Gardens Under Glass: DIY Terrariums

Bring the outdoors in and create your own terrarium with these helpful guidelines.

 

Photo by Jeff Sheldon via Unsplash.

Terrariums, the glass planters that were all the rage in the ’70s, have regained their place at the trendy table in recent years, especially among creatives. A fun, time-efficient way to hone your green thumb, it’s a wonder they ever left. Bring the outdoors in and create your own terrarium with these helpful guidelines.

Build Your Terrarium

When layering your terrarium, leave about two-thirds of the glass container as open space.

What You’ll Need:

For Ferns & Moss

  • 1 inch gravel
  • Very thin layer of Sphagnum moss
  • 1/4 inch horticultural charcoal
  • 2 inches soil
  • Plants
  • Mosses, gravel
  • Accent figurines

For Succulents

  • 1 inch gravel
  • Very thin layer of Sphagnum moss
  • 1/4 inch horticultural charcoal
  • 2 inches soil
  • Plants
  • Gravel or sand as top-dressing, if desired
  • Accent figurines

Where to display them: Indoors is best. Most of the plants that do well in terrariums require low light.

Open containers with succulents (part sun/full sun): Lightly moisten surface of soil once a week. Let it dry out completely before watering again.

Open containers with woodland plants (shade/limited filtered sun): Water once a week, misting plants occasionally. Keep soil moist but not soggy. Prune regularly to keep plants at the desired size and shape.

Closed containers with woodland plants, no succulents (shade only): Water only by the teaspoon or simply mist them, if needed. You should hardly ever need water. If you notice a lot of condensation, leave the lid off for a few days. Prune to maintain shape, if desired.

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