Most people appreciate the serenity and beauty of a garden or a beautiful plant or flower, but there is another way to display plants in a beautiful and stylish way: a glass terrarium. These are usually enclosed glass containers in which plants can live, in some cases without air. They work because heat and light can enter the container via the glass. The heat is the real key as it works to create a miniature water cycle right inside the terrarium. The raised temperature inside the container causes the moisture from the soil and plants to evaporate. The resulting water vapour then begins to condense on the terrarium's walls and eventually it falls back down to the soil and the plants.

This cycle allows the plants to thrive even in a closed space. In fact, Dr. Nathaniel Ward invented the terrarium back in 1827, and by 1832 he was using them to transport plants from the UK to Australia, a long, eight month journey at that time. Astoundingly, the plants survived the long voyage with no problems!

So why are terrariums becoming such a trend these days? Well, it's really no surprise when you consider how easy they are to put together and maintain, as well as how beautiful they can be. There are both closed and open terrariums, and either type is a good choice, depending upon what types of plants you intend to put in them. The open variety is well-suited for air plants; those that get their water from the moisture in the air and therefore have no need for soil. You can even plant them in sand and they'll thrive and look simply stunning at the same time. Below we have a how to guide to help you get started making a terrarium of your own.

Making your own terrarium

First, get your materials together. You'll need your preferred terrarium plants, as well as a glass container which we'll discuss in more detail shortly. You'll also need some soil, sheet moss or sphagnum, and some rocks (marbles, polished pebbles, or sea glass will do). You'll also need tweezers to put things in to the container, especially if you choose one with a small opening. You'll also need a funnel for the soil, scissors to use for clipping the greenery, and some cotton swabs or paper towels to use for cleaning the container. Once you have all your materials, it's time to make a terrarium!

1. Choose your container


There are a variety of containers you can employ, from used pickle jars to vintage vases. There are also beautiful, geometrically shaped containers that you can buy. The important thing is that the container needs to be clean and that the glass needs to be clear. Using coloured glass would interfere with light entering the terrarium, consequently causing issues with plant growth.

Please note: for beginners it's best to select a container with a wider opening, so that you can fit your whole hand inside. This will make it much easier for you to arrange your first terrarium.


2. Once you have your container all picked out and ready to go, start by placing a handful of rocks on the bottom of your container. The layer of rocks has several benefits. It shapes the terrain, and it also aids aeration and drainage. Be sure you estimate the size of your rock layer based on the height of your container. You need to have plenty of head space at the top of your container so that the terrarium won't appear cramped.



3. Now it's time for the sheet moss (or sphagnum). First, soak it for just a few seconds in some water, and then squeeze it to remove any excess liquid. Now, place it atop your rock layer, and give it a pat down. Make sure that it completely fills the surface area so that it will be a proper barrier for preventing soil from falling through into the rocks.



4. Using the funnel, add several inches of soil to the container. Again, don't overfill it as you need head space for your greenery. Also, don't try to make it too even and flat. Having some hills and valleys will add a bit more character to your landscape. Also, be aware of the type of soil you choose. It should be the best kind for whatever greenery you chose for your terrarium. For moss, it's best to go with a peat moss soil mixture as it's less likely to result in mould growth. For most other plants, a potting mix will be fine, but it should be non-moisture-controlled. Of course, if any of the plants you choose need a specific soil to thrive, be sure to use that.



5. At last, you're ready to plant. If you're making a moss terrarium using moss that you got from the great outdoors, you'll want to give it a spray with some pesticide, just to make sure it's free of bugs. Then you can trim your moss into shape with the scissors and put it into the terrarium, pressing firmly to ensure any air pockets have been removed. For plant terrariums, follow the same process as you would if you were planting them in an outdoor garden. Finally, give your plant just a little bit of water to counteract the shock of being transferred into the container. The rock layer does help with drainage, but bear in mind that there's not a great deal of room, so don't overdo it. You won't need to worry about maintenance other than a light spray of water every two to four weeks or so.