Terrariums - Step By Step!

So you want to make a terrarium?

Here is what you need:

1 small bag of small stones
1 small bag of charcoal
1 small bag of soil
a few tropical plants of your choosing
1 clear glass or plastic jar with wide opening (so you can get your hand in!)

Instructions:


1. Wash your terrarium container with antibacterial soap, rinse well, dry.



2. Layer about 1" of stones at the bottom of your jar.







3. Layer about .5" of charcoal on top of the stones.




4. Place approx. 2-3" of potting soil on top of charcoal.



5. Decide where plants should go in soil.



6. Carefully remove each plant from containers and remove all excess soil off of roots.



7. Plant each plant carefully in terrarium container.



8. Water terrarium, if there is a lid, close it.


Care Instructions:
Water again every 2-3 weeks.
If condensation occurs on a regular basis, keep container open for a few hours to allow for evaporation.


Voila! You've got an awesome terrarium!

Oh...so...DIY!

About a month ago, one of my friends made two of our co-workers terrariums as "thank you" gifts and a week later, Etsy.com featured a seller who makes and sells moss terrariums in really great small jars.

Now those of you who know me know that I am terrible at keeping plants alive. I've successfully kept two hearty cherry tomato plants, three bamboo plants and one aloe plant from dying. Everything else? Has had a terribly short life.

I love greenery, I volunteer at my local community garden, enjoy nature and live by the only primordial forest in all of Manhattan. I would love to be able to have some well-kept plants in my apartment, things that do not need to be tended to frequently.

I looked up books on terrariums on Amazon and found one that comes out on my birthday! I thought it was a sign.

I was originally supposed to go to a "Bon Voyage Bush!" party tonight but my kidneys are acting up again, giving me some pain in my lower back, so I decided to go to The Plant Shed and pick up some soil, gravel, charcoal and small plants. I already have a few empty jars at home.

So I'm off to start my afternoon project! I will take photos and give detailed instructions in the next blog entry!

<3 Always,
--Taina