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Making a Terrarium

Making a Terrarium, Small Terrarium in Mason Jar
Terrariums are a great way to add some life to your decorating. They can be made from just about any glass or clear plastic container. They are also a perfect way to make use of something that was just taking up space before. This is a page about making a terrarium.
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Solutions

This page contains the following solutions.


Gold Post Medal for All Time! 555 Posts
September 5, 2012

Herb terrarium in a fish bowlI wanted to make a terrarium from an old fish bowl, but couldn't find inexpensive, small leafed plants. I realized that my herbs growing outside would not only look great, but I could keep and use them all winter if I planted them in the bowl.

I planted oregano and common thyme and added a little toy crab. I love it!

Approximate Time: 5 minutes

Supplies:

Instructions:

Just add some pebbles for drainage, then soil, then plant some herbs into your terrarium. Add some pretty rocks, shells or small toy and enjoy your fresh herbs in your indoor garden all winter long.
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By Donna from NEPA


Diamond Post Medal for All Time! 1,298 Posts
July 21, 2019

Here are my step by step instructions on how to make a plant terrarium with no drainage. Plant terrariums with no drainage require little maintenance - you only need to water every 2 to 3 weeks, or when needed.

Tips:
- Use cardboard box to contain soil, succulents.
- Use old art for scrap paper.
- Use rocks found while hiking for decoration.
- Use soil mixed with pumice and perlite (pumice for absorbing water no drainage and charcoal as purifier).
- Cheap decorations rocks can be found at Dollar Tree for just a $1. (I purchased the white rocks there.)

Total Time: 1 hour

How to Make a Plant Terrarium - finished succulent terrariums made with brass edged glass containers
 

Supplies:

  • succulents
  • scissors
  • soil
  • pumice
  • perlite
  • charcoal
  • decorative rocks
  • assorted rocks
  • chopsticks
  • terrarium
  • acrylic paint
  • paint brush
  • plastic cup
How to Make a Plant Terrarium - supplies
 

Steps:

  1. Using scissors, cut the base of a plastic cup to fit your terrarium.
  2. How to Make a Plant Terrarium - plastic cup and scissors
     
    How to Make a Plant Terrarium - cut cup to fit
     
    How to Make a Plant Terrarium - height of cup cut down
     
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  3. Cup height/size will vary depending on your plant terrarium and preference.
  4. How to Make a Plant Terrarium - cup in terrarium with lid open
     
    How to Make a Plant Terrarium - closed terrarium with cup inside
     
  5. Optional - I did not want the red cup to show, so I painted the cups with white acrylic paint and allowed to dry overnight.
  6. How to Make a Plant Terrarium - painting the red cup white
     
  7. Add charcoal rocks, assorted rocks, and soil mixed with pumice and perlite into the plastic cup.
  8. How to Make a Plant Terrarium - add charcoal, rocks, and soil
     
  9. You are ready to make your plant assortment.
  10. How to Make a Plant Terrarium - begin adding succulents
     
    How to Make a Plant Terrarium - creating plant arrangements
     
    How to Make a Plant Terrarium - cups fully planted
     
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  11. Place plant assortment into the terrarium.
  12. How to Make a Plant Terrarium - place planted cups in terraniums
     
    How to Make a Plant Terrarium - lid closed and closeup view of one planting
     
  13. Now you are ready to decorate your terrarium. Tip: Use chopsticks to help arrange plant/rocks to your liking.
  14. How to Make a Plant Terrarium - adding decorative stones around the plastic cups
     
  15. To finish off, add your choice of decorative rocks, or any rocks you would like to add.
  16. How to Make a Plant Terrarium - one with pink glass stones on top of white ones
     
    How to Make a Plant Terrarium - beginning to add larger decorative stones
     
    How to Make a Plant Terrarium - close up of various stones on top of the pink glass stones
     
    How to Make a Plant Terrarium - clear stones added to other planting
     
    How to Make a Plant Terrarium - filled to top of cup
     
    How to Make a Plant Terrarium - then natural stones of differing colors added
     


Gold Post Medal for All Time! 899 Posts
April 21, 2014

I had a neat terrarium in my room when I was a kid and I really wanted to make one with my son.

put lid on

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Gold Post Medal for All Time! 969 Posts
May 31, 2016

When a friend got some cherry tomatoes, it hit me this container looked like the mini terrariums from the 70s. All sorts of things came to mind, but I can't grow anything but mold so the next best thing was a faux terrarium.

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I was at the dollar store and saw these cacti and thought how cute that would be.

Recycled Faux Cactus Terrarium


Gold Post Medal for All Time! 555 Posts
July 27, 2017

This simple but cute summer project can be made in minutes, but you can enjoy it for a long time! It's good for kids or adults.

Easy Terrarium - mason jar

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Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 228 Posts
March 20, 2007

Make a tabletop terrarium from those odds and ends that tend to accumulate and clutter your cupboards.

 
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Videos

July 14, 2014

Terrariums are fun to put together and easy to maintain. Check out this video on how to set up a terrarium.

12 Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

September 27, 2006

Question:

Does anyone have any soda bottle terrarium directions for me? I am not sure if I am in zone 5 or 6.

Hardiness Zone: 5b

Dawn from Elmira, NY

Answer:

Dawn,

Here are some simple directions for a soda bottle terrarium.

Supplies

  • One 2 or 3 liter clear plastic soda bottle (needs to have a colored base).
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  • Scissors, craft knife and a teaspoon
  • Charcoal
  • Coffee filter
  • Potting Soil
  • Suitable small plants
  • Assorted rocks or figures
  • Moss

Directions

  1. Remove the label and the colored base from the plastic bottle by soaking the bottle in hot, soapy water.

  2. The clear portion of the bottom is made of a thicker plastic than the top. Use the tip of a craft knife to punch 5-6 holes around the bottom to create some ventilation. You're going to flip this over so it becomes the top.

  3. Now, using a craft knife or scissors, cut off the top of the plastic bottle at the point where it starts to slope toward the top. Flip this over. This end is now the bottom and should now slide easily into the colored base.

  4. If the colored end has holes in it, place a coffee filter in the bottom to prevent soil from leaking out the holes.

  5. Place a 1/4 or 1/2 inch layer of horticultural charcoal in the colored base, followed by 1 to 2 inches of high quality potting soil so that it comes to 1/2 inch below the bottom's rim.

  6. Add 2-3 small plants or cuttings. The plants should have similar growing requirements. Some good plants include Aluminum Plant, Ivy or Baby Tears.

  7. Add decorative figures and rocks as desired.

  8. Water the terrarium lightly. The soil should be barely moist, but not wet. Cover the soil with moss.

  9. Slip the clear plastic top back onto the base until it's firmly seated in place.

  10. Keep an eye on the terrarium for a few days. Water droplets should form. If they don't, add a bit more water. If too many form, open the top of the terrarium temporarily to let it dry out a bit.

Ellen

Answers

July 24, 20061 found this helpful

Just type in kidsdomain terrarium on yahoo search.and you will find instructions.
Oh ,by the way i made a hanging plant bottle just buy cutting holes on the one side so the plant can hang out and down almost to the floor if you wish.
I just poked a hole in the cap tied a plastic bead to the inside end and screwed in a plastic plant hanger in the ceiling joist. it still hangs in my bedroom by the window (10 years now)
The old plant died from my neglect a few years ago. Your message has encouraged me to start a new one
Thank You
Mr Thrifty

 
By dawn (Guest Post)
September 28, 20060 found this helpful

Thank You. I will try it.

 
November 12, 20061 found this helpful

I remember making terrariums like that which Ellen described above when I was a kid! They're a lot of fun. The only problem might be that I think they stopped making two-liter bottles with those colored plastic bases a long time ago - all the soda bottles I've seen for years now have been all one piece.

 
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August 31, 2010

How do I make a terrarium using a glass gallon jar?

Hardiness Zone: 4a

By ilovesophie from Laurel, MT

Answers


Silver Feedback Medal for All Time! 290 Feedbacks
August 31, 20100 found this helpful

You can find it by using the Google search engine.

 
January 12, 20200 found this helpful

glass container terrarium

Step 1
The glass container will make a pretty terrainum. Remember to place pebbles at the bottom for drainage

Step 2
Don't pack down the soil you choose to use.

 
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July 7, 2021

If you have a desire to carry your favorite plant with you, then this portable terrarium is for you. I have come up with a very convenient and easy-to-make terrarium. All you need are two jars with lids and wire. I used copper wire from an old transformer.

The completed terrarium.

March 2, 2020

This kid friendly succulent terrarium incorporates your child's rock and shell collection into the planting. Add some colorful plastic beads too. Check out the full project below.

Kid Friendly Succulent Terrarium - glass terrarium with beads added

September 28, 2016

This page is about converting an aquarium into a terrarium. When your fish tank is worn out or you do not need it anymore, recycle it into a controlled environment for plants or reptiles.

Rectangular Cactus Terrarium

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