A terrarium, in its truest form, is a sealed glass vessel filled with plants and soil. The plants, soil, and mosses absorb the water they need then eventually expel that water back out to create condensation on the side of the glass, which drips into the soil. A sealed terrarium containing just the right amount of water can sustain itself for months without additional watering.
SUPPLIES
Clear, glass container — with or without lid
Small pebbles or stone
Potting soil
Activated charcoal or lava rock — only for closed terrariums
Long utensil such as a pencil, chopstick, or spoon
BUILDING YOUR TERRARIUM
Add about two inches of stone.
If you’re creating a closed terrarium, sprinkle activated charcoal.
Add potting soil, deep enough to cover the roots of your largest plant.
Make a hole in the soil and add your largest plant first.
Add plants as desired. Leave room for plants to grow, don’t overcrowd the vessel.
Place decorative stones, moss, and figures to complete your design.
An open terrarium, while untraditional, is another low-impact way to introduce plants into your living space. While a closed terrarium is a self-sustaining rain forest, an open vessel acts like a desert. Drought-tolerant plants like cacti and succulents need very little attention to thrive.
OPEN TERRARIUM PLANTS
Nerve Plants
Fittonia
Arrowhead Plants
Syngonium
Friendship Plants
Pilea
Ferns
(e.g. Lemon Button Fern)
Creeping Fig
Ficus pumila
Radiator Plants
Peperomia
Polka Dot Plant
Hypoestes phyllostachya
Moss
(e.g. Cushion Moss)
CLOSED TERRARIUM PLANTS
Plush Plants
Echevria
Arrowhead Plants
Syngonium
Donkey’s Tail
Sedum morganianum
Miniature Jade Plant
Crassula ovata ‘Minima’
Fairies Washboard
Haworthia limifolia
Panda Plant
Kalanchoe tomentosa
String of Pearls
Curio rowleyanus
Hens and Chicks Plants
Sempervivum
Whether you prefer a closed or open vessel, a terrarium is perfectly suited for apartment living. Easy to assemble, and even easier to maintain, these little gardens bring life, color, and beauty to your home.
