you used them much, and do they work well? I have them mixed through the gravel in my pond's bog filter.

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

They're great as they add little to no weight! I use them a lot in bigger builds

[@SezArrow]

@@WorcesterTerrariums That's cool, thank you 😊 Will give it a go!

[@ilovefaries18]

What other kinds of ferns work well in terrariums?

[@Ethanboi64]

wont the cork dry out?

[@user-pz4qr4uy4s]

ببخشید بعد از گذشت چه مدتی باید در بطری را باز کنیم تا هوای داخل آن عوض شود؟

[@sunshinecarnivores1919]

Will black cow manure work for a terrarium?

[@succulentgardenermumbai]

Is that lamp helpful for condensation...

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

It's great for plant growth! Condensation is normal

[@mattharris2398]

Any update on this ?

[@jollytree2042]

Believe it or not, earth was just a giant terrarium before humans came and recked it, good video tho

[@gregorynorman57]

Can I use bonsai soil instead?

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

I recommend using coir and worm castings with it as the air pockets in the bonsai soil will be filled in by them. Straight bonsai soil may dry out quickly in a terrarium

[@gregorynorman57]

Thank you for the advise.

[@syamimsirajudin7305]

where do you get your baby plants from?

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Mainly local plant shops

[@YOCHKAR1]

Hi from France, what do you add to at 12:06 ? Thanks for your answer. Nicole

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Springtails! :)

[@No-sc9wm]

You are forgetting co2 for the plant or it will go stagnate

[@Lezduit586]

Quick emergency question. I just found hundreds of snail eggs in my terrarium and around 11 are already hatched. How do i get rid of them without damaging the ecosystem?

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

!!! Leave pieces of cucumber or lettuce in the terrarium and remove them daily. I had this same issue with slugs and it's an ongoing battle. Best of luck!

[@Lezduit586]

@@WorcesterTerrariums Thanks so much!

[@gethynphillips7739]

I reckon if you put a small amount of substrate and plant in a huge jar. And with luck… it’s about luck, some of them last years but…. It’s luck

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Luck is part of it but using correct soil and giving it adequate light is key