3

FORGE

YOU’LL NEED

Sealable glass jar

Pebbles

Activated

charcoal powder

Regular potting

mix

Small tropical

plants and moss

Spray bottle

with water

TOOLS

Make your

own terrarium

tools with a

cork, sponge,

and several

long sticks

Long tweezers

and radiator

brush (if you

have them)

One plastic plant

pot (to create

a funnel)

Once you have finished planting, use the sponge
tool or radiator brush to wipe off any soil residue from
the walls of your terrarium. A dry sponge or paper
towel works well.
Terrariums don’t do well when water is poured
directly over them. Instead, use a spray bottle and
spray inside five to seven times, going around in
a circle. This should be enough to start off your
terrarium. And voilà. Your terrarium is ready!

KEEP AN EYE ON IT
For the next two weeks, your terrarium will go
through a hardening period. During this time,

alternately seal it with a cork for a few days and leave

it with no cork for a few days. There is no strict rule

for this, but doing so will help your plants adapt to

their new environment and regulate the humidity

levels inside the terrarium. Monitor for any signs of

dying plants during this time and pluck them out or

replace. If any are to die, you will see it in these two

weeks. Water one more time after the hardening

period and feel free to leave the terrarium alone,

sealed, for a long while.

Now, you can sit back and watch the plants grow

and evolve. A terrarium is never static, and you’ll be

able to watch it grow and change over time – the

perfect green feature for your home.

Where you put your terrarium matters. Direct

sunlight will cook the plants and too little sunlight will

kill them too. Place the terrarium in a bright place,

but out of direct sunlight. A windowsill is perfect for

this. Also, keep the terrarium away from radiators and

avoid overwatering. If the plants get too large and

leggy, trim them back. Avoid letting them touch the

glass. To clean the terrarium inside and out, use a dry

cloth, and never use harsh chemicals.

Above

Think about the

height of your plants

for a 3D look

Below

The tools you need

can easily be made or

improvised

DESERT TERRARIUMS

You may have seen succulent and cactus terrariums.

Such terrariums require an open container and dry,

arid conditions that mimic their native desert habitat.

Effectively, they require the exact opposite to the

humid environment of a tropical terrarium. If you see

a cactus or succulent planted together with a fern, it

won’t last long!