Make your own terrarium

Where to begin?

You probably have a few glass containers around your house – from old jam jars to large pasta containers.

Pick any container that gives you enough room to get to a plant once it’s in there.

No lid? No problem!

Open terraria are better for cacti and succulents. Tropical plants, like mosses or air plants, fare better when you create a humid environment so make sure there's a lid closed on tight.

Setting up your terrarium

This can get messy, so protect your work surface if you’re building this in your living room.

1. In your clean and dry container, layer up your pebbles to about 2-3cm.
   • Top tip: Vary your design by turning the container on its side instead, so the lid is pointing to the side rather than upwards
2. Next add the charcoal. You only need to scatter it across. (If you have some sphagnum moss, you can add it after this).
3. Layer on the potting soil. Ensure there is enough, so the plant roots sit comfortably deep inside it.
4. Your biggest plant goes in first.
   • Using your small trowel, or long-handled spoon, make a hole for the plant.
   • Gently place the plant into the soil. You can use a pencil-like tool to fill in and flatten the soil around it.
   • Make sure your plant has enough room to grow a little; don’t cramp them against the glass.
   • If you have more, keep adding the rest of your plants.
5. Place in other stones, or maybe some moss or sand to cover up the soil if you want to.
6. Put in any finishing touches.
7. Close the lid – or don’t!

Top tip: Want some moss? Using a spring tine rake or a soil rake, rake over your garden. In the shady bits, some moss might grow and you can put that in your creation.