Build Your Own Terrarium: The Complete, Easy Guide for Perfect Greenery

A terrarium, or florarium, is a miniature garden created in a glass container, simulating a self-sustaining ecosystem that requires very little maintenance. Do you dream of adding a touch of nature to your home without the fuss? This trendy, easy, and affordable project is the ideal solution!

Whether you choose a minimalist style, a Christmas theme, or a fairy garden, these ecosystems nestled in glass containers are as enjoyable to create as they are to behold. Get started! Here is the step-by-step guide.

The Essential Materials to Build Your Terrarium

To create a welcoming environment for your plants, you need three main layers: drainage, a substrate, and the plants. You will need the following items:

• A container:
  • Material: Clear glass is the ideal choice as it maximizes light and allows for observation of the ecosystem. However, for an open terrarium, you can also use clear plastic containers (such as acrylic) or glazed ceramic bowls (provided the base is wide for good aeration and the depth is sufficient). Avoid raw wood or unglazed terracotta, which will absorb moisture.
  • Open (bowl, wide opening): Ideal for plants that love dry air, such as succulents and cacti. Humidity levels remain low.
  • Closed (jar with lid): Reserved for clear glass, it is perfect for creating a humid ecosystem for tropical plants (ferns, fittonia) that require little watering.
  • Height and Depth: Ensure the container is tall enough to allow plant growth and deep enough for the drainage and soil layers.

• The Drainage Material: Gravel, pebbles, or expanded clay balls (an excellent option, especially for closed terrariums). A layer of 2 to 4 cm is necessary to prevent the roots from sitting in water.
• Activated charcoal (optional, but highly recommended): Essential in a closed terrarium, it helps purify the air and prevent mold.
• A substrate: Use soil specifically formulated for cacti and succulents, or a mix of soil and sand in equal parts. If you are making a closed terrarium with tropical plants, use a regular potting mix.
• Decorative or coloured sand: For desert terrariums (succulents) and for the visual effect on the surface.
• Live moss (optional, but adds an aesthetic touch).
• A funnel (or a homemade paper funnel), a spoon, or a wooden stick to manipulate the elements inside the container.

Selecting Plants: Choose the Right Team!

For your terrarium's success, it is crucial to choose plants that share the same needs for humidity and light. Mixing a succulent and a fern would be a fatal mistake!

Here are the options to prioritize:

• Open Terrarium (for succulents and cacti): Perfect for wide-opening containers. These plants love dryness and bright light.
  • Succulents (Echeveria, Crassula, Kalanchoe, Sedum)
  • Cacti
  • Bromeliads (Tillandsias, or "air plants")
• Closed Terrarium (for tropical plants): Ideal for creating a humid environment with shade-loving plants.
  • Fittonia
  • Mosses
  • Miniature ferns

Steps: Assemble Your Glass Ecosystem

1. Clean and Sterilize: If you use natural elements (rocks, wood, branches) collected outdoors, boil them or clean them thoroughly to avoid introducing insects or diseases into your terrarium. Also wash your container.
2. Prepare the drainage: Place 2 to 4 cm of gravel, pebbles, or clay balls at the bottom of the jar. This layer is essential to drain excess water.
3. Add Activated Charcoal (if desired): For a closed terrarium, add a thin layer of activated charcoal on top of the drainage layer.
4. Add the substrate: Lay a layer of soil (suitable for your plants) over the drainage. The height depends on the size of your roots. Use the funnel to keep the walls clean.
5. Plant carefully: Remove the plants from their pots and gently clean the soil around the roots. Position the plants on the soil layer, placing the largest ones towards the back or center for a nice perspective.
6. Complete and tamp: Fill the empty spaces with soil. Lightly tamp the soil with the wooden stick to ensure the plants' stability.
7. Decorate with sand and rocks: Lay a thin layer of decorative sand and/or fine gravel over the soil. Use the funnel as needed to create clean layers. Place the largest decorative elements (rocks, branches, moss) to create a scene.
8. Water lightly: Moisten the soil with a very small amount of water (about one tablespoon per plant). For a succulent terrarium, it is crucial to not overwater.

Themes: Personalize Your Decor

The advantage of a terrarium is that it is fully customizable! Have fun creating themes with natural and seasonal elements:

• Fairy Garden (Closed or Open Terrarium): Create an enchanted atmosphere.
  • Plants: Small ferns, Fittonia (green and pink), Pilea (for its delicate foliage), Live moss.
  • Decor: Use small coloured pebbles, miniature figurines, moss, and paths made of fine sand.
• Winter/Christmas Theme (Open Terrarium): For temporary and festive decoration.
  • Plants: Succulents with red hues (Echeveria, Crassula 'Jade'), Tillandsias (for their airy look).
  • Decor: Add small pine branches, faux snow (fibre), or tiny pine cones. Remove these elements after the season to prevent mold.
• Desert Decor (Open Terrarium): Focus on textures and sculptural shapes.
  • Plants: Wide variety of Succulents with varied shapes (Haworthia, Gasteria), Miniature Cacti.
  • Decor: Opt for rocks, pebbles of different sizes, and a layer of coloured sand to simulate the desert.

Caring for Your Terrarium: Guaranteed Simplicity

Maintenance is simple, but requires precision, especially for watering.

Watering

• Open Terrariums (Succulents): Water very little, once a month, from spring to fall. The soil must be completely dry between waterings. Reduce or stop watering in winter.
• Closed Terrariums (Tropical): Water recycles (water cycle). Only water if you see the moss and soil are visibly dry (rarely). If there is too much condensation, remove the lid for a few hours.

Location

Place the terrarium in a bright spot, but avoid direct sunlight. The glass walls amplify the heat and will scorch your plants. Turn the pot occasionally for uniform growth.

Other Care

• No fertilizer is necessary. If desired, add it only once in the spring (formula for cacti/succulents, if needed).
• Prune plants to control their growth and remove dead leaves to maintain aesthetics.

Ready to Create Your Own Green World?

The only thing left is to choose your style: desert, tropical, or fairy garden! Visit our garden centre to explore our complete selection of glass containers, miniature succulents, and mosses. Our experts are on site to guide you in choosing your materials and plants.