In the world of DIY and crafts, creating terrariums has emerged as a popular trend. Whether you have a spacious garden or a compact apartment, anyone can enjoy the beauty of nature at their fingertips with these miniature gardens. But what are terrariums, and why have they taken the world by storm?
A terrarium is a sealed glass container that supports plant growth without daily watering. This concept was first developed in the 19th century by Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward, an English botanist. While experimenting, Ward accidentally discovered that ferns could grow well in a sealed jar. This observation led to the creation of the Wardian Case, an early type of terrarium that changed the way plants are transported worldwide. The principle involves utilizing a simple but effective water cycle. Water in the soil is absorbed by the plant roots and then released from the leaves. It gathers on the glass and drips back into the soil, allowing plants to thrive with minimal care.
Today, building a terrarium combines creativity with scientific principles. Start by choosing a clear glass container with a wide opening. At the bottom, layer stones or pebbles to help water to drain, and then add activated charcoal to maintain a clean environment. Next, put in moist soil and select plants suited for humid conditions, such as ferns or moss. Incorporate decorations like rocks, wood, or small statues to make your terrarium your own. Finally, place it in an area with indirect sunlight and watch as it transforms into a source of natural beauty.
Photo: Pexels 照片：Pexels
Besides their visual appeal, terrariums offer substantial benefits. Research has confirmed the positive psychological effects of nature and gardening. Assembling a terrarium is healing, aiding in stress relief and improving mental health. This process also sparks creativity and allows for personal expression. Additionally, terrariums serve as practical demonstrations of ecological principles, teaching valuable lessons about plant care and ecology.
Building a terrarium is an accessible project for everyone and ideal for today’s busy lifestyles thanks to their low-maintenance nature. So why not join the terrarium trend? Release your creativity and enjoy the satisfaction of growing your very own miniature oasis.
在 DIY 和手工藝的世界中，製作生態瓶已成為一種備受喜愛的趨勢。無論你擁有寬敞的花園還是小巧的公寓，任何人都可以透過這些微型花園隨時享受自然之美。但究竟什麼是生態瓶，它們為何風靡全球呢？
生態瓶是一種密封的玻璃容器，能夠在不需要每天澆水的情況下支持植物生長。這個概念最早由英國植物學家納撒尼爾．巴格肖．華德在 西元 19 世紀提出。在實驗中，華德意外發現蕨類植物在密封的罐子裡也能良好生長。這一觀察促成了華德箱的誕生，這是一種改變了全球植物運輸方式的早期生態瓶。其原理涉及利用一個簡單卻有效的水循環。土壤中的水分被植物根部吸收，然後從葉子釋放出來。水分聚集在玻璃上，再滴回土壤中，讓植物在最少的照顧下茁壯成長。
如今，製作生態瓶結合了創造力與科學原理。首先選擇一個開口寬敞的透明玻璃容器。在底部，鋪上石頭或鵝卵石以幫助水流出，然後添加活性碳以保持乾淨的環境。接著，放入濕潤的土壤並選擇適合潮濕條件的植物，如蕨類或苔蘚。加入像是岩石、木材或小雕像等裝飾，讓你的生態瓶更具個人風格。最後，將它放在陽光間接照射的地方，看著它變成自然美景的來源。
除了視覺的吸引力，生態瓶還提供了許多好處。研究證實了大自然和園藝對心理的正面影響。組裝生態瓶具有治癒效果，有助於緩解壓力並改善心理健康。這個過程也能激發創造力並讓人展現自我。此外，生態瓶作為生態原理的實際展示，教導了有關植物照護和生態學的寶貴課程。
製作生態瓶是一個人人可行的項目，且由於它們易於維護的特性，非常適合當今忙碌的生活方式。那何不加入生態瓶的潮流呢？釋放你的創意，享受培養自己的迷你綠洲帶來的滿足感。
MORE INFORMATION
botanist n. 植物學家
fern n. 蕨類植物
pebble n. 卵石
activated charcoal 活性碳
moss n. 苔蘚
incorporate v. 包含；加上
oasis n. 綠洲
KEY VOCABULARY
1. spacious adj. 寬敞的
compact adj. 小巧的；緊湊的
Jenson sold his tiny apartment and bought a spacious house in the countryside.
詹森賣掉他狹小的公寓，在鄉下買了一間寬敞的房子。
2. miniature adj. 微型的；微小的
minimal adj. 極小的；極少的
The architectural designer created a miniature model of the apartment.
那位建築設計師創造了這座公寓的微型模型。
3. observation n. 觀察（力）；察覺
After his surgery, Ron spent the night in the hospital under the doctors’ observation.
手術結束後，榮恩在醫生的觀察下在醫院過夜。
4. creation n. 創造（物）；作品
creativity n. 創意；創造性
The sweater you knitted is as beautiful as any painter’s creation.
你織的毛衣就像任何一個畫家的創作一樣好看。
5. thrive vi. 茁壯成長；繁盛
The forest thrives as it receives a lot of sun and rainfall.
這座森林因為接收很多陽光和雨水而生長茂盛。
6. decoration n. 裝飾（品）；裝潢
Christmas is coming, so Liz is putting up decorations everywhere.
聖誕節快來了，因此麗茲在各處掛滿裝飾品。
7. ecology n. 生態學；生態環境
ecological adj. 生態的；生態學的
Understanding the principles of ecology can help us improve environmental conservation efforts.
了解生態學原理可以幫助我們改善環境保護的工作。
8. accessible adj. 可取得的；可到達的；易懂的
This charity makes technology more accessible to students by providing free computers to rural schools.
此慈善機構透過向鄉村學校提供免費電腦，讓學生更容易接觸到科技。
9. satisfaction n. 滿足；滿意
May’s satisfaction with her book report disappeared when she realized she had misspelled its title.
當梅意識到她拼錯書名時，她對她的讀書報告的滿意感消失了。
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