light bulb terrarium

8/9/2019 Light Bulb Terrarium

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http://www.instructables.com/id/Light-Bulb-Terrarium/

Food Living Outside Play Technology Workshop

Light Bulb Terrariumby aepps2 on November 13, 2014

Table of Contents

Light Bulb Terrarium ...........................................................................................................

Intro: Light Bulb Terrarium ....................................................................................................

Materials ...............................................................................................................

Tools ..................................................................................................................

Safety .................................................................................................................

NOTE: Never use a fluorescent light bulb for this project. The ......................................................................

Skill Level: ............................................................................................................

Time Required: ........................................................................................................

Total Cost: ............................................................................................................

Step 1: Frequently Asked Questions ............................................................................................

Step 2: Prepare Your Work Area ...............................................................................................

Step 3: Disassemble the Light Bulb .............................................................................................

Step 4: Clear Your Light Bulb .................................................................................................

Step 5: Add Small Rocks .....................................................................................................

Step 6: Add Activated Charcoal ................................................................................................

Step 7: Add Soil ...........................................................................................................

Step 8: Add a Plant ......................................................................................................... 1

Step 9: Clean the Light Bulb .................................................................................................. 1

Step 10: Add Water ......................................................................................................... 1

Step 11: Install Cork ........................................................................................................ 1

Step 12: Display and Enjoy! ................................................................................................... 1

Related Instructables ........................................................................................................ 1

Advertisements ............................................................................................................... 1

Comments ................................................................................................................ 1
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Intro: Light Bulb TerrariumThe purpose of this Instructable is to show how to make a terrarium out of an incandescent light bulb. NOTE: This instructable is still a work in progress. We appreciateany comments or suggestions you have.

Materials

Newspaper or old cloth 60W incandescent light bulb (clear or powdered): reuse from your house, or purchase new bulbs. Salt or sugar Small rocks or pebbles:found outside, or purchased at a hardware store or local garden store. Activated charcoal: found in your local garden or pet store. Dirt: found outside or yourplant. Small terrarium plant: found outside or in your local garden store. Sealing cork (size 6): found in hardware stores like Lowe's or Home Depot.

Tools

Cotton swab or paint brush Needle nose pliers Wire cutters or regular pliers Thin screwdriver (Philips or Flat head will work)

Safety

Gloves Safety Goggles

NOTE: Never use a fluorescent light bulb for this project. The gasses they release when broken are verydangerous!

Skill Level:Beginner

Time Required:30 - 60 minutes

Total Cost:$8.00 - $10.00 when using all non-recycled materials.


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Step 1: Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is a terrarium?

Light bulb terrariums are miniature earth enclosure ecosystems that are self-sufficient and require minimal care. (See Image #1 "Terrarium Basics" for more information.)

Who invented terrariums?

Terrariums were first discovered by a London botanist, Dr. Nathaniel Ward in 1827. At that time, the London streets were filled with air pollution, and would kill all of theplants in his garden. One day, while studying caterpillars and moths under a glass jar filled with dirt, Dr. Ward observed a small healthy fern growing! Since that day, hebuilt miniature fern cases to protect his plants, which we now call terrariums. (Source: http://www.terrariums.net/history.html)

How do they work?

Plants releases water vapor which condenses on the glass to form water droplets. As gravity pulls them down, they rehydrate the soil. As the roots take up the water, thesoil and micro-bacteria release carbon dioxide, which the plants re-absorbs. (See Image #2 "How Terrariums Work" to see a diagram.)

What plants should I use?

Choose small plants that will fit inside your light bulb as well as plants that are humidity tolerant. Recommendations: Sphagnum, Moss Baby's Tears or Angel's Tears,Pearlwort, African Violet, Creeping Fig.

Can I have animals in a terrarium?*


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Unfortunately, it is not as simple as adding your favorite animal into your terrarium. Different animals require different types of terrariums. Be sure to DO YOURRESEARCH before deciding on adding animals! We recommend Firefly Encyclopedia of the Vivarium by David Alderton, which gives a comprehensive overview ofkeeping amphibians, reptiles, and insects in terrariums for beginners. It is easy to read and understand. Attention to your animal's needs is essential.

*DO NOT use animals for this project. Light bulbs are too small for animals to live inside!

Step 2: Prepare Your Work AreaYou will need: newspaper or cloth, gloves, safety eye wear. Have all other materials nearby.

Place a layer of newspaper or a cloth on your work surface. This will collect dirt and debris that are dropped. One or two full sheets of newspaper should besufficient.

Put on your gloves and safety eye wear. This will protect you from any exposure to dirt and/or broken glass if needed.

Make sure you have all of the mater ials needed in front of you. The needed materials are listed in the introduction.

Image Notes1. Activated Charcoal2. Tweezers3. Needle Nose Pliers4. Goggles5. Cork6. Wire Cutters7. Large Screw Driver8. Small screwdriver9. Gloves


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10. 60W Incandescent Light Bulb11. Pincushion Spikemoss12. Soil13. Rocks/Pebbles14. Salt15. Cue tip16. Make-shift funnel

Step 3: Disassemble the Light BulbYou will need: needle nose pli ers, wire cutters (or regular pliers), tweezers, sponge, salt, cotton swab, water and a flat head screwdriver .

Grasp the bulb by the metal base at the bottom. (NOTE: Do not hold or squeeze the glass bulb. It may break.)

Begin by crushing the electrical foot contact (black circular bottom) with your wire cutters (or regular pliers). Remove any excess pieces that remain attached.

Use your flat head screwdriver to break the glass insulator that leads to the exhaust tube.

Insert your needle nose pliers into the exhaust tube and pull out the internal filament. The flat head screwdriver can be used to clear out any pieces left inside theexhaust tube.

Once the inside of your light bulb is clear, you can move onto the next step.

Image Notes1. Electrical foot contact

Image Notes1. Filament


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Step 4: Clear Your Light BulbYou will need : salt , sponge, cotton swab/ paint brush , and water .

Begin by pouring a small amount of salt into the light bulb.

Swirl the salt around. You should begin to see the white powder clearing from the inside of the bulb. Add more salt as needed.

If there is any writ ing printed on the outside of your bulb, this can be removed by scrubbing with a small amount of water and a scouring pad.


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Step 5: Add Small RocksYou will need: small rocks or pebbles .

Drop your rocks one at a time into the bottom of your bulb. If you have smaller rocks, you can insert more than one at a time.

It is best to hold the bulb on its side and t ilt it as you place the rocks inside. That way, the rocks gently slide to the bottom and do not place any stress on the glassfrom being dropped.

Step 6: Add Activated CharcoalYou will need: activated charcoal .

Using the funnel, slowly pour your charcoal into the bulb until there is enough to have a small layer over the rocks at the bottom.


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Step 7: Add SoilYou will need: soil, and funnel.

Using the funnel, pour a layer of soil until 1/3 of the entire light bulb is filled with rocks, charcoal, and soil.


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Step 8: Add a PlantYou will need: small terrarium plant, and screwdriver.

Separate a portion of your plant to about the size of the light bulb opening.

Place the plant on top of the opening.

Delicately, push the plant down with your screwdriver until your plant is inside the light bulb.

Adjust the plant as necessary.

Step 9: Clean the Light BulbYou will need: cue-tip, cotton swab, or paint brush.

Lightly wipe the inside of your light bulb with a cue-tip to remove excess dirt, until it is clear.


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Step 10: Add WaterYou will need: light bulb terrarium, and water.

Add approximately 2-3 tablespoons to your light bulb terrarium. Enough so that the soil is moist, but not too wet.


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Step 11: Install CorkYou will need: light bulb terrarium , and cork.

Gently hold your terrarium up-right and insert the cork to the opening until it is tight.

In this project we used Hillman Sealing Cork from Lowe's Home Improvement at a cost of $0.68 for two corks.


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Step 12: Display and Enjoy!Below are two different techniques to display your terrarium.

Hung from a stringSmall ring stand

These are only two of the many display options available. Don't be afraid to get creative with your display. Thank you for reading! We hope you enjoy your new light bulbterrarium. They make great gifts and decorative items!


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Let's LearnAboutTerrariums: AGuide toTerrariums byZaneEricB
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Comments

1 comments Add Comment

dpizetta says: Dec 2, 2014. 6:31 PM REPVery nice, thanks for all explanations, those diagramas are great and good job.
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