Jeli: What began as a hobby of creating terrariums using recycled glass containers and second-hand items has grown into a creative passion for Muhammad Syukur Abdullah, 21, who now produces intricate miniature garden designs. The second-semester Aquaculture Technology Diploma student at Jeli Polytechnic said his fascination with terrariums started during his high school years after watching a video on YouTube that inspired him to try creating one himself.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Muhammad Syukur shared that after several attempts, aided by YouTube tutorials, he successfully created his first terrarium, which further fueled his interest. This led him to pursue an Aquaculture Technology Certificate at Jerantut Community College, Pahang, in 2022, where he gained essential knowledge about plant care. His five-month industrial training at Gardenroad Aquatic in Shah Alam, Selangor, provided him with professional terrarium-making techniques, boosting his confidence to start selling his creations online in 2022.
Muhammad Syukur's passion continued to grow upon joining Jeli Polytechnic, where he founded the Green Vista Club under the guidance of Aquaculture Technology lecturer Zalina Che Manan. The club aims to encourage students to share their passion and knowledge about plant care, even extending their expertise to kindergarten teachers. His terrariums, priced from RM10 to RM570, come in three designs: waterless landscapes, aquascapes, and paludariums.
The terrarium-making process starts with layering materials like clay balls and black soil mixed with dry moss to maintain humidity. Design elements such as wood, stones, and moss are carefully arranged, with spiderwood being a preferred material. The biggest challenge is the precise arrangement of each element to ensure the terrarium's natural appeal.
Muhammad Syukur uses plants like fittonia, ferns, and bonsai, catering to customer requests for styles such as forest, diorama, Japanese, or Iwagumi. Each terrarium undergoes a monitoring period of one to two weeks to ensure plant adaptation before delivery. Producing five to ten terrariums monthly, he maintains them by monitoring humidity and lighting conditions, with watering done once or twice a week.
Balancing his studies and fulfilling customer orders remains his primary challenge. While he has not yet offered deliveries to other states due to concerns about potential damage during transit, he continues to manage his time efficiently to keep up with both academic and business demands.