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How to… Make Jar Terrarium

January 27, 2012

terrarium how to

Oooh I am so excited about this week’s Mason Jar Terrarium Tutorial – always fancied a mini garden in a jar? Well now is your “chance” to learn “how to”… It is a guest post from the gorgeous Jamie from Scissors & Steam. I have been wanting to make Terrarium with the children for a few weeks now. Red Ted is so interested in nature and how things grow, that I thought he would really enjoy one of these indoor mini gardens. Especially, as winter drags on a little longer! So it is wonderful to have Jamie here. A relatively new blog – Scissors & Steam – well worth a visit – you will find all things wonderful in the world of design. Crafts from crochet to DIY Wine Bottle Glasses (I LOVE THESE! What a fabulous way to recycle!).

Make a Terrarium - a great gift idea or project for Earth Day

Right… now to Jamie and the Terrariums!

mini garden in a jar

My husband works in a bleak, windowless wasteland of cubicles and fluorescent lights. He got the bright idea to install a terrarium gro-light at his desk, so he can have a little jungle of plants and his very own bubble of non-circulated, forest-fresh oxygen.

Lately I’ve been pulling up bits of plants and sticking them in mason jars. Sometimes in soil, sometimes just in water. Some take root and some die… Kind of like my thoughts in general, actually. The man was ogling some creeping jenny that was lushly growing in a little jar by the window, so I thought I’d make him a little desktop garden.

You’ll need:

  • A jar
  • Some little plants
  • Handful of dry moss
  • Handful of smallish rocks or glass marbles
  • Dirt, preferably cactus dirt

I started out with this one big jar, to create an enclosed environment. (I ended up not using the foxtail plant in the picture; it was too tall)

mini garden in a jar

Take a handful of moss and layer it on the bottom of the jar. It should be fairly thick. The moss keeps water from just sitting on the bottom of the jar and turning brown and nasty.

mini garden in a jar
 
Next Layer some rocks on top of the moss. Don’t skip the rocks; since the jars have no drainage, they’re there to drain water so that your plants don’t rot.
terrarium how to
Looking back I should have made a thicker layer of moss and rocks, so add more than this if you can. Next dump a bunch of dirt on top of the rocks. I used cactus dirt because the plants won’t be watered as much as normal due to the lack of drainage.
terrarium  diy
 
terrarium  make
 
Next plant your plants. It’s best to use plants like succulents that don’t require a lot of water, but I used some creeping jenny, a bit of spider plant, a maidenhair fern, and a cool fuzzy purple plant whose name I can’t recall. Just poke your finger down in the dirt and stick the plants in.
 
mini garden in a jar
mini garden in a jar
 
mini garden in a jar
 

RAAAWWWWRRRR. Seriously, what guy wouldn’t dig a T-Rex hiding out in the foliage? No guy. That’s who.

 
terrarium  make

The other three terrariums I threw together at the same time. These are so easy to make, and even easier to maintain.Don’t overwater!!! Just spray them down with a mister, or sprinkle in some water when the dirt starts to get dry. Stick your finger in the dirt, and if you feel wet, don’t water it yet. Unless the plants look sad. If they look like they need a hug and a pep-talk, give them a little. The water has nowhere to go, so give the plants just enough to survive. Deprive them for their own good. Keep them trimmed back, too.

If you make an enclosed bio-sphere environment (i.e., you put the lid on the jars) just open them up once a month or so and give them a misting. The humidity in the jar will be fine for their moisture, as long as you don’t open it up too often.

Thanks for reading! If you liked the Mason Jar Terrarium Tutorial, please follow me! (c’mon do it. DO IT. peeeeeeer pressure. this is your brain on my blog. um, lol. btw I’m a freakin’ weirdo.) I’m on Pinterest andBloglovin’ too. Scissors and Steam is still shiny and new so please share with your friends and help spread the word! I’ve got TONS more where this came from. 🙂

terrarium how to
 
mini garden in a jar
Thank you thank you thank you Jamie for this GORGEOUS guest post! So lovely to have you share your Terrarium How To with us.  If you enjoyed this, why not reward Jamie with a visit and a nosey? Scissors & Steam.
 
 

More adorable Dinosaur Crafts for Preschoolers:

Toddler Dinosaur Crafts

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Filed Under: Gardening, How To's, Nature 30 Comments

Comments

  1. technomole says

    January 27, 2012 at 9:05 am

    Great idea, and a great use for old jars, I\’ve done something similar using old lightbulbs to make mini terrariums, although they can only really hold one type of plant.
    Great how to 🙂

    Reply
  2. Red Ted Art says

    January 27, 2012 at 10:53 am

    In a light bulb – wow!!! I would love to see that!!!

    Reply
  3. Liz Burton says

    January 27, 2012 at 12:06 pm

    How lovely. Love the T-Rex in there too!

    Reply
  4. Rebecca says

    January 27, 2012 at 12:07 pm

    What a lovely idea. Any tips for keeping house plants alive, I\’m so rubbish with them.

    Reply
  5. Red Ted Art says

    January 27, 2012 at 12:12 pm

    @ Liz – I have seen whole little landscapes in jars – with little people and boats. So cute!

    @rebecca – if only it were that easy… to answer in one swoop – all plants will vary – need more or less light/ more or less water etc? Am guessing common reasons for plants not doing well is over or under watering them?

    Reply
  6. Multiple Mummy says

    January 27, 2012 at 12:14 pm

    That is such a cute idea. I love the dinosaurs hidden in it!

    Thanks for linking to Family Frolics. x

    Reply
  7. Isil says

    January 27, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    I have been wanting to make one for ages but where do I find some moss? I mean,do I collect it from nature or can I find it in shops?Sorry if this sounds a bit silly.x

    Reply
  8. Red Ted Art says

    January 27, 2012 at 5:33 pm

    A very good question Isil – I would buy it online (e.g. http://www.netpetshop.co.uk/p-27684-zoo-med-reptile-terrarium-moss-substrate.aspx?CAWELAID=525519541) it looks like pet stores supply it. Would ask at your local garden centre too!

    Reply
  9. Roopa@putti prapancha says

    January 27, 2012 at 6:11 pm

    Lovely tutorial! Have been wanting to make one with putti for ages..

    Reply
  10. Red Ted Art says

    January 27, 2012 at 6:27 pm

    Thanks Roopa!!!

    Reply
  11. momandkiddo says

    January 27, 2012 at 7:10 pm

    I have always wanted to to this and these are great instructions!

    Reply
  12. Jamie says

    January 27, 2012 at 10:50 pm

    Wow, thanks so much for the awesome intro! I\’m so honored to be able to guest post here!! 🙂

    To answer Isil\’s question… I got the moss at Michael\’s (I believe). You can buy packages of moss at a lot of craft stores, usually in the fake flower section. If you gather it wild, you run the risk of bringing home tiny little buggers like mites and chiggers. Not something you want in your terrarium!

    Thanks again, I\’m glad you all enjoyed my tutorial! 🙂

    Reply
  13. Carolyn Wilhelm says

    January 28, 2012 at 4:05 am

    This is a sight for sore winter eyes, thanks so much. This is a great idea right aboit now. You practically have a book on the subject! Thank you so much. Carolyn

    Reply
  14. Emma @Mummymummymum says

    January 28, 2012 at 12:32 pm

    What a great idea! Maybe one for Science sparks!

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      January 28, 2012 at 4:05 pm

      I thought you may like it on Science Sparks.. right up your street!

      Reply
  15. Terri says

    January 28, 2012 at 5:01 pm

    A terrarium has been on my “I want to make” list for a very long time! Now this makes me want to get going on it!

    Reply
  16. Kasia says

    January 28, 2012 at 5:08 pm

    This is a great idea. Our little garden in yoghurt cups died, so this is a great inspiration. Thank you

    Reply
  17. Crystal @ Growing A Jeweled Rose says

    January 28, 2012 at 6:56 pm

    These are great! Thanks for the detailed tutorial!

    Reply
  18. Rebecca @ Natural Mothers Network says

    February 2, 2012 at 12:18 pm

    Red Ted thank you very much for placing this post on Natural Mothers Network\’s linky: Seasonal Celebration! You helped make Seasonal Celebration a wealth of intelligent, creative and resourceful information and it\’s been such a pleasure for me and many others to read through each post. I am really looking forward to seeing you again Sunday evening or Monday! Rebecca x

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      February 2, 2012 at 5:46 pm

      Aaah thank you so much for the very warm welcome!!! And look forward to more sharing! x

      Reply
  19. Tatjana says

    February 2, 2012 at 12:31 pm

    Ooh, I love those! Goes on my list of “things to have in my own little home soon” 🙂

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      February 2, 2012 at 5:45 pm

      Most definitely!

      Reply
  20. charmaine says

    August 21, 2012 at 8:01 am

    awesome! i love the t-rex idea 😀

    Reply
  21. Nicole says

    November 5, 2012 at 8:49 pm

    Thank you so much for this, my husband also works in a cubical & is in need of something ‘Lively” making a few right now 🙂 so easy. Also collected rocks from the beach & the moss from the trees… so just had to buy the cactus soil & plants.. super cheap & THOUGHTFUL gift.

    Reply
  22. Melinda Suber says

    January 2, 2013 at 10:27 pm

    I just made this with my daughter and it was so fun. I will make this again for my friends desk.

    Reply
  23. EileenA EileenA says

    March 29, 2014 at 1:18 pm

    Love it, I’ll make it for my kitchen windowsill, and for gifts super idea thank you!

    Reply
  24. Maria says

    April 25, 2016 at 2:07 pm

    I just took a terrarium class from a master gardener, and she said to add 1 spoonful of activated carbon (can purchase at any fish tank supply store) between the rocks and the dirt. Just sprinkle it over the gravel/ rocks. It keeps the water and clean. They are so cute and fun!

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      April 25, 2016 at 6:20 pm

      Ooh thanks for the tip!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Simple Succulent Terrariums - Plain Vanilla Mom says:
    April 10, 2016 at 1:31 am

    […] you like more detailed instructions you can check out this post on How to Make Terrariums at Red Ted Art. I think they were the first post I saw many moons ago that put the idea in my […]

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  2. 18 garden GROWING ideas for kids | Mother Natured says:
    January 23, 2017 at 7:55 pm

    […] Mini jar terrarium – Terrariums are the best and they are so easy to make. […]

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