Terrarium doctor: a diagnosis for your terrarium
Is something wrong with your terrarium? Tick what you see. The tool gives the most likely cause, the step to take today and the guide to read. It is free, with no sign-up.
3. The diagnosis
Tick at least one sign. The diagnosis shows here.
How it works
- Choose your terrariumClosed with tropical plants, or open with succulents. The causes are not the same, so the signs on offer change.
- Tick what you seeOne sign or several. Each sign gives points to one or more causes. Two signs that go together give more: constant condensation with mould points to too much water.
- Read the prescriptionThe cause with the most points is the diagnosis. You read the step to take today, what to watch this week and the level of urgency. You can copy the prescription, print it or share its link.
- Check in the guideEvery cause and every step comes from a Small Eden guide. The link to that guide is on the prescription.
What the tool does not know
- The tool cannot see your terrarium. It gives the most likely cause, not a certainty.
- It does not identify the species of a plant, an insect or a fungus.
- For an open succulent terrarium, it only covers the signs our guides deal with: not mould, smell or dirty glass.
- If the problem is still there after two weeks, read the whole guide: it describes the rarer cases.
Guides to go further
- Terrarium too wet: how to save it
- Mould in a closed terrarium: causes, action and prevention
- Yellow leaves in a terrarium: the diagnosis
- Why are the plants in my terrarium dying?
- Terrarium condensation: too much mist or not enough?
Would you rather have a terrarium ready to build?Have a look at the terrarium kits.See the terrarium kits
Cite or share this tool
Do you write about terrariums? You are free to cite this tool. Copy the page address, or the link ready to paste into your site.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
My terrarium has several problems at once. What should I do?
Tick all the signs. The tool cross-checks them and gives a main cause, then other leads if there are any. Fix the main cause first, then watch. Change one thing at a time: that way you will know what helped.
What is the most common cause of trouble in a closed terrarium?
Too much water. A terrarium has no hole in the bottom: all the water you pour in stays there. Yellow leaves, mould, gnats and a bad smell often start there.
Do I have to take my terrarium apart?
Rarely. Most problems are fixed by airing, removing the water at the bottom and removing dead matter. You take it apart when three signs come together: the rotten-egg smell is still there after two weeks of airing, the roots are brown and soft, and the substrate is black and waterlogged.
Can I pour a product in against mould or insects?
No. A household cleaner, vinegar or bleach poured into the terrarium damages the plants, the moss and the small useful organisms. The steps suggested are done by hand: tweezers, airing and less water.
Is the diagnosis free?
Yes. The tool is free, with no sign-up. Everything is worked out in your browser: your answers are not saved.
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