Hold a tiny microcosm of Mother Earth in your hands with this hands-on guide.
If you’ve ever dreamt of building your own tiny, self-contained ecosystem, this guide is for you. Terrariums are miniature worlds where plants thrive in harmony, creating a balanced biosphere that requires little to no intervention. Perfect for beginners and plant enthusiasts alike, it’s a hands-on approach to cultivate your own slice of paradise and enjoy the meditative effects of nurturing living things.
Step 1: Choose a Container
You can’t grow something magical in a lackadaisical pot. Choose a fabulous-looking glass container that makes your heart sing and let your imagination go wild from there. A miniature reproduction of a sleek glasshouse, a modern geometric glass planter or a vintage glass candle jar with a rustic feel, will all make perfect homes for a miniature forest, growing in perpetuum.
Step 2: Choose Your Plants
When choosing your plants, consider what kind of terrarium you’d like to build: arid, tropical, boggy, or woodland. Then, choose your plants according to their growing conditions. Adding plants such as succulents to a boggy terrarium will guarantee a soggy mess, so group your chosen plants accordingly.
Arid Terrarium
Environment: Dry, low humidity
Plants: Succulents, cacti, desert-adapted plants
Substrate: Well-draining soil, sand, gravel
Style Notes: Minimalist, sculptural, often open containers for airflow
Tropical Terrarium
Environment: High humidity, warm
Plants: Ferns, mosses, orchids, tropical houseplants
Substrate: Moist soil, perlite, sometimes activated charcoal
Style Notes: Lush, dense, often closed containers to retain moisture
Boggy Terrarium
Environment: Wet, marshy, consistently damp
Plants: Bog plants, carnivorous plants (like Venus flytraps, pitcher plants), ferns
Substrate: Water-retaining soil, sand, peat mix
Style Notes: Can feature shallow water layers or pools; mimics wetlands
Woodland Terrarium
Environment: Moderate humidity, shaded
Plants: Mosses, miniature trees, temperate ferns
Substrate: Moist soil with leaf litter, small stones, mulch
Style Notes: Often designed like a forest floor, cozy and shaded
Step 3: Add the First Layer — Gravel
The bottom layer of your terrarium should be gravel. This acts as a drainage layer which allows water to drain away from the soil and prevents plants from getting waterlogged.
Step 4: Add the Second Layer — Horticultural Charcoal
The addition of horticultural charcoal provides a natural filtration system which absorbs the build up of mildew and decay and keeps your terrarium clean.
Step 5: Add the Third Layer — Sphagnum Moss
Sphagnum moss acts as a barrier, catching any excess soil and preventing soil from sitting in water in the drainage layer, which may create a sour and smelly environment. A thick layer of sphagnum moss also acts as a sponge, providing moisture to plant roots without stifling them.
Step 6: Add the Fourth Layer — Potting Mix
Use a premium potting mix as a base for your terrarium, and add and mix organic matter based on the preferred environment of your chosen plants. Add sand to your potting mix for arid terrariums, sand and coco peat to boggy terrariums, and perlite and additional charcoal to tropical terrariums.
Step 7: Add the Fifth Layer — Gravel
A final layer of decorative gravel, fine pine bark, or coloured stones helps to finish off the design for your terrarium.
Step 8: Zhoosh it Up — Add Character
Adding flair to your terrarium allows you to make your terrarium distinctly yours. Moss makes a natural and attractive addition, while decorative figurines, driftwood, or shells add personality and help create a miniature world that feels unique.
