How to Build a Terrarium

This is a something you can make to have as a decoration for your party or you can make this to give as a gift to one of your friends.

A terrarium is a glass or plastic container designed to grow indoor plants.

It is sort of like a mini greenhouse where the plants will thrive with a little care.

A terrarium is a great eye-catching gift to give someone who enjoys growing plants.

You will have fun making the terrarium and it's easy to do.

Supplies You'll Need.

Here is a list of supplies you will need. Most of this you can purchase at a home improvement store.

You can also check out the thrift stores for large brandy snifter type containers, large clear cookie jar types of containers, etc.

You can be creative with the container you use.

• Glass (that you can see through) or plastic container
• Various indoor plants
• Potting soil
• Rock - pebbles, fish tank rock, glass rain rocks, etc.
• Horticultural charcoal

Types of Plants to Use.

Pretty much any type of plant will work in your terrarium. I like mixing different colors of greens and textures together. There are carnivorous plants, tropical plants and others that will make a great terrarium. How many you buy depends on how large of a container you have. The plants I typically buy come in cute little 1 inch pots.

• Venus Fly Trap
• Sundew
• Pitcher
• Small Ferns
• Chamaedorea Palms
• Creeping Fig
• Polka Dot Plants
• Prayer Plant
• Aluminum Plant
• Ivy
• Spider Plants
• Scottish or Irish Moss
• Butterwort
• Herbs
• Cactus

Note: If you are making a terrarium for cactus and succulents, it's best to use a cactus mix when planting.

Instructions for Making Terrariums.

1. First and most important is to choose the container to use. If you purchase something from a second hand store, make sure it doesn't leak.
2. Select the plants you plan on using. Your plants should thrive in a high humidity environment. They should also have the same requirements for light and water. Choose a theme for your terrarium.
3. If necessary, prepare the soil. If you are using carnivorous plants, mix peat moss and sand in the soil and top it with sphagnum moss. Otherwise a sterile potting mix will do fine.
4. Adding the mix to your container is just a matter of layering a few items. First put about 1/4 to 1/2 inches of the horticultural charcoal on the bottom. Then add about 1/2 inches of gravel. Now add 2 inches of soil.
5. Now add the plants to your terrarium. Create little pockets in the soil for each of the plants you are using. Make sure to cover the roots back up with dirt.
6. When you have finished adding the plants, water just enough until the soil is moist. Do not over water when after planting.

If you have a lid for the container, put it on and you're done. Place it in a place that gets bright but indirect sunlight.

If you use a lid and enclose the terrarium, the water will recycle itself, then transpire into the air. The transpired water will moisten the soil.

If you don't use or don't have a lid it will allow moisture to escape. If this is the case, check the soil on a regular basis and moisten when it gets dry. Do not over water.

My daughter made this terrarium and it didn't take her long at all, she did a pretty good job of it and the pictures!