Biosphere Guide __link__ | Bottle

Choose plants that love high humidity and low-to-medium light. They must be slow-growing and small. Sheet Moss or Mood Moss (great for ground cover). Ferns: Lemon Button Fern or Fittonia (nerve plant).

Fish (produce too much waste), large insects, worms (except in very large containers), or any animal you caught outside (may carry diseases or require more food than available).

If leaves near the bottom turn yellow and translucent, the roots are likely waterlogged. Open the container to let it dry out. Bottle Biosphere Guide

A 3-10 gallon glass carboy creates a stunning display but requires creative planting techniques.

Pour 1 to 2 inches of your chosen gravel into the bottom of the bottle. Directly on top of the gravel, add a uniform, half-inch layer of activated charcoal pieces. Step 3: Place the Mesh Barrier and Add Soil Choose plants that love high humidity and low-to-medium

1-gallon apothecary jar Layers: 1.5" Leca balls, screen, charcoal, 3" soil Plants:

Wash the container thoroughly with hot water and a tiny drop of dish soap. Rinse completely (soap residue kills plants). For used containers, soak in a 10% bleach solution for 10 minutes, then rinse extremely well. Let air dry completely. Ferns: Lemon Button Fern or Fittonia (nerve plant)

Window screen mesh, coffee filter, or cheesecloth. Prevents soil from falling into drainage layer.

| Component | Why you need it | Best source | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Clear, airtight seal (rubber gasket or cork is best) | Thrift store, IKEA, old pickle jar | | Drainage Layer | Prevents root rot (water reservoir) | Small pebbles, LECA balls, perlite | | Separation Layer | Keeps soil from sinking into gravel | Window screen mesh, activated carbon mat, cheesecloth | | Activated Carbon | Filters toxins, prevents mold | Aquarium store, pet store | | Substrate (Soil) | Nutrient base, low in fertilizer | Potting mix + sand + sphagnum moss | | Plants | Hardy, humidity-loving, slow-growing | Mosses, ferns, Fittonia, Pilea, Liverworts | | Cleanup Crew | Eats mold and decay | Springtails (essential); Isopods (optional) | | Water | Distilled or reverse-osmosis only | Grocery store (Tap water kills biospheres) | | Light Source | Energy input | LED grow light or bright indirect sun |

For placing plants inside narrow-necked bottles.

Fallen leaves or dead organic matter are broken down by microorganisms in the soil, releasing nutrients that the plant roots absorb. Photosynthesis: Plants use light to turn CO2cap C cap O sub 2