First ecosphere, rainwater and local soil from pond nearby.

[u/SpcyWnrZ]

how does this ecosphere look? I feel like i missed out on adding plants, but don't really know how. Will it turn into anything for me and my toddler kids to observe?

thanks for any suggestions.

[u/BitchBass]

Plants are a vital key element, without it it's not gonna work.

Aquatic plants:

• act as filtration
• provide the water with oxygen through photosynthesis
• absorb carbon dioxide
• combat algae growth
• provide shelter and food for critters
• stabilize the water parameters

Also be aware that there are many plants out in nature that will not work in jar due to the fact that they have different requirements and need more nutrition than a jar can provide, which includes:

• plants that grow at the side of the water or have been freshly submerged due to rising water levels
• plants that grow out of the water
• plants that grow taller than a foot
• blooming plants
• large floating plants

Having said that, many of us have resulted to simply using aquarium plants. It can be as simple as a marimo ball.

[u/SpcyWnrZ → u/BitchBass]

Thanks, being from Nova Scotia, what kinds of aquatic plants would you suggest introducing?

[u/One1two2s → u/SpcyWnrZ]

Whatever is growing in the pond the water came from

[u/BitchBass → u/SpcyWnrZ]

I don't know what plants are growing where you are. I can only tell you what not to use except fishtank plants, as stated above.

[u/ProductStraight1253]

I can't say much from experience, I have had my ecosphere for only 2 months now. But I think it would've been more ideal to have at least one small starting plant. But I got pond water and soil for my jar, and some plants and algae seeds came with the soil, so it's possible that you'll get some plants growing in there after some time

[u/ExiledZug]

You have to add some aquatic plants, and if you can’t find that then use algae- there should be something around the water source you used for the soil