Assembling A Terrarium In A Jar
I’m going to be assembling a terrarium in a large round jar. I’ve always loved terrariums. And they’ve come back into vogue in a big way.
Materials You Will Need:
- Large glass jar
- Charcoal
- Orchid mix
- Terrarium soil
- Sphagnum moss
- Gravel
- Medium-sized stones
Putting the Terrarium Together:
Now let’s begin to put the terrarium together with the plants you’ve chosen.
- Make sure the jar you’re using is clean and dry.
2. Add the charcoal to the bottom of the jar. Charcoal provides filtration and purifies the water in your terrarium.
3. Add a layer of orchid mix. The orchid mix provides optimal drainage and aeration. This all-natural substrate element can add a lot of structure and aeration to a mix.
4. Add terrarium soil. Terrarium soil is formulated to supply a nutrient-rich base for your plants.
5. Next you will prepare the moss.
How to Prepare the Moss:
To prepare the moss, soak it overnight in tap water and squeeze dry. The spaghnum moss will act as a filter between your soil layers and charcoal.
6. Put a layer of moss in the terrarium.
7. Make slits in the moss with your fingers. You will be planting your plants in them.
8. Spread gravel in your terrarium.
9. Add your plants to the terrarium and press the soil around them so that they’re sitting upright in the jar.
10. Sprinkle more orchid mix around your plants, avoiding the rocks.Â
The base of your plants should line up with the top of the moss.Â
Spray water down the sides of the glass to clean any dirt off the inside of the terrarium.Â
The water retained in the moss is all your terrarium needs to sustain its ecosystem. Do not over water.Â
Put the lid on the jar and you’re finished!
Tips for a Healthy Terrarium:
Keep your terrarium in a well-lit area. Your terrarium functions as its own ecosystem, and will sustain itself as long as you keep the lid on.
If the terrarium is fogging up once a day, that’s a good sign. You don’t need to open it. The ecosystem is telling you that it doesn’t need additional air.
If your terrarium is not fogging up, add a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water, being very careful not to over water. Then put the lid back on.
If you have continuous fogging, leave the lid off for a day or two.
Best Plants for a Closed Terrarium:
Some plants that do well in the high-humidity environment of terrariums:
- Ferns
- African violets
- Venus flytraps
- Starfish plants
- Air plants
- Baby’s tears
- Fittonia
- Golden club moss
- Strawberry begonia
If Plants Rot or Mold Develops:
If your plants begin to rot, it means that you’ve added too much water. Remove the rot and replace with new plants.
If mold starts to develop, sprinkle cinnamon on the moldy area, avoiding plant leaves.
Enjoy your terrarium!Â
Although opinions vary, it has been our experience that the plants will prosper if they are kept covered during the day and the top is partially slid off at night. Super
I love this Brenda! Great job! Thanks for joining Home Sweet Home!
Beautiful Brenda! Terrariums are definitely coming back strong. Thanks for sharing the how to's with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
I haven't done a terrarium in years!
Thanks for sharing at SYC.
I used to grow them back in the 70's too Brenda…thanks for the step-by-step reminder of how to do it right..Enjoy!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful tutorial on SYC! Jo
Hi Brenda,
I remember doing these in the late 70's and 80's. They were fun to make. Have a great week end.
Kris
I could not find this same one on their website….what is it called? I just love it!
I really like the looks of this terrarium. I remember my MIL gifting me with one of those large plastic terrariums on a pedestal back in the 70s and I have to confess that I hated the thing. It was definitely not my style, too modern looking, but I did have pretty good luck with the plants I put in it. (You can google 70s plastic terrarium and there are several in the images that are exactly like mine.) I ended up selling it on a garage sale after a few years. This one you have would be a good thing to have because my kitties couldn't get to the plants!
What a pretty terrarium and I love the size. The kit idea is great!
Linda
Its very pretty and something I would enjoy. However, it would not survive for me. I am not good at plants.
Beautiful job , Brenda! I had no idea how to create a terrarium properly. Love the way you can see the different soil layers. Very natural and artistic. It is a very clean way to have plants in the home and they're protected from marauding , munching kitties.
You're so right! So many readers tell me they can't garden because of their kitties. Well, I've shown them that now they can!
I'm so glad they have made a come back, I love them! I guess I'm a 70's girl at heart! Your terrarium is just beautiful!
Yeah, met too. I was 13 in 1970. So spent my teen years in the seventies.
Brenda, It is so pretty.. Know you will enjoy it..Thanks for sharing with us.
I love it, Brenda…it's gorgeous! I seem to kill every living thing in my path, so I will just fantasize about having a terrarium for now…haha.
How beautiful! I love the tip about adding cinnamon. Who knew?! Thank you ever so much for linking up at Thoughts of Home on Thursday. Your presence adds such a ray of sunshine!
I just love those homemade tips!
Very pretty! I remember making one years ago…I'd love to make another!
I'm sure you have some glass containers with a lid around and you could try one.
Very pretty!
Brenda, when I was a kid my mom went through a terrarium making phase. I thought they were so cool and she had them for years. It seems like if you keep the lid closed, the water just cycles in the container and you don't have to add more. Am I remembering that right?
So glad you stepped away from your kitchen job to join us at TOHOT. 🙂
I know. Buy I went on past the pain stage and now am back in the boot. Hate this boot, but it saves me.
Very pretty, Brenda!
Brenda,
This is just precious. You did a fantastic job.
Your green thumb prevails!
Thank you so much for sharing this with us at Thoughts Of Home On Thursday!
Jemma
Well, we haven't seen if I can keep it alive yet!
as much as I love gardening, I have never planted a terrarium.
What great information.
Thank you for sharing this with all of us at Thoughts of home on Thursday.
Well it was fun to do. And now fun to watch it fog up as part of the ecosystem process that keeps the plants alive.
I have so many containers that I could fill. I had a terrarium years ago…I need to make a few for my office window. Although soon the heat will fry them like an egg right thru the window. 😉 Ferns always make me smile- one of my favorites to have in the house.
Don't put them close to the window. Indirect light. Yes, the glass they're inside would fry close to a window if it gets hot.
It's beautiful and I just love it. Thanks for sharing step by step instructions.
That's just beautiful!
That looks fantastic, Brenda – my daughter would love this!
Tell your daughter we used to do these in the seventies. She might love the old throwback hippy style!