glass terrarium
There’s something intriguing about planting in glass. A terrarium is its own little world in a clear container, allowing you to see in. You can select a variety of colors for rocks and pebbles to add to the bottom of the bowl, or leave it looking more natural with just the soil and neutral rocks. An interesting technique is to use succulents that resemble coral for an under-the-sea look with seashells on top of the soil. Whatever you choose, a terrarium adds charm to any space.
materials
• Succulents (1 large, 2 to 4 smaller varieties)
• Glass bowl
• Diatomaceous earth
• Coconut coir
• Large decorative rock
• Small decorative rocks (top dressing)
• Moss (a few clumps)
selecting your bowl
One of the more crucial parts of creating a terrarium with succulents is finding a bowl that will allow the succulents to live as long as possible. It’s best to select a shallow bowl with a wide opening. This allows plenty of air flow and makes it easier for the pooled water to evaporate.
If you’re feeling ambitious and you want your terrarium to last more than a few weeks, drill a hole in the bottom of the bowl with a diamond-tipped drill bit to allow drainage. You’ll still need to be careful not to overwater, but this will keep your succulents healthy much longer.
Spread about 1 inch (2.5cm) of diatomaceous earth in the bottom of the bowl.
Spread a layer of coconut coir over the top of the diatomaceous earth, about ½ inch (1.25cm) thick.
Be sure not to mix the coir with the diatomaceous earth so that they appear as separate layers.
Spread half of your small rocks on top of the coconut coir.
Place your largest succulent in the bowl first. Add a little bit more soil to cover the roots.
Place the large decorative rock. If needed, this can help hold the larger succulent in place.
Fill in with the rest of the succulents and cover the roots with soil.
A terrarium tends to look best if the succulents are grouped together rather than spread out.
Add the other rocks to the bowl and use them to cover any roots.
Tuck clumps of moss around the succulents and rocks to create a finished look.
Place your terrarium in a spot that gets plenty of sunlight.
Water the terrarium when the soil dries out by pouring a measured amount of water, about half the volume of your soil, on top.