Micro-Forests for Wildlife: Creating a Miniature Ecosystem at Home
by Toby Patrick
When you think about gardening at home, your mind will often drift to thinking about growing a variety of different plants like flowers, shrubs and crops. However, there’s more to it than that, as you can even create your own miniature ecosystem at home. These are closed terrariums that have the goal to be a fully self-sustaining hub of life for a variety of different microorganisms and insects. Creating these can be a very fun and simple project to start compared to herb gardens, vertical gardens and more.
If you don’t have a green thumb, that’s completely fine as these miniature ecosystems for wildlife are very easy to make at home. Continue reading this guide to find out more about creating a biodiverse micro-forest and some of the key things you need to consider.
How to Create a Miniature Ecosystem at Home
Container
An airtight container is considered an essential for creating a miniature ecosystem. You can use almost any type of container, as long as it can be shut tight and completely sealed with no exposure to the outdoor environment. Transparent glass jars and vases are the most popular containers used in ecosystem creation, as it provides the perfect environment and allows you to see what’s going on. Water also condenses easily on glass, which is necessary if you want your ecosystem to be self-sustaining.
Base Layer
You’ll need a good drainage system in your miniature ecosystem so that it can capture any excess water. Using a layer of rocks or small pebbles can be the perfect solution and this can be covered with some soil for maximum conservation. You can even take this a step further by adding a layer of nontoxic mesh followed by a layer of activated charcoal in between the rocks and soil. This will help with water filtration and give you optimal drainage.
Moss
Moss is integral to any type of ecosystem. It’s excellent at retaining water and can help any plants grow due to the water it can provide, as well as its ability to manage humidity levels. Without moss, your ecosystem simply won’t grow or thrive. Adding moss will also give your ecosystem a beautiful injection of colour that will make it look good wherever you choose to place it.
Plants
You won’t be limited as to the plants you choose to grow in your ecosystem, as you have total creative freedom over this. While there are some types of plants that should be off limits, like cacti and other dry climate plants, there are plenty of tropical flowers and plants that would be perfect for the role. Ferns, orchids and nerve plants can all be wonderful options that the critters inside your ecosystem will love.
Wildlife
While you can have an ecosystem without the inclusion of wildlife, we heavily recommend it as it can help it thrive and last longer. For example, earthworms can be a great inclusion as they can loosen up the soil and create air tunnels that will enhance plant growth. Snails can be added to eat any dead leaves and fungal spores. You can even add springtails that can make plants grow healthier by eating the dead parts of the plant.
Placement
You might not think so, but the area where you place your miniature ecosystem can have a big impact on its growth potential. Getting as much sun as possible will benefit your ecosystem, which is why placing it on a windowsill is recommended. If you have a conservatory with good conservatory roof insulation, not only will you get a lot of sunlight hitting your ecosystem but the climate can also be managed better.
Conclusion
We hope with these tips that you can make a thriving miniature ecosystem at home with zero hassle. From the container choice to the placement of the ecosystem, everything can make a difference to how well it grows, so make sure to consider every aspect. Start your fun and exciting miniature ecosystem today!
