You ’ll want to know how to make an easy - to - care - for terrarium after see how adorable this DIY project is .

BHG / Phoebe Cheong

Terrariums make beautiful additions to desk , dining way tables , and other well - illumine place . Our step - by - pace instructions will show you how to make a terrarium that can enliven up any tabletop .

terrarium inside a home

Credit:BHG / Phoebe Cheong

Before getting started , gather everything you need to make a terrarium . You should be able to find most of the supply you ’ll demand at your local garden center . However , you ’ll in all likelihood observe better options at a craft store if you want a unique container . To make a DIY unopen terrarium , just be certain to pick out a container that occur with a obliterable lid .

What You’ll Need

Equipment / Tools

Materials

Instructions

How to Make a Tiny Terrarium

BHG / PHOEBE CHEONG

Build the Base

To come out your DIY terrarium , situation approximately 1 to 2 inches of horticultural fusain in the Qaeda of the container . Charcoal helps to absent toxins and odors . It alsohelps with drain , so plant roots are n’t sitting in soil that ’s too moist .

Mix It Up

Combine some of the stay charcoal withpotting soilby mixing with your hired hand or a trowel . mix the two help with drainage and will clean toxin and odors from the terrarium throughout the container .

Add the Second Layer

Fill your container one - fourth to one - third full with the charcoal and soil variety . softly pack the soil every 2 column inch to keep off large air pockets .

Add Plants

cautiously move out yourterrarium plants from their containersand arrange them on top of the soil to ensure proper spatial arrangement . permit enough room between the plants for additional stain . If you ’re wonderingwhat plants to usein a terrarium , some top picks let in starfish plants , airwave plants , and nerve plants . Stick to plants withsimilar watering and luminousness needsfor the healthiest terrarium .

Squash Air Pockets

Use your hands ( horticulture glovesmake sporty - up easier subsequently ) to backpack the soil in and around plant . Tuck works late enough into the stain to cover all of their root and keep them from reaching too far above the top of the container .

Top Dress

Position moss on top of the soiland between the plants . Moss assist soak up odors and surplus water that can lead to root rot . It also gives the airfoil of the DIY closed terrarium a lucullan , ruined look .

Give Your Terrarium Plants a Drink

After all your terrarium flora and moss are in place , slowlyadd waterto help the dirt and plants settle in . next tearing depend on the types of plants in your terrarium and their get environment . Toavoid overwatering , test the soil for moisture with your finger before pull out the watering can . If ironic , weewee lightly , making certain that the ground does n’t become completely saturated . stem still require some air .

Caring for Your Terrarium

Keep your terrarium in awell - perch areawithindirect illumination . Maintenance is minimal once the plants are established . As they maturate , you may want to trim arm that grow out and over the top of your container . Also , it might be helpful to reduce the moss once in a while to keep the thickness under dominance .

More Terrarium Projects

Once you complete your first terrarium , you ’re extend to want to create more of these magic piddling flora worlds . Make aforest terrariumusing an oldfish armoured combat vehicle — a tyke - well-disposed project that will get them interested in gardening . Up the prettiness with afairy garden built into a wheelbarrow , populated by miniature vintage figures you may regain at resale stores . We have other ideas for otherfairy gardensto keep you interfering ! Share the fun by hosting aterrarium - making party , complete with custom invites and teeny flyspeck tools for your champion to take home .

Completed Terrarium on table

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Plants terrarium glass gloves soil watering can

Credit: Marty Baldwin

charcoal inside glass container

Credit:BHG / PHOEBE CHEONG

Person with soil gloved hand pot

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Person placing soil with tool in terrarium

Credit:BHG / PHOEBE CHEONG

person adding plants to terrarium

Credit:BHG / PHOEBE CHEONG

Person pressing hand into soil plants

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Person placing moss terrarium

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Person watering plants terrarium

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Person trimming plants terrarium

Credit: Marty Baldwin