As we’ve touched on earlier, bright indirect light is the name of the game in closed terrarium care. Plenty of energy and none of the risk of scorching. So naturally, when considering how to make a terrarium, we need to keep these principles in mind. The idea is to build a system that can look after itself so we don’t have to! In terms of the actual planting, I like to start with the tallest plant as it’ll dictate the layout of the land. Then use the smallest plants as decorative highlights.

Yes, worms can serve in a closed terrarium with the correct setup, these can be used in terrariums built from local habitats. Terrarium lighting is another big one to consider. You’ll need to provide consistent, even light that satisfies the needs of your tropical understory plants but doesn’t burn them. They’re typically quite delicate, after all. After all, even containers with large openings like fish tanks/fish bowls can make stunning terrariums.Our closed terrariums are self-sufficient and maintenance free. When you have created your plant terrarium, the micro-ecosystem will maintain itself, so you generally do not have to add water. Just relax and watch your mini garden terrarium change, grow and evolve over time. I find the better way is to judge the amount of moisture in the system through the amount of condensation of the glass. A light fog on the glass through the hottest part of the day is completely normal and healthy.

Fear not; all of these can be sourced easily online, from local stores, or even fashioned yourself (when it comes to tools). Below is my completed terrarium. I added a small buddha which totally changes it from ‘plants in a jar’, to a scene. Whichever style you opt for, terrariums are a lovely way to refresh and brighten your home and add decoration with beautiful plants which can thrive indefinitely. Just bear in mind that the best terrarium plants are small and slow-growing. Below, we’ve searched high and low for the best terrarium kits – both open and closed – to create your own mini garden indoors. We happen to think they make fabulous gifts, too… Jade plants do well in closed terrariums, if you are asking about jade stones, these can also be placed in your terrarium to add colour.If you see no fogging of the glass at all and/or the substrate is looking bone dry – it’s time to add some water. Just a little at a time, as it’s easy to add and difficult to remove. Here’s Rae watering our Bonsai Terrarium.

Open terrariums are a great craft kit to get started if you're a beginner, as they offer a better airflow for plants so you don't have to worry about issues that arise from condensation – such as mould. Open terrariums are best suited to plants that require dry and arid conditions and direct sunlight – such as cacti, air plants and succulents. So if you fancy growing yourself a mini desert that will last for years to come, you totally can. If you're intrigued by gardening but feel overwhelmed, making your own terrarium can be a fun and easy way to start growing plants. Or if you have experience gardening or collecting houseplants, a terrarium can be a new, more creative medium to test out. "Terrariums add another dimension to your indoor gardening," says Steinkopf, who loves making terrariums. "They have a mystery about them that is intriguing and they contain a 'little world' that fascinates people of every age," she says. Does that mean a closed terrarium needs to be airtight? Not really. It’ll still function as long as it can trap moisture and humidity. Besides, it’s often good to air out a closed terrarium now and again to get in some fresh carbon dioxide and get out some mold spores.

Our closed terrarium kits contain all the tools, soil, gravel, stones and charcoal you need. Suitable plants are also available as an option. Dig a small hole in the substrate and use a tool to carefully place the plant in the hole and cover up the roots. As I’ve mentioned, kids’ kits often can put style over substance, and that certainly isn’t true with this kit. You can make up your tropical substrate mix using: a soil base like potting soil, bark that has not been dyed, sphagnum moss, and horticultural sand/grit.

These types of cases are named after Nathaniel Ward (1791-1868), who pioneered the transportation of plants in glass cases with his book ‘On the Growth of Plants in Closely Glazed Cases’ in 1842. During the colonial years, many plants would die when shipped over to Europe from around the world; Wardian case terrariums provided the ecosystem with each plant needed to survive transportation. Okay, the first step to a harmonious closed terrarium ecosystem is choosing your plants that’ll thrive in the moist environment and humid air. So we’ve got that covered. Now we’re onto the more nuanced things to consider. Finally, for healthy plant growth (but not too much growth), I prefer to add organic matter to my substrate in the form of earthworm castings. Failing that, a diluted organic water-soluble fertilizer can be sprayed periodically. Recommended add-on: a set of terrarium tools (tweezers, scissors, fork and shovel). Buy as a set and save 10%. Enlisting the help of beneficial terrarium bugs and microfauna (bacteria and bugs, in short) completes that final all-important nutrient cycle.If you prefer to go the whole DIY route – as I do – then you’re going to need to source your own terrarium supplies. When it comes to watering, you can use the old-fashioned method of adding water when the soil feels dry, but honestly, that’s a bit of a fuss in the confined space of a terrarium. It comes in several container sizes, and you even have the option to grab the kit without the glassware (or the plants) if you already have some options to hand. So it’s great for adapting to your needs. As the activated charcoal forms a complete layer, it also cleans the water as it passes through to the false bottom layer. I also added some to by false bottom layer to help clean any water that may sit on the base. Because terrariums are usually small, there's no concern about needing a lot of space like a traditional garden. "They help those who may not have outside spaces of their own to enjoy and learn from their own mini-garden without stepping foot outdoors," says Elizabeth Waddington, a garden designer and sustainability consultant for Horticulture Magazine.