What is "terrarium"

1877, from Modern Latin, formed from Latin terra "land" (see terrain) + -arium, abstracted from aquarium.

n. 1 An enclosure where very small animals are displayed, often with some plants, in a naturalistic setting. 2 A partially enclosed glass container for displaying plants, especially plants that need high humidity.

1. n. a vivarium in which selected living plants are kept and observed

2. [also: terraria (pl)]

Terrariums are usually sealable glass containers that can be opened for maintenance and to access the plants inside. However, this is not essential; terrariums can also be open to the atmosphere rather than being sealed. Terrariums are often kept as decorative or ornamental items. Closed terrariums create a unique environment for plant growth, as the transparent walls allow for both heat and light to enter the terrarium. The sealed container combined with the heat entering the terrarium allows for the creation of a small scale water cycle. This happens because moisture from both the soil and plants evaporates in the elevated temperatures inside the terrarium. This water vapour then condenses on the walls of the container, and eventually falls back to the plants and soil below. This contributes to creating an ideal environment for growing plants due to the constant supply of water, thereby preventing the plants from becoming over dry. In addition to this, the light that passes through the transparent material of the terrarium allows for the plants within to photosynthesize, an important aspect of plant growth.

Terrarium, (ISBN 0-8125-5380-2 is) a 1985 science fiction novel by essayist Scott Russell Sanders published by Tor science fiction.

Asteroid terraria are fictional but hypothetically possible space habitats described in the hard science fiction novel 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson. In the novel, a 'terrarium' is an artificially created ecosystem living in the cylindrically shaped hollow interior of an asteroid. This hollow space is crafted with self replicating machine excavators. On the inner surface of this hollow cylinder an ecosystem can thrive in artificial gravity resulting from centripetal force, produced by spinning the asteroid on its longest axis. At least 2 kilometers of solid asteroid wall are left at all points around the hollow interior to provide radiation shielding and protection from interplanetary material, except at the entry hole. A lighting element, called a 'sunline', is strung inside the cylinder along the axis of rotation to provide artificial light. The lit part of the line travels the length of the cylinder to simulate the Sun’s path over Earth’s sky. During night phase, street lights, on the inner surface overhead, resemble stars.

Robinson writes about the infinite possibilities for terraria ecosystems, e.g. savannas, water worlds, genetically engineered ecospheres or habitats with new species, called 'Ascensions', resulting from the hybridization of common ones. Terraria are not only created for residential purposes; in 2312 they also function as farming worlds (producing food for Earth) and transportation vessels. Propelled through the solar system, they follow regular routes, non-stop, like unclaimed asteroids do. Ferries wishing to board them need to match their speeds. Terraria make travel from Earth to the outer planets a matter of weeks, like did transatlantic voyages before the steam engine. In the novel, the Alfred Wegener (presumably named after a German geophysicist) is one such terrarium, in an excavated cylinder twenty kilometers long and five across: