Introduction

Have you ever wanted to bring a piece of nature into your home or office? A terrarium may be just what you need. A terrarium is a miniature garden in a container and it’s a popular hobby because it’s easy to care for and visually appealing. In this article, we will explore different terrarium types, provide step-by-step instructions on how to create one, give advice on how to make it aesthetically pleasing, and discuss trends in terrarium design to inspire your creativity.

Step-by-Step Guide

Before starting, gather all the necessary supplies. You will need:

• Glass container with an opening at the top
• Small rocks or pebbles for the bottom layer
• Sand or activated charcoal for the middle layer
• Potting soil for the top layer
• Small plants suitable for terrariums
• Tools: long sticks, gloves, spoon or small shovel

Once you have everything you need, follow these steps:

1. Add a layer of rocks or pebbles to the bottom of the container. This layer will help with drainage and prevent the soil from getting too wet. Depending on the size of your container, the layer should be 1-2 inches deep.
2. Add a layer of sand or activated charcoal over the rocks or pebbles. Sand helps with drainage, while activated charcoal soaks up impurities and prevents odor. This layer should be 1/2 to 1 inch deep.
3. Add the potting soil on top of the sand or charcoal so that it fills the container about halfway.
4. Carefully remove the plants from their original pots, loosen their roots, and position them in the terrarium soil. You can use different kinds of plants but make sure they can coexist in the same environment, have the same water and light requirements, and will not outgrow the terrarium container. Place taller plants in the back and shorter plants in the front. Use long sticks to help position the plants and prevent soil from moving around.
5. Add decorations such as rocks, small figurines, or moss to create visual interest. Make sure to leave enough space for each plant to grow.
6. Water your newly created terrarium until the soil is damp but not soaked. You can use a small watering can or sprayer. Afterward, let it sit for a day or two before sealing it off with a lid because any extra water needs time to evaporate.

Now you have your very own terrarium! Remember to water your plants regularly, but not too much since the container creates a self-sustaining environment.

Here is a step-by-step guide with pictures for reference.

Picture Guide

Follow these pictures as a reference to see how a terrarium is built and how each layer is placed.

Aesthetic Guide

When creating a terrarium, make sure the design is visually pleasing. Besides the container and plants, there are other design elements that you can incorporate:

• Color scheme: choose plants with complementing or contrasting colors that together form a palette. You can also insert colored sand or rocks in between the layers.
• Shape and texture: use different plant shapes, textures, and heights to create depth, eye-catching patterns, and focal points.
• Lighting: place your terrarium in a spot with plenty of natural sunlight. If that’s not possible, consider using artificial light in the color spectrum that plants need, such as grow lights.
• Decorations: use decorations like rocks, figurines, or fairy lights to add interest and personality to your terrarium. You can also create different themes depending on the season or holiday.

Here are some design styles that you can use as inspiration for your terrarium:

• Desert style: choose succulents and cacti with sand and rocks to create this style that requires little moisture.
• Jungle style: use lush plants, moss, and rocks to evoke a tropical jungle feel. A few figurines of animals could enhance it.
• Minimalist style: choose one or two small plants with sand and rocks and keep it simple.
• Fantasy style: use moss and small figurines to create a magical forest atmosphere. With multiple layers and lights it could be a real fantasy world.

Wherever your imagination takes you, aim to create a unique and personalized terrarium that’s sure to dazzle.

Terrarium Trends

Terrarium design is constantly evolving, and here are some current trends to keep an eye on:

• Air plant terrariums: Air plants are small plants that don’t need soil to survive and are uniquely adapted to draw nutrients from the air. They’re easy to maintain and ideal for busy people.
• Water terrariums: Water terrariums have plants that live in water. They can be set up in aquariums or other enclosed containers with a suitable water pump. Some examples include underwater moss, lily pads, or flowering plants.
• Upside-down terrariums: these are upside-down planters that come in the form of hanging lightbulbs or open geometric shapes, with tiny plants and rocks in the middle.

These trends bring new life to classic terrarium styles, and mixing and matching different trends can create exciting hybrids.

Terrariums for Different Spaces

Terrariums can fit into any space and add natural charm to it. Here are some suggested types of terrariums that work best for different areas of your home or office:

• Desktop terrariums: You can place small and compact-sized terrariums on your office desk or bedside table to add a touch of green to your personal space.
• Living room or bedroom terrariums: Large terrariums that stand on a console or coffee table create a pleasant ambient atmosphere that naturally refreshes your home decor.
• Kitchen terrariums: Miniature herb terrariums or little gardens will be perfect for adding some fresh ingredients to your cooking and making the kitchen more lively.
• Bathroom terrariums: Humidity-loving plants such as ferns and mosses are ideal for a bathroom terrarium since they thrive in moist environments.

With a vast variety of suitable plants and containers, you can customize your terrarium to suit every room in your home or workplace.

DIY Terrarium Containers

Not limited to standard glass containers, alternative options like candles, fish bowls, lanterns, jars, and light bulbs can be used to create unique containers for the terrarium. Crafting your own container adds a personal touch to the terrarium design. Here is how you can make your DIY containers:

1. Clean and dry your container thoroughly.
2. Drill a small hole in the lid for air circulation if the container is fully closed. If not, it may not be necessary.
3. Layer the materials in the same order as you would a standard terrarium container.
4. Add the plants and decorations. Make sure everything is secure and stable.
5. Water and seal the container as you would a standard terrarium.

Materials you can use to make your own terrarium container:

• Candle jar: remove the wax residue with hot water and clean it. Perfect for small terrariums or tea candle holders.
• Fishbowl: choose among the different shapes and sizes of these containers. Perfect for larger plants or multiple plants.
• Plastic containers: advantage is you can cut and shape them as desired with scissors or a knife. Perfect for experimenting with different shapes and sizes.
• Lightbulbs: remove the inside of an old light bulb and fill it with soil and plants. Great for small and minimalist terrariums or as a DIY gift.

Your creativity is the limit.

Seasonal Terrariums

Creatively themed terrariums are perfect for different seasons and holidays. Here are some ideas for terrariums that you can make for each season:

• Spring: Use daffodils, hyacinths, or a small tulip garden to create a lush spring garden in your terrarium.
• Summer: Use beach sand, shells, and miniature palm trees to create a tropical beach scene.
• Fall: Create a terrarium that reminds us of autumn foliage using fall leaves, small pumpkins, and acorns.
• Winter: Using miniature bottle brush trees, fake snow, and little figurines such as sleds or reindeer, the winter wonderland effect can be created.

You could create terrariums for different festive holidays and occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas too!

Conclusion

Congratulations! Now you have a complete guide on how to make a terrarium. Starting with the basics, we have discussed the supplies needed, provided step-by-step instructions, and explored tips for creating aesthetically pleasing and unique terrariums. We have also discussed popular terrarium trends, different sizes for different living spaces, and DIY containers. Lastly, we talked about seasonal and festive terrariums to fit all kinds of themes and occasions. So, are you ready to start your own terrarium? Get creative, and don’t forget to share your masterpieces with us.