One of the things we love to talk about most is the act of bringing the outdoors in. It's amazing how much warmth a simple plant can bring to a space — wait, what's that? You don't have a green thumb? Well it's a good thing you don't need one to be a terrarium owner then! Here's 25 ways to try out your gardening skills with the least amount of maintenance and lots of tips and inspiration along the way.
The idea of terrariums is simple. Find a container, add some rocks for drainage, possibly a little sand, add plants and you're done. That said, there's tons of different ways to present your creation and a few tips on different types of terrariums. There's oodles of info below, see which one is right for your home!
First Row
• How to Make a Terrarium With Sprout Home
• How To: Plant a Terrarium in a Jar
• Succulent Terrarium
• DIY Terrarium Using Old Picture Frames
• Terrarium in a Vase at Nouveau Classics
Second Row
• Great Idea: Cozy Terrarium & Photo Display
• Moss Terrarium Tutorial
• Vintage Terrarium Inspiration
• How To: Make a tiny terrarium
• Microcosmo Table Lamp: One Part Lamp, One Part Terrarium
Third Row
• 5 Terrariums That Are A Cut Above
• DIY Woodland Terrariums From Stephen Orr
• Dainty by Design: Terrariums by Lítill
• James Terrariums for the Modern Home
• Look! Simple Sorta Terrariums
Fourth Row
• DIY Moss Terrarium Kit
• Etsy Find: Terrarium Herb Kit
• Tabletop Terrarium
• Recycled Glass Terrarium at VivaTerra
• Terrarium Lamps
Fifth Row
• Modern Terrariums
• Lightbulb Terrariums and Planters
• Terrariums by Paula Hayes
• Kat Geiger Terrariums: Little Worlds in Old Glass
• Terrariums: Tiny Indoor Gardens Make a Big Statement
Image: Mat Sanders, Laure Joliet, Gregory Han, Country Living, Nouveau Classics, Elsie Flannigan, Art Mind, Naughty Secretary Club, Cottage Living, Microcosmo, Flickr members ex.libris and Ken Marten, Stephen Orr, Lítill, JeffreyJamesModern, Etsy seller Lady Farrah, Charlotte Cramer, Smith and Hawken, Viva Terra, Home Port, Pop Deluxe, Instructables, Paula Hayes, Kat Geiger, The Slug and the Squirrel
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I bought one from toHold on etsy. It's really pretty and easy to care for. (http://holidayhouserules.typepad.com/house_rules/2011/04/terrarium.html)
I made a real terrarium for right by my window and one using faux succulents for the back of my loft where there isnt much sun. Check them out here:
http://www.mintlovesocialclub.com/2011/03/fish-bowl-terrarium.html
http://www.mintlovesocialclub.com/2011/04/apothecary-jars-faux-succulents.html
Also, Rolling Greens in Culver City has a workshop area where you can make your own for a fairly reasonable price.
They're so beautiful when they're new!
The trick is choosing plants that stay small without too much fuss, which is why I like the idea of the moss terrarium.
For some color, I suggest a miniature sinningia - stays under 4 inches, and will bloom perpetually. Sooo cute!
Agree with everything Pat has to say.
Mini sinningias are too often overlooked when choosing suitable -maintainable- plant material for a terrarium.
Tillandsias, while they look great, are probably one of the worst choices.
i have a terrarium that had moss and succulents. i am worried about keeping the moss wet enough and drowning the succulents or watering the succulents only 1x month as with my other ones and drying out the moss. Are these two things meant to live together in a terrarium?
Where does one find the right plants for making a terrarium or other teensy garden? Or even a list of good plants to use?
Any mention of terrariums reminds me of an old Doonesbury cartoon from the early '80s: Zonker was babysitting someone's terrarium and he named it E.T. - Extra Terrarium.
checkout our terrariums available in the boston area, www.lynzariums.blogspot.com
I've got a tutorial for air plant terrariums on my blog. Air plants work great for terrariums
http://craftylittlegnome.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-make-air-plant-terrarium.html
ferns! why didn't I think of that. some moss and ferns will like the warm wet life in my covered terrariums.
I just got a little glass church shaped terrarium as a condolence gift after a family members funeral. I added some tiny animal figurines to cute it up a little.
I have been researching care and ideas for it. Perfect timing!
One source for plants -
robsviolets.com has an entire section devoted to plants that work well in terrariums - that is, they are slow growing, stay relatively small and thrive in enclosed humid conditions.
Air plants (tillandsias) need lots of air movement, or else they rot at the base, and are a really poor choice for terrariums.
How groovy!
oh, I should add, air plants worked really well for the terrariums I used which were with some glass globes from CB2. Air plants and succulents should not be placed in closed terrariums. These plants do not like a lot of moisture and need to breath!
We featured terrariums on our site too! http://blog.17thandriggs.com/2011/04/trendy-tuesdays-not-so-secret-gardens/
Here is a picture of what i make: https://picasaweb.google.com/corgimas/Bottle#5551239914117907890
5 gallon bottles....
I get all of my plants from Logees in Danielson Conn
and i when setting up my bottles they are planted through the neck- no seeds here!
and yes: tillys need more air circulation then what a container can provide....
remember to keep any planting you do out of direct sun!!!!!!
I'm making moss terrariums for my Woodlands themed wedding in Sept. I got the largest apothecary jars I could find (nice ones from www.save-on-crafts.com) and bought a bunch of diff kind of moss (www.teresasplants.com OMG she was so helpful). I'm putting teeny tiny rubber animals, clay mushrooms or found funky rocks in them to make each a lil diff. The biggest expense was the jar, but I think my centerpieces will be gorgeous and whimsical :)
Love the desert terrarium with white sand. I have to do one like that. I made one with pinto beans that you can see here: http://www.whartoninteriors.com/blog-0/bid/126745/Design-your-own-terrarium
A great source for terrarium plants is WWW.ENVIROCAKES.COM. They offer a 6 or 10 pack and you even get to pick which plant varieties you want. I was concerned about how they might look once they got to me but they were in really good condition. I bought a container from HomeGoods and my terrarium looks amazing and is really thriving. Very fun project!!