Plant a Lush Terrarium

Have you ever looked longingly at a lush mini-forest contained in a fish bowl or a glass jar and wished you could have one for your home? Here's a bit of good news for you. These precious bits of green are quite easy to make. What's more, if you choose the right plants, you will have this beautiful landscape looking just as lush and full for a long, long time.

Gather your materials. You will need:

• A glass container (Start with a big jar if you are new to this hobby.)
• About 8 cups of activated charcoal pieces
• Potting soil
• Terrarium plants
• Sheet moss
• Watering can or a spritzer
• Trowel
• Chopsticks

Here are the steps you need to take in order to create a simple but truly refreshing terrarium.

1. 1
   Prepare the base of your container by filling the bottom with 2 inches of charcoal pieces.

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2. 2
   Combine potting soil and charcoal bits to make 4 cups of the mixture

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   Fill your container with this mixture until a third of it is full. Gently press the mixture as you do this.

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3. 3
   Place your plants on top of the medium, gently shifting their position until you find the right position for each piece

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   Remember to leave space between plants for soil and some growth.

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4. 4
   Push the plants in gently, then pack the soil around them

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   This is where a big wide mouthed container would be easy to work with, but if your container doesn't allow you to put your hands in use a pair of chopsticks.

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5. 5
   Lay the sheet moss on the potting mixture between the plant to simulate grass, and gently press the moss so that it is attached to the medium.

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6. 6
   Using a mister or a watering can with fine holes, water the plants and allow the potting mixture to settle.

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7. 7
   Put your terrarium in a well-lit place that does not get direct sunlight

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   Water only as needed.

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• It is best to use hardy, slow growing plants for your terrarium that you don't need to trim or change the plants too often.
• Some of the most popular plants for this type of gardening are the following:
  • The starfish plant, also known as Cryptanthus bivittatus. This grows to about 6 inches only, making it ideal for terrariums.
  • The low-growing nerve plant which reaches around 12 inches at full maturity, but is easy to snip off when a little trimming is in order.
  • Mini Peperomias, watermelon plants, Golden Club moss, and Black Mondo grass are all appropriate plants for terrariums.

If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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