It’s been a few days since class and some of my plants look unhappy. What are normal symptoms of transplant shock?
Transplant shock is a normal part of moving plants from one home to another.
Depending on the plants in your terrarium, you could see one or several of the following symptoms:
Yellowing or transparent leaves, drooping, faded color, mild fungal outbreaks, and leaf shed.
As symptoms appear remove the leaves or part of leaves that are discolored. They will not return to their original color and doing so will help you track the progress of your plant.
As long and symptoms stop appearing within a week of transplant, your plant has successfully made it through the shock!
How do I help my plant make it through transplant shock?
Even plants that typically prefer lower light will benefit from a medium to bright indirect light the first few days after a transplant to aid in the resettling process.
We also recommend applying a mild fertilizer any time you repot or transplant. Our bacterial inoculant is especially good at mitigating the symptoms of transplant shock.
What do I do if I see mold growing in my terrarium?
Its ok, mold happens! Particles are floating around just waiting for opportunities to touch down and grow. New soil and plants going through a bit of shock are very inviting to a mold spore.
Luckily, the most common outbreak after transplant is a mild white topical mold and it is very easy to treat.
Scrape away any visible mold growth from the top of the soil (you can use a butter knife, fork, or any handy utensil that reaches the spot). Allow the area to dry, and then apply a good saturating spray to the area of a simple mix of 3% hydrogen peroxide (the stuff you use to clean your cuts) and water mixed 1:1.
If it pops up again, repeat this process. Typically 1 - 3 treatments does the trick.
How much light does my terrarium need?
Nearly all of our foliage plants will like a medium indirect light.
If you can see reasonably well in a room with the lights turned off, then your plants will be happy.
There is some variation in this as we sell a wide variety of foliage plants; feel free to contact us if you're unsure about a specific plant's needs.
How do I water my terrarium?
Using a mister, spray the inside walls of the terrarium glass and let the water run down the sides and up and over the plants into the back or hard to reach places.
You want to see that the soil is damp all the way around the container.
The moist soil will look like its sticking to the side of the container.
Stop watering if you see any water pooling in the bottom of the container.
Over-watering is the #1 killer of terrariums, so always err on the side of slightly under-watering if you’re ever in doubt. If your container is larger (6” or more, typically) you may want to spot water at the base of a few of the center plants as well.
What do I do if a plant in my terrarium dies?
If your plant dies within 7 days of purchase, we will replace that plant at no charge to you. Just get in touch with us over text, email, phone, or social media within that 7 day window and include a photo of your plant and then you may come in at your convenience for your replacement.
If it has been more than 7 days and your plant has died, remove the plant from your terrarium and be sure to fill its place with another plant or a heavy trinket like a rock or figurine to avoid having the remaining plants revert to a territorial growth habit.
Please feel free to get in touch with us at any point about your plants! We are happy to help diagnose or troubleshoot any issues you may have, or even just see how fabulous your creation is looking!
Do I need to fertilize my terrarium?
All plants need food, and the plants in your terrarium ecosystem are no exception. We recommend using a bacterial inoculant once a month to replenish the bacterial populations in your soil.
Those little guys are there to help create any food or resources your plants are asking for.
Does temperature matter?
Yes, temperature can have a big impact on your terrarium.
Most indoor house plants are either desert or tropical plants, so they prefer a humid heat.
In the majority of cases, a normal home temperature should be just fine.
However, many spots in the home (such as near vents, behind doors, or above the stove) are hazardous for plants because they experience a more extreme variation in temperature than they would elsewhere in your home.
What do I do if I have other questions?
Our text line is always open, and we’d love to hear from you. We also respond to questions on our Instagram, Facebook, and email. Please allow 24 - 48 hours for a response.