Tuestorial: Terrariums

It's Spring time! Time to renew, redecorate, and bring some green into your work and living space.

The terrarium trend is still going strong and now there are more options than ever to create your own ecosystem. I visited Succulence in San Francisco to see what I could find to fill my own terrarium. There are many awesome stores in the Bay Area for supplies and classes so be sure to check out Yelp for your best, local choice!

Plants, moss, and soil...oh my!

Materials Needed:

• Glass container (this can range from something found at the Goodwill to the terrarium I'm using)
• Charcoal
• Soil
• Pebbles
• Moss (optional)
• Sand (optional)
• Succulents, ferns or cacti

Fun accents to add like plastic animals or pretty minerals

Pretty Copenhagen Terrarium I'm using

Step 1:

Find your container and come up with a game plan. Planning ahead is key so you know what type of plants will do well in the environment your terrarium will live in. Is it a closed container or open? Will it be in direct sunlight or a shady area? Will it be in a humid area or exposed to any elements?

The terrarium I'm using is closed and I needed to create a humid environment the plants could thrive in. I decided to focus on moss, ferns and succulents that like shade. Even with this focus, there are so many options! While you can get a lot of terrarium supplies online, it's best to visit a store so you can get advice and see the plants before you purchase them.

First, pebbles and charcoal for the base

Next, succulent soil

Step 2:

Your supplies are gathered and now you are ready to plant! This part is all about layers. I started with charcoal and pebbles on the bottom then soil made for succulents (you can make your own by mixing two parts potting soil and one part sand), and a layer of moss on top. It can depend on what type of plants you are using for this mix, but succulents and ferns tend to do better with a mixed soil. Be sure to ask in the store for their advice on the best soil!

The tricky part here can be the opening of your terrarium. Mine was just big enough for my hand to go in so packing down the soil was an easy job. You can get creative with what you have around your house if your opening is small. A piece of paper rolled into a tube can easily transport your soil or small plants into the bottom of the terrarium or a wooden spoon to pack down the soil.

It's alive! 

Step 3:

Now it's time to add your finishing touches! Sand with hints of glitter, minerals that sparkle or plastic animals to add to create your own world. It's lovely to watch your terrarium's world grow and change in the coming months!

My terrarium's ecosystem

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