Make your own ecosystem in a jar

Don't you want to create your own ecosystem? We will in this article describe how you can make your own ecosystem inside of a jar. It's not very easy but it is fun to do if you are interested in plants and nature.

Find a jar
First of all you need a jar. It's in the jar the ecosystem is going to be so it's very important to find a good one. First of all it have to be transparent so the sunlight can come through. A jar made of glass is to prefer. Avoid coloured glass because they stop too much of the sunlight and it will also be harder to see how the inside look like. You must be able to close the jar so that no air comes out. A tight lid will make the inside of the jar to it's own ecosystem without help from outside except the sunlight. The jar bigger the better. You must be able to put you hand inside. Otherwise it will be hard to get the plants down in a good way. If the jar is very tiny it can be easier if it's not so high but you need room for your ecosystem. It's much easier to make a big ecosystem that survives than a small one. You can even take a terrarium. These are big and the size will be perfect but you must be able to close it so that no air can escape. You will probably have to hire someone to do it so it will most likely not be worth it.

Find good soil
When you have found a good jar to use you have to find things to put inside it. This is the fun part. In the bottom of the jar you put the soil. Don't use plant soil that you have bought. Instead you shall use soil from outside. The soil in the nature contains many of those small animals that is so important for your ecosystem. They will decompose withered plants so that new plants can have space to live. These animals are the only animals you need to have in your jar. I know it's more fun to add some bigger insects like isopods, larvae and ants but they will not survive. There is not food enough in jar. If you have a very big jar they might survive but not in a normal one. When you are looking for good soil you shall look after soil that have life. Dry soil is not good. It have to be humid. A good place to look is where short plants are. It doesn't matter if some small plants comes with the soil. When you have find the soil you want to use put it in the jar.

Add the plants
Now we have to add some plants. A good idea can be to have one main plant that you put in the middle of the jar. Choose a plant that grow slowly and don't get to tall and most important, it has to be durable. This can be a plant that you buy or you already have. Put the plant so it gets the roots in the soil. You can now add more plants if you want and if you have enough space. Be creative!

Close the jar
When everything is like you want it it's time to close the jar but first we have to make sure that it's not to much water inside. If it's too much water the plants will not survive and the jar will be hard to look inside because of all water drops on the inside. After time this can also make things to grow on the jar wall especially if it is soil on the jar wall. Too little water is not good either. It has to be on the right level. This is the hardest thing to make right. Often it looks like it is not much water inside but when you put on the lid you will see after some hours that it's water drops on the inside. You will most likely not have to add any water but you have to feel so that it's not too dry. A good thing can be to try. You put on the lid and wait and if you see that it is to much water inside you can take the lid off and wait until some water has gone away and put the lid back again until you get to the right level. When you are satisfied you will not have to do anything more. It only have to get it's light and it can be a working ecosystem in a jar for many years.