Terrarium Making

Adding some plants into our life is pretty nice, adding some green in our workplace or be it at home. Many will prefer to purchase ready-made ones for convenience. For me, I might also  consider the easiest way out. But this time round, I decided to try to learn and make it myself.

Closed Terrarium

Tools you will need:

1. A bottle with a lid
2. Spoons (at least 2)
3. One pair of chopsticks
4. A presser tool
5. Non-fertilized soil
6. Rocks/ Pebbles
7. Plants
8. Decorative Figurines

Step 1: Preparing the bottle

Do get a bottle that's big enough - the bigger the better it is. This is so that it can contain the plant for a longer period. Otherwise you might have to transfer the plant to a bigger bottle when the plant start to over-grow out of the bottle.

Sample of a glass bottle you may use

Do make sure to peel off any stickers on the bottle and clean the interior and exterior of the bottle before use.

Step 2: Adding Rocks and Pebbles for layering the base

This step is critical in ensuring that the plant you will be growing will survive. Adding colour stones for beautifying but this is definitely not the reason for the need to add rocks/ pebbles at the bottom. 

The purpose is actually to create a layer of drainage at the bottom of the bottom, allowing water to seep through and prevent flooding the plant. Add around 2 inch of rocks/ pebbles at the bottom would be just sufficient. Use the presser tool to press down on the rocks/ pebbles to straighten the layer.


Step 3: Adding Soil

After the drainage layer is completed, you may now proceed to add soil on top of the layer. It will be best to use non-fertilized soil instead as this slows down the plant growth speed. If not, the plant would shoot to very tall and you will have to get a much bigger bottle to fit it in. 

Press down on the soil using the presser tool to flatten. Use average force - not too light and definitely not too tight when pressing down on the soil. Make sure that the soil is around 1 inch (Around 9 big tablespoons of soil depending on the size of your bottle) For my bottle, it takes around there. Do an estimation. But regardless, the rocks and soil should not take up exceeding 1/3 of your bottle. 

Step 4: Dig a spot for your plant

Using one spoon, dig it into the middle of the soil towards one side. You should be able to dig it down until you see the coloured rocks/ pebbles. Now, leave the spoon to that side, instead, use another spoon and dig towards the other side from the spoon. You should also see the rocks/ stones now. Leave it there for the time being since the plant will be placed in the middle of both spoons.


Step 5: Plant

Very important thing is to select the plant you want to add inside the closed terrarium - not all plants can survive inside. 

Use the non-fertilized soil to wrap the roots of the plants and using water to secure the soil. When planting it inside the bottle, take the leaves of the plants (avoid touching the secured soil on the roots). Placed it in the middle of both spoons. You may push the spoons further apart in order to fit the plant in. Use chopsticks if there's a need, to place the plant in.

After the plant had sat on the spot, use chopsticks to secure the plant at the sides. And slowly take out one of the spoon by moving the spoon from left to right gently. Once out, push the soil that came out with it back near the plant and use the presser tool to flatten just around the area. Do the same for the other spoon.

This is how it looks like after the spoons are removed, only leaving the chopsticks there.

Next, slowly pull out the chopsticks. Be sure that no roots can be seen when you gently brush the leaves of the plant. 

Note: If it can be seen, take out the plant by loosening the soil around with the use of the chopsticks and re-do the planting step.

Another thing to note when planting the plant is to avoid the leaves from touching the sides of the bottle. Due to the cycle that will happen inside the bottle, there will be water droplets at the side, hence if the leaves are touching the sides of it, it might end up in them rotting. 

Step 6: Beautify the Plant

Final step is to add some accessories to beautify the terrarium. You may wish to add in some rocks/ pebbles on top and add some figurines inside.

Completed Product - 1 Side

Completed Product - 2nd Side

THINK THIS IS ALL? YOU ARE WRONG. 

This is definitely not the end! There's still the maintenance part! 

Step 7: Maintenance the plant

As the soil is pretty raw (see the blurrish parts on the soil area?), you will have to consistently for 14 days, open the lid for around 30 mins to air it. One thing to make sure is that the plant is placed in a lighted area - Not under sunlight/ indirect sunlight (This will cook the plant). 

And every month, do make sure to spray 4 drops of water inside on each sides, avoiding the leaves of the plant.

The challenging part of a terrarium is the maintenance of the plant to decide their fate of whether they live or die.  

Not sure how my terrarium will turn out in the end though. Hopefully it will grow up just fine and healthy:) 

Hong Kong Trip (Jan 2016) - Day 4

And finally it's our last day in Hong Kong already:(

Good Morning! Sad that it's the last day in Hong Kong already:(

Mido Cafe
63 Temple St
Nearest MTR Station: Yau Ma Teu MTR Station, Exit C

Second level is packed with many people having breakfast

Baked Pork Chop Rice with Tomato Sauce 

And me, who still can't get over the Bo Lo Bao (Pineapple Bun) from Kam Wah Cafe, requested to make another visit there before we return to Singapore.

One for each of us :)

And it's finally time for us to say our goodbyes to Hong Kong. And hello to the reality - back to Singapore:(

Hong Kong Trip (Jan 2016) - Day 3

The plan today include heading to Ocean Park! But first, let's fill up our tummies with food!

Making our way to Australian Dairy Company for breakfast!

Australian Dairy Company

47 Parkes Street, Jordan

Nearest MTR Station: Jordon MTR Station, Exit C2

Menu on the wall beside the tables

We ordered the breakfast set which comes with the Ham Macaroni, Scramble eggs with toast, and coffee/ tea.

Ham Macaroni

Scramble eggs with toast
Personally, I prefer this over the macaroni! Loving the eggs and toast! :)

But don't say you have not been warned. Even though many bloggers and all have been recommending to go for this while you are in Hong Kong, don't expect too much over there. And I meant the service and attitude of staff. While we are there, we saw the commotion happening between the staff and a family of 4. The impatient rude tone and all...

Taking the bus from Admiralty MTR Station, Exit B. There's signs around so not to worry:)

Fare of the bus tickets

A we-fie on the top deck of the double-decked bus.
And my friend act one studious, reading the newspaper :P

And here we are at our destination~

Taking some photos outside the park since it's still early and in operation yet. 

You confirm cannot imagine how everyone rush in! We got a shock and also follow suit actually. HAHA! One moment we were queuing. And the next, everyone was running in. We like "Wah" then follow and run in. It's a terrifying experience given that we didn't expect that to even happen! LOL max.



Taking the cable car to the other side of the park

Up and up we go!



Even though I think I got a bit of a phobia for heights, I like the view:) But of course I tried not to look directly down. lol

Super windy that our hair is blown until super messy

Finally found somewhere we can take photo of the view without the wind whipping at our hair temporarily

Ocean Park Tower
Not sure why but it seems like the ride up and down pass so fast that I didn't get to see enough of the awesome views from the top! 

Picture taken on the Ocean Park Tower while on the way up!

Someone busy looking at the map

Isn't the view just nice~?

Bumper Car

Going wild :P

Amazed at the systematic sights - the penguins queuing up and wading together

We also took the roller coaster ride in the cold and drizzle. The weather is already so cold. And when you ride the roller coaster, it makes it even colder with the wind and drizzle. I am like taking the ride while shivering!

The bad part is that the drizzle subsequently turned into a heavy downpour, and it's impossible to play the rides or anything except to seek shelter. The rides were also stopped due to the heavy rain. Many people, like us, then switch to finding food instead while waiting for the rain to subside.

Fried Chicken for lunch since it comes with the Ocean Park tickets deal

Once we saw that the rain is getting smaller, we continued to proceed on our way.

Ferris Wheel
Even though I only had a mild phobia of heights, I actually did felt scared when taking this ride. Maybe cause it seems like can fall off the railings? I really don't know how to go about explaining that...

Flying Swings

Merry-Go-Round

Look at this Panda! So cute!!!
I even took a video of him sitting there eating. Super cute!!

Look at the poor state we are in - due to the rain!

It's still raining heavily when we left the park. The rain really did spoil our second part of fun at Ocean Park:( 

We decided to get the Jenny Biscuits and thereafter returning to hotel for a short rest.

You have to queue to get the card to purchase.

Due to the rain, everyone have to queue indoors instead - which is to queue from the second level. And look at the queue when we arrive at the second level!!

The limit is only three tins:(
It's either you get 2 big and 1 small tin, or 1 big and 2 small ones.

Back at hotel and after nua-ing on the bed, I just feel like sleeping away and not head out.

Our initial plan is to proceed to Tsim Sha Tsui for the Symphony of Lights displays. But then due to the rain, we decide to forsake that plan. Instead, we just explore around Mongkok.


Kam Wah Cafe
G/F, 47 Bute Street, Prince Edward
Nearest MTR Station: Mongkok MTR Station/ Prince Edward MTR Station


We actually mixed up another restaurant for this due to the name - similar but just different by one syllable. We were already seated in the "wrong" restaurant. Then my friend took notice that it was the wrong one.  We were like wondering how and all. In the end decide to just faster leave the restaurant before the person come and take our orders.

My friend did ask me if I got scolded by those stall owners while on my trip to Hong Kong. Does this count? Maybe the shop owner did scold behind us if he realized we left?

Bo Lo Bao aka Pineapple Bun
I don't really eat Bo Lo Bun! But I love the one they are selling here!!! <3

Pork Chop Gong Zai Mian
Basically, Gong Zai Mian is referring to Hong Kong Style instant noodles
The portion is super big! So you might want to consider sharing instead. We ordered each person one plate of noodles and it's just too much for us to finish.

The ice cream truck!
In such cold weather, I still bought it since my friend told me it's nice and I really want to try it.
Freezing~

And the rest of the night was spent just exploring around :)