Welcome back to the Koopman Lumber DIY Project book! This time around we’re going to be taking a look at how to create your very own closed terrarium.
The awesome thing about creating closed terrariums is that the possibilities are as endless as your imagination. The combinations of plants, jars, and aesthetics you can have are vast, and creating any combination of them is easy and fun! So let’s take a look at how you can create a closed terrarium at home.
STEP 1: PREP YOUR WORKSTATION
STEP 2: BEGIN TO FILL YOUR TERRARIUM
On top of the gravel add a thin, 1-inch layer of charcoal. The charcoal helps to feed nutrients to the soil and keep it fresh for a long time.
Above the charcoal add a layer several inches deep of your potting soil. Make sure it is enough to house the root balls of the plants you’re adding. During this part, you can be a little creative since you’re effectively able to create a landscape. Feel free to play around with tiny hills and create dry river beds out of your leftover aquarium gravel. Terrariums are supposed to look nice and creative, so go ahead and make it look good!
STEP 3: ADD PLANTS
- Moss
- Baby Tears (also known as Angel Tears)
- Aluminum Plant
- Hypoestes
- Rex Begonia
- Many Species of Fern
- Croton
- Creeping Fig
Start by digging small holes for your plants where you want them to be placed.
Take your plants out of their containers and tease the roots apart gently, removing and excess soil. Now put the plant gently in the holes you dug. Gently nestle it into the new soil and help the roots to spread nicely. Pack soil in around the plants roots, patting it down gently.
Do this with every plant individually until you’ve created a nice little landscape inside your container.
STEP 3.5: DECORATE!
Extras
- Tiny Figurines and decorations
- Paint and a little paint brush
- Miniature Gardening Tools
STEP 4: CARE FOR YOUR PLANTS
Too Much Water
If the glass is steamed up and foggy looking there is too much moisture inside. Simply open the lid and allow the water to evaporate.
Too Little Water
Look at the soil, if it appears dry you can add a tablespoon of water, let it sit for a few hours, and check on it again. Keep adding water until the soil appears moist, but condensation is not blocking your view of inside the jar.
WRAP UP
We hope you’ve enjoyed this DIY Projectbook on creating your personal closed terrarium. The great thing about these setups is they are (usually) pretty cheap, and you can create as many as you want while incurring minimal maintenance! Once you do it a few times, you’ll notice that your terrariums are becoming more and more creative and beautiful.
If you have any questions about creating an indoor terrarium or are just looking for ideas, then feel free to reach out to us at http://www.koopmanlumber.com!
