The Idea Terrarium

A terrarium is a collection of small plants growing in a transparent, sealed container.

It is typically a closed environment, and can actually be used to illustrate how an ecosystem works. Inside a terrarium's walls, many different natural processes may be observed: photosynthesis, respiration, and the water cycle.

Terrarium's have the essential requirements of soil, water and light for the survival of plants that are housed in it, as well as a reservoir of water, as water is trapped inside the bottle and unable to evaporate. The carbon dioxide from plant respiration is used for photosynthesis, and the oxygen from photosynthesis is used for respiration. As such they require almost no maintenance.

Photosynthesis is "the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water. Photosynthesis in plants generally involves the green pigment chlorophyll and generates oxygen as a byproduct."

The Process of Photosynthesis

• Sunlight is absorbed by chlorophyll in a leaf
• Carbon dioxide is taken in from the air
• Water is transported from the roots
• Glucose is synthesized and distributed throughout the plant
• Oxygen is released

Sources:

• Explore Terrariums on Pinterest
• Terrariums Bring the Outdoors Inside