Make Your Own Terrarium

After killing three plants in only two months, I thought my black thumb had doomed me to a home devoid of greenery. As it turns out the plant-icide wasn't totally my fault. (Yay!) It was a combination of my black thumb AND the lack of direct sunlight in my apartment.

So, when a fellow Wayfair editor started raving about how easily she made and maintained several terrariums, I knew I had to try. It eventually led to the whole team making these easy-to-care-for, yet totally beautiful, tiny ecosystems that thrive in indirect light. Here are a few simple steps:

Step 1: Find a suitable vessel.

I had an empty cloche jar lying around just waiting for the perfect D.I.Y. project. And this was it! The rest of the editors chose bowl vases.

Tip: A suitable vessel is one that is closed off (has a lid) or has a very small opening to keep the moisture inside. Cake and cheese plates with dome lids, canisters, and even mason jars also work, as long as they're clear. You'll want to see all sides of your beautiful creation!

Step 2: Assemble the "ingredients."

1) Pea gravel

2) Activated charcoal

3) Moss

4) Potting soil

5) Plants of your choice!

Tip: Gravel, charcoal, and soil come in big bags, so grab a couple of friends or round up the neighbourhood kids and make it a group project.

Tip 2: Pothos, ferns, baby's tears, ivy, and croton work best in closed terrariums. But for a desert vibe, succulents work best in open canisters like bowl vases.

Step 3: Layer the "ingredients" on the bottom of your vessel.

1) First pea gravel (lets water drain)

2) Then activated charcoal (keeps the closed environment clean, you don't need this if you're creating an open terrarium)

3) Next moss (keeps the soil from falling in)

4) Top it off with soil

5) Finally add the plants.

Tip: It's best to keep the number at 2-3 plants, unless your vessel is really large. The plants will grow with time (hopefully), so you don't want to overcrowd.

Step 4: Find a trinket, preferably colourful, to add character to your terrarium. I chose a little orange giraffe that came perched atop a fancy cocktail while I was out with friends. We all took ours home as a reminder of the night. It found the perfect home in my terrarium.

Step 5: Water, cover, and enjoy! The only maintenance is watering when the soil looks dry, ventilating the terrarium for a few hours every two weeks, and rotating it so all plants soak up the sun equally.

From an amateur gardener to you all, happy planting!

 - Shelby