The Surprises In a Jar of Dirt after 200 Days

This post may contain affiliate links. See our full disclosure here.

Imagine taking a jar, adding a few stones and some dirt from your yard, then sealing it up and waiting.

Days turn into weeks, then months, and then hundreds of days go by.

And what’s inside the jar?

An entire mini ecosystem!

As time passes, moisture from the soil evaporates and condenses on the jar’s walls, raining back down on the dirt. Green shoots start popping up and moss starts growing.

Nutrients get recycled as plants die, break down, and feed the soil.

Microbes and tiny bugs break down organic matter and keep the whole thing from turning into a swampy mess. And the jar becomes a tiny world that mirrors our own in ways we don’t often think about.

Some people have chucked dirt in a jar, sealed it tight, and not opened it for over 20 years. The plants inside had to grow and die several times before finding the right balance and then thriving for decades.

Lucky for us, one YouTuber filmed his dirt ecosystem over 200 days and shares it with us in the following video (along with his brilliant and rather sarcastic sense of humor)…

Backyard Pests participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, the ShareASale affiliate program, and other affiliate programs. This means that if you buy a product or service through one of our links, we may receive a small commission from the sale for referring you. Thank you for your support!

The 10 Best Novels for Plant-Loving Souls

The 10 Best Novels for Plant-Loving Souls

We’ve put together an awesome list of nature-inspired books that are the perfect choice or gift for anyone who loves a good book as much as a fresh bouquet. If your heart belongs to nature, you’ll love these novels that transport you to blooming landscapes, secret...

read more
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Squirrel Teeth 🐿️🦷

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Squirrel Teeth 🐿️🦷

Ever thought about a squirrel's teeth? Me neither! Turns out these tiny chompers are full of surprises… Baby squirrels are born toothless but develop their incisors by 3-4 weeks old. 2. A squirrel's front teeth never stop growing, growing about 6 inches a year. Their...

read more
5 Fruits So Big They Smashed World Records

5 Fruits So Big They Smashed World Records

Some people grow fruit for pies. Others aim for planetary domination.These record-breaking fruits are the stuff of legends—and maybe nightmares for your local grocer. Let’s dive into the world of juicy giants, where size and weight matter more than taste. Watermelon...

read more