Steps to Create Your Own Terrarium:
1. Clean your container thoroughly. Wash with hot, soapy water, then rinse and allow to dry.
2. Terrariums grow best with a mix of soil. At a ratio of 4 to 1, mix 4 parts of potting mix to 1 part drainage material. The drainage material should include small gravel, stones or moss. The drainage layer should take up about one-quarter of the container. Gravel and half of that amount in activated horticultural charcoal is recommended to remove toxins and harmful chemicals in order to keep plants healthy and absorb odors. An alternative to the charcoal layer is a layer of live moss. Moisten the mix slightly before adding it to the container.
STOP – Before continuing, decide how your container will be displayed. Planting your terrarium will depend on whether it will be seen from one side, two sides or all sides. Arrange plants and accessories accordingly.
4. Select plants for your terrarium in different sizes and textures that have similar needs for light, temperature and water. Avoid mixing plants with extremely different needs. Look for plants that like a moist environment, like small ferns, sedums, mosses and succulents. Plants sold for use in fairy gardens are also well suited in the terrarium environment.
5. Before planting, trim off any damaged or yellowing leaves. Remove each plant from it’s container, brush off any excess soil, then place roots in the growing medium keeping the plants away from the sides of the container so that they do not touch the glass. Fill in the planting hole with extra potting mix if necessary and tamp down.
6. Add decorative items such as polished stones, ceramic or resin critters and fairies…. Be creative!