How To Make A Terrarium In A Jar And Care For It?

A Terrarium is a glass container with soil and plants, creating a small and controlled environment. It is a beautiful way to bring some greenery into your home, and it’s also easy to create and care for. You can fill this jar with plants, stones, and other natural items to create a little ecosystem. If you are wondering how to make a terrarium on your own, you need to gather the necessary items and follow the steps in this blog post. Moreover, you must use the caring tips in this blog post.

Things We’ll Need To Make A Terrarium In A Jar

Creating this glass jar is fun and easy if you have the right items. Let’s now explore some natural items you may use to build one.

1. A Container With No Drainage Holes – Start by using a glass container without any holes to trap moisture inside. It further helps create a self-sustaining environment that is perfect for your plants.
2. Appropriate Plants – Pick small plants like ferns, moss, or succulents as they will fit your little garden. You should remember that the plants should match your room’s light and humidity levels.
3. Sheet Moss – You should also place sheet moss to separate soil and stones. It locks in moisture and makes your plants look fresh and green.
4. Gravel, Sea Glass, Or Beach Stones – Now you should add a layer of natural items for a terrarium, such as gravel or stones in the bottom. It further helps drain extra water and protect plant roots from getting too wet.
5. Activated Charcoal – You can place charcoal to soak up extra moisture and stop any mold or bad smell. Moreover, it also keeps your plants healthy and alive.
6. Sterile Potting Mix – Use clean potting soil to avoid pests. Furthermore, you should skip vermiculite or perlite to keep the plants looking natural and neat.
7. Spray Bottle – You may further use a spray to water plants gently. The core reason behind this is the right amount of moisture without flooding your plants.

Using these natural items helps create a healthy and beautiful little garden. So, you should pick the right materials, and this addition will make your room more beautiful.

How To Build Your Own Terrarium In A Jar?

Now you need to use the easy-to-follow steps in this section to learn how to create a terrarium in a jar with some easy-to-follow steps.

Select A Container

It can be simple or fancy, like a small greenhouse. It should be clear and have a wide opening so you can easily add soil, plants, and decorations. Good choices include aquariums, fish bowls, glass jars, or special cases with a wide mouth for easy access.

Pick The Plants

Many garden stores sell small plants for terrariums, often in the fairy garden section. Choose plants that grow well in humid, low-light areas. Pick different shapes and sizes for variety, but make sure they stay small enough to fit comfortably in your container without touching the sides.

Include Multiple Drainage Layers

A plant terrarium does not have drainage holes, so add a drainage layer to keep water from touching the plant roots. Here is how to create a drainage layer:

1. You should start with a 2-inch layer of gravel or crushed stone at the bottom. For tall glass containers, use a thicker layer of stones, but shallow ones need less.
2. Then you need to add a ¼ or ½ inch layer of activated charcoal on top of the stones using a spoon. Hence, this helps with drainage and keeps odors away.

Next, add a layer of sheet moss over the stones and charcoal to keep the soil from mixing. Live moss can also be used instead of charcoal to control odors and look nicer.

Get The Plants Ready

Before planting, you should also plan the design of your little garden. Place tall and short plants in different spots, create mounds, and dip in the soil for interesting shapes and contours.

1. Remove plants from their nursery pots and gently separate the roots if they are tangled.
2. Use garden snips to trim long roots. Root pruning slows growth and cuts off yellow or damaged leaves.

Add Your Favorite Plants

Shake off extra soil from the plants. Use a spoon or your fingers to make a hole for each plant. Place the plant in the hole and gently press the soil around it to remove air pockets and hold the plant in place. This further helps the plants stay secure in the soil. Decorating the inside of this container is optional, but you can do it as per the design made outside.

Add Water To The Jar

You can spray a bottle or small watering can to lightly water the plants, making them damp but not soaked. If dirt is stuck to the glass, you should gently remove it and clean the sides with newspaper or a paper towel to keep your glass jar looking neat and clear.

Now that you know how to build a terrarium in a jar, you will also need to use the caring tips in this section. So, move on to the next section in this blog post to know the same.

Top 7 Caring Tips For Your Container And Plants

After creating a terrarium jar, you also need to use the following tips and you will be able to take care of your plants and increase their lifespan.

1. Mold – It may grow if the pants are too damp. Hence, you must clean the plant by using vinegar and wiping it with a cloth.
2. Water – You should water the plant only if the soil seems dry. A lot of water may lead to mold growth and root rot.
3. Light – You should keep the container in a place with indirect light. A lot of direct sunlight may overheat your plants and further burn them.
4. Air Circulation – You also need to open the plant terrarium at regular intervals to allow fresh air to come in. Stale air may further cause unhealthy plants.
5. Fertilizer – Use a tiny amount of diluted fertilizer each month. But you should remember that a lot of fertilizer will cause algae and harm your plants.
6. Pruning – You should trim plants as well at regular intervals to maintain their health. Also, Pruning will help your plants to grow fine and keep your little garden looking great.
7. Placement – You need to put the jar in a room with indirect light and a stable temperature. Moreover, you must avoid rooms with too much heat or draft.

By giving the right amount of water and light to the plants, they will thrive. You just need to follow these simple caring tips, and your tiny garden will stay healthy and beautiful for months.

Concluding The Thoughts

Bringing some nature within 4 walls of your office or home can be simple and fun by building a small garden in your space. You need some supplies only, including some stones, a glass jar, moss, charcoal, and small plants. If you are wondering how to make a terrarium, add some layers of charcoal and gravel for drainage. Then you need to plant your greenery and pour water on it gently. To keep your plants healthy, you need to ensure they receive enough water, sunlight, and air.

FAQs

Question. What Are Some Plants That Grow Well In The Terrarium?

Answer. Some plants that grow well in a glass container are creeping fig, club moss, prayer plant, nerve plant, lucky bamboo, small ferns, polka dot plant, pothos, and African violet.

Question. How Can We Clean This Little Garden?

Answer. To clean the container, you need to remove dead debris and scrub it.

Question. What Are Some Benefits Of Making A Terrarium?

Answer. It requires no maintenance, is self-sustaining, and allows you to grow miniature plants with minimal effort.