Terrariums, the glass planters that were all the rage in the ’70s, have regained their place at the trendy table in recent years, especially among creatives. A fun, time-efficient way to hone your green thumb, it’s a wonder they ever left.
“Having a terrarium indoors brings life to the room, because you are bringing the outside in,” says Andrea Grace, adult education manager at Naples Botanical Garden, who hosts terrarium workshops. “It is also an art form of sorts.”
Build Your Terrarium
When layering your terrarium, leave about two-thirds of the glass container as open space, says Grace, who offers expert guidance on building your own miniature indoor garden at the Naples Botanical Garden.
What You’ll Need:
For Succulents
- 1 inch gravel
- Very thin layer of Sphagnum moss
- 1/4 inch horticultural charcoal
- 2 inches soil
- Plants
- Gravel or sand as top-dressing, if desired
- Accent figurines
For Ferns & Moss
- 1 inch gravel
- Very thin layer of Sphagnum moss
- 1/4 inch horticultural charcoal
- 2 inches soil
- Plants
- Mosses, gravel
- Accent figurines
Where to display them: Indoors is best. Most of the plants that do well in terrariums require low light.
Open containers with succulents (part sun/full sun): Lightly moisten surface of soil once a week. Let it dry out completely before watering again.
Open containers with woodland plants (shade/limited filtered sun): Water once a week, misting plants occasionally. Keep soil moist but not soggy. Prune regularly to keep plants at the desired size and shape.
Closed containers with woodland plants, no succulents (shade only): Water only by the teaspoon or simply mist them, if needed. You should hardly ever need water. If you notice a lot of condensation, leave the lid off for a few days. Prune to maintain shape, if desired.
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