{saturday craft: how to make a Terrarium}

Last Saturday I took a Terrarium 101 class at a local floral shoppe and guys, it was seriously amazing. I’ve been inside Amelia’s flower shoppe a couple of times, and each time I looooove to stop for a minute to breathe in the smell of rich soil. Even though I know I’m inside, being inside the shoppe makes me feel like I’m outside. So many unique and pretty plants. So much green, so much soil. Fresh rainwater. Local, handmade terracotta pots. Love love.

The decorating style inside is amazing. I’ll be back next week for a post just on that! :]

The Terrarium 101 class size was small, so it felt intimate ~ I met a new friend {Kerry? Carrie?} that came because she saw my tweet {blog post? facebook mention?} that I was going. So sorry to be sharing my poor memory *wink*. Anyways, Kerry, you should email me so we can meet up for coffee!

So this Terrarium class, it was the highlight of my week. I’ve wanted a Terrarium for a couple of years now but didn’t realize how easy they were to make. Etsy has a bajillion you can buy. And they sell the different plants/materials so you can make your own at home. So fun!

You need just a handful of materials and a few different plants [maybe 3-5?] to get started.

To begin, find a clear glass container to build your Terrarium in. You can seriously pick any size to work with ~ I think my glass bowl is about 12″ in diameter, but something smaller would be super cute, too.

Tip: Make sure your container isn’t colored glass. Something about the light coming in, it won’t be right for our plant friends :]

You will also need charcoal, sand and nutrient-rich soil. Layer your glass container with these items, in the order I listed them. The charcoal should lightly cover the bottom of the container, there should be about an inch of sand {for a 12″ bowl}, and then a good 1-2 inches of soil.

^ See how much I put in? Also, make sure each layer is put in evenly {you don’t want hills/bumps in your materials} and then be sure to pack the soil down a little.

I’ve also seen Terrarium-building instructions that have you start with pebbles, then build up with the charcoal/sand/soil.

Now it’s time to plant your pretties. You can use succulents, water-loving plants, ferns, moss, herbs. You can also add in a few rocks and place them on top of the soil.

I used a combination of the above mentioned plants. Be sure you know which plants are what, so when it comes to watering you don’t over/under water the wrong plant.

*Succulents need to be water 1x/month, water-loving plants need to be watered 2x/month. Use a long-spouted watering can so you place water exactly where you want it. Water directly on top of the plant.

When planting, be sure and allow room for growth. Don’t over plant. Move the soil around to dig a small hole with your finger for your plant to sit. Firmly {+ gently} press the plant down and then move the soil back so it nestles your plant nicely. For the first watering, it’s OK to over-water and to water everything. Re-planting is traumatic for plants so they need a little extra TLC ♥.

If you decide you don’t like what you planted, take it out! No big deal :] As your Terrarium grows you can make changes to it ~ trim the plants down if they get too tall/wide. Take some out. Add new in.

Care: Place your Terrarium in a location that receives some nice daylight ~ the middle of your dining room table is a perfect example. Your Terrarium will love you.

Yay — all done!

Since the plants you’ll use in your Terrarium will be smaller sections from a larger plant, I had the idea that you could make a few Terrariums at a time. Buy a couple different plants and split them among 3-4 different glass containers. The cost may be high for one Terrarium, but if you make a few at a time you could quickly make it less expensive.

Happy Terrarium building!
xoxo