Examining the Feasibility of Open-Air Terrariums: Issues and Resolutions
Taming the Outdoors: A Guide to Outdoor Terrariums
Outdoor terrariums offer a unique opportunity to create microhabitats that cater to specific plants, much like their indoor counterparts. However, they face distinct challenges due to exposure to natural weather, variable light, and pests.
An open arid terrarium, designed for plants like succulents and cacti, thrives under full sun in an open environment. In hot climates, these terrariums can be a viable option, but care should be taken to situate them in shade during the hottest parts of the day to prevent overheating. Conversely, a closed terrarium outdoors can overheat in direct sunlight, potentially cooking the plants inside.
Tropical plants, such as ferns, prefer indirect bright light and cannot handle full sun for extended periods. In temperate areas, temperate moss and fern species are the best bets for outdoor terrariums. English Ivy, a vine option, is suitable for temperate regions as well.
In very cold winters, an outdoor terrarium may not be suitable. In extremely cold climates, it is not feasible. For the truly cold regions, suitable outdoor terrarium plants are not specified.
In dry climates prone to cold nights, cold-hardy succulents should be chosen for open terrariums. In hot and dry environments, an open terrarium works well, while a closed one can potentially work with care. In hot and humid conditions, a closed terrarium can grow tropical plants, but it brings additional risks. In tropical regions, closed terrarium plants can be used for outdoor terrariums.
Outdoor terrariums are exposed to wind and may need to be anchored or well-sheltered. They use glass or transparent enclosures to retain moisture and create a humid environment, sometimes incorporating features such as forced vertical airflow systems to prevent excessive condensation and promote healthy air circulation.
However, unlike indoor terrariums, outdoor ones must contend with fluctuating sunlight intensity, temperature swings, rain, wind, and potential pest intrusion, all of which can disrupt the delicate humidity balance and plant health. Pests and contamination are more common in outdoor terrariums due to their connection to the local ecosystem.
Indoor terrariums, on the other hand, benefit from stable environmental conditions—consistent indirect light, controlled humidity, and temperature—and require less frequent watering due to their closed designs, which recycle moisture effectively. Outdoor terrariums may require more robust construction and ventilation to adapt to outdoor conditions, and their placement must consider natural light exposure carefully to avoid overheating from direct sun amplification through glass.
In summary, while both indoor and outdoor terrariums aim to create specialized growing environments, outdoor terrariums must handle external environmental variability, demanding thoughtful design for ventilation, weatherproofing, and plant selection to maintain optimal conditions, challenges less prevalent indoors. The choice of outdoor terrarium plants depends largely on the climate.
A home-and-garden enthusiast might find outdoor terrariums an intriguing addition to their lifestyle, offering opportunities to cultivate cold-hardy succulents or tropical plants, depending on the climate. On the contrary, those living in extremely cold regions may find that home-and-garden hobbies like gardening through outdoor terrariums are not feasible owing to the lack of specified suitable plants.
