Contributor:
A (Wattana Keiangpa)
My name is A. I’ve been working with APCOM since 2012 and I’m the Operations and Programmes Support Officer. I took part in many of the APCOM initiatives to respond to the needs of our community, including distributing emergency packages, providing online support, listening to issues our community is experiencing and distributing HIV prevention packages.
Like many people, I am tired of the ongoing pandemic, especially during curfews and lockdowns as I live on my own in a small apartment. I got bored and needed something to do to keep my mind off the news about Covid-19 and take a break from social media. As I originate from a small town in Northern Thailand, I am used to being around plants and trees and green spaces, which are hard to find in Bangkok, so I decided to have more plants in my room. As I have a small room, I thought the terrarium – growing plants in a glass container- would be ideal. It’s easy and fun to do, and it’s not hard to look after. Of course, it makes your room look nicer, gives a calming feeling to help your mood and sleep; and removes pollutants from the air and produces oxygen. It’s cheap and anyone can do this.
What you need:
- A glass container or a jar
- Small stones/pebbles
- Soil
- Small dolls/figurines
- Small in-door house plants
- Chopsticks
- Spoon
- Tissue paper
How to assemble:
- Wash the glass container and dry it.
- Aerate the soil by drying it out in the sun.
- Take the plant out of the pot and carefully remove as much as possible the soil without damaging the roots. You can soak the plant in water to help remove the old soil.
- First put the small stones/pebbles in the glass container.
- Then carefully add some soil (just a small amount first).
- Place your plant in the position you like in the glass container.
- Add some more soil and secure your plant in place.
- Then add some small rocks/pebbles.
- Clean the glass with the tissue paper.
- Decorate with your small figurines
You can now enjoy your own creation!
Place the terrarium where you like and water it once a week. You can experiment with it, especially with the shape of the glass containers and various plants. You can get some more creative ideas online.
You can also give them as gifts.
I am now experimenting with growing morning glory in my apartment. I hope I’ll be able to enjoy eating this in a few weeks!
2nd Anniversary of APCOM’s Special Series on the COVID-19 Effect:
APCOM staff share their activities for maintaining good mental health
Click on the photo to read their articles.
Try them out, and if you have other tips that you’d like to share – please contact us at [email protected]
