Have you fallen for the terrarium trend and want to create one yourself? Are you looking for tips and tricks to make a beautiful and long-lasting terrarium?
I will help you.
As a florist, I rediscovered the joy of creating terrariums a few years ago with the revival of this decor trend that can now be seen almost everywhere.
Today, I’m sharing my knowledge and experience on the topic so that you too can create these beautiful miniature gardens, whether for yourself or as a gift!
A terrarium is a small, self-sustaining ecosystem that requires minimal maintenance when created correctly. First, choose a well-draining substrate (such as pumice) and place it at the bottom of a suitably sized container. Next, select moisture-loving plants if your container is closed; you might consider ferns, mosses, or small green plants like Fittonia. If your container is open, you can use cacti or succulents, but make sure to select an appropriate substrate. Maintenance is simple: water very infrequently, about once a month, or even just a few times a year, only when the humidity in your terrarium begins to drop or when the mosses start to yellow and dry out. Observation is key to successfully cultivating a terrarium! 😉
Do you want more details? Keep reading to find out:
- How to choose your container and substrate,
- Which plant varieties are best suited for living in a terrarium,
- How to make a terrarium, including a tutorial video that outlines the step-by-step process,
- Some maintenance tips to help you enjoy your terrarium for a long time!
Let’s Debunk 3 Common Myths About Terrariums!
As you may have noticed, terrariums have become quite popular recently! In fact, it’s worth mentioning that these little miniature gardens are not only very attractive and practical but also allow you to have plants at home without the mess and without taking up too much space. However, their maintenance is often not well understood… and this can sometimes discourage people who wish to acquire or create one.
In the following lines, I invite you to get to know terrariums and their unique features a little better.
Do Plants Suffocate in a Terrarium?
When gardening, we are often told that it’s essential for flower pots to have a drainage hole at the bottom to allow moisture to escape. However, this isn’t possible with a terrarium. Additionally, plants are usually confined in a small space with limited air circulation. Is this really a problem?
To answer this question, it’s important to think of the terrarium as a small self-sustaining garden, or even a mini enclosed ecosystem. If it is properly balanced, with a sufficient drainage layer at the bottom, proper exposure to light, and appropriate care, there’s no reason for the plants to suffocate in a terrarium, whether it is open or closed. Additionally, if the plants become too overbearing, simply trimming them back will help them take up less space.
Is it really that complicated to take care of it?
Once planted and placed in the right spot, a terrarium is quite easy to maintain. If it is sealed, it will only need watering a few times a year. If it’s open, once a month is usually sufficient. Trimming the plants generally occurs rarely, typically no more than once a year.
So, for a terrarium, I prefer to speak about monitoring to make sure the plants are healthy, rather than regular maintenance.
Is it really that difficult to create your own terrarium?
If you’re not an indoor plant expert, you might think that putting together a terrarium could be a complicated task. In fact, it’s important to choose a suitable container as well as plants that can thrive in that environment and have similar water and light requirements. However, with the right guidance, creating a terrarium is not difficult and can even be quite affordable.
That’s why I encourage you to keep reading this article to discover practical tips and a simple method for creating your own little garden.
What Container Should You Choose for a Terrarium?
Would you like to use a repurposed jar for your terrarium? Generally, this can work perfectly, as long as you adhere to a few essential conditions for keeping the plants healthy:
âž¡ Your container should be deep, at least 6 inches (15 cm) minimum if you plan to include succulents (like cacti) and 8 inches (20 cm) if you want to add small leafy plants.
âž¡ It should be thoroughly clean, and the glass should be clear and not tinted.
âž¡ To avoid getting hurt while taking care of your terrarium, make sure it isn’t cracked.
âž¡ Finally, your container should be large enough to hold one or more plants, depending on what you want to create.
👉 Are you wondering whether to choose the container or the plants first? Both options are possible. If you already have your terrarium when choosing your plants, make sure they won’t be too crowded. Otherwise, select a container that can accommodate all the plants you want to include.
Which Plants to Put in a Terrarium?
To make your terrarium last, it’s essential to include plants that are compatible with this type of environment and can coexist peacefully. Here are some tips to help you choose the right ones.
👉 Make sure to select the same category of plants for your terrarium. For example, if you decide to include cacti, you cannot plant them with ferns and moss. The idea is to replicate the natural environment of the plants you choose so that your terrarium thrives. Since closed containers tend to be humid, it is recommended to grow plants that love this environment, such as ferns and moss…
Mosses for Decor
Because they are decorative, thrive in humidity, and have a very slow growth rate, mosses are particularly well-suited for terrarium cultivation. You can collect them directly from the woods (if they are not protected), but make sure to also take the root system of the moss by including the soil attached to it.
Ferns to Create a Miniature Forest
As I mentioned before, ferns are perfectly suited for terrarium gardening. The following species are ideal for beginners:
- Asparagus Plumosus, a fern with very delicate and airy foliage,
- Asplenium Nidus, a small plant with lighter, glossy, and finely divided leaves,
- Davallia, a low fern perfect for positioning at the front of a terrarium,
- Sellaginella Martensis, a dense and relatively small fern,
- Maidenhair Fern, a small and very delicate plant…
Asparagus Fern / Bird’s Nest Fern / Capillary Fern
Easy-to-Care-for Small Green Plants
To successfully create your first terrarium and ensure it has a long life, I recommend choosing very small green plants. At a garden center, these will be the ones with a pot diameter of less than 3 inches. At home, you can also use young cuttings that you’ve taken from your larger plants.
Here are some species names that thrive well in a terrarium:
- Fittonia,
- Pilea Glauca,
- Peperomia Prostata,
- Miniature Begonia,
- Ivy,
- Syngonium,
- African Violet (also known as Saintpaulia),
- Chamaedorea elegans, a mini palm tree,
- Dwarf Ficus,
- Ficus Ginseng…
Fittonia / Ficus Ginseng / Syngonium
👉 Carnivorous plants are also well-suited for terrarium cultivation, but they require an acidic substrate that may not be ideal for other plants. So be sure to grow them together! 😉
Cacti, Succulents, and Epiphytes for a Desert Terrarium
If you want to make a small change and your container is open (like a fishbowl, for example), you can create a little mini desert. For this, you can add some sand, along with:
- Cacti,
- Small succulents that don’t require much water,
- Epiphytic plants like Tillandsia, which need to be regularly misted with non-limestone water but do not require a growing medium.
What substrate should you use for a terrarium?
The choice of substrate, meaning the type of soil in which your plants will grow, is a crucial element in setting up a terrarium. Even with great care, plants grown in an unsuitable substrate will struggle to thrive in a terrarium.
First and foremost, it is essential for this type of closed-bottom container to have a layer of at least 3 centimeters at the bottom, made entirely of a drainage material. Pumice, a natural volcanic rock available at garden centers, is particularly suitable, but clay pellets or even small stones can also work. This layer is intended to hold excess moisture when you water your terrarium, ensuring that your plants’ roots do not come into direct contact with water.
Next, you need to select your potting soil based on the needs of your plants:
âž¡ If you’re dealing with cacti or succulents, there are specific potting soils available that are suited for them.
âž¡ Some plants require an acidic environment: you can mix regular potting soil and heather soil in equal parts…
I recommend that you research the needs of your plants before purchasing your potting mix!
Tutorial: How to Assemble Your Terrarium?
Finally have the right container, some plants, and a suitable substrate? It’s time to create your terrarium. To help you out, I suggest watching the following video, which clearly outlines all the steps to follow:
In summary, to create a terrarium, you need to:
🔸 First, clean your container and water your plants by soaking the pots directly in a bucket of water.
🔹 Next, add a drainage layer (such as pumice, clay balls, or small stones) at the bottom of your terrarium, at least 3 centimeters deep.
🔸 Next, layer soil until you reach the first third of your container, or even halfway, depending on the result you want. You can also add a bit of activated charcoal to prevent mold.
🔹 Remove your plants from their pots by loosening their roots, then place them outside to mimic how they will be planted in the terrarium. This allows you to create a harmonious arrangement later on.
To achieve this, arrange your plants so that we can see all of them. The technique to use usually involves placing low-growing mosses and trailing plants in the foreground, medium-sized plants in the middle, and taller plants at the back of your terrarium. This way, it can mainly be viewed from one side, creating the impression of a miniature garden.
🔸 Finally, you can add some decorations with:
- Pine cones and other natural items collected during your walks,
- Small figurines,
- A waterproof string of lights to enjoy your terrarium in the evening…
🔹 Once your terrarium is assembled, don’t close it right away. Leave it open for at least 48 hours to allow the moisture to evaporate.
What Care Tips to Enjoy Your Terrarium for a Long Time
Did you just finish your terrarium? Now it’s time to find the right spot for it to thrive. The best thing to do is to try several locations and observe it to see if it works well there.
âž¡ If the walls of your terrarium are covered in water droplets that don’t disappear after a few hours, it’s likely that your terrarium is too humid and receiving too much sunlight. Move it a little farther away from the window.
âž¡ If your indoor plants are losing their leaves and not growing, they are likely lacking light. Move them closer to the window.
🌡 In any case, never place it directly behind a window or near a heat source (like a radiator or oven…).
When it comes to watering, give your terrarium half a cup of non-hard water (if it’s on the smaller side) or a full cup about once a month. If your container is closed, do this when condensation droplets start to diminish.
🛑 You should never water a terrarium with damp soil, as it could drown the plant roots… When in doubt, remember that it’s wiser to space out and reduce watering rather than overwater. If your plants are truly thirsty, they will show it:
- by wilting,
- by turning yellow (for mosses),
- by starting to dry out.
You are now ready to create and maintain your terrarium! I hope all these tips have been helpful and that you enjoy crafting your little garden.
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