How to Make a Self Sustaining Terrarium

A self sustaining terrarium if you don’t already know, is a terrarium that can keep its self alive without needing to be watered. This is my favorite type of terrarium because it’s kind of a “set it and forget it”. It’s the best way for someone who doesn’t have a green thumb to have a little green in their life without the responsibility.

Terrarium Types

There are two types of terrariums. Open and closed. Open had no lid and needs to be watered. A closed, or self sustaining terrarium has a lid and needs little to no care or watering.

Terrarium Supplies

• Container– Glass is best , but plastic can be used.
• Soil, make sure you are using one appropriate for terrariums like this potting soil
• Activated Charcoal or later in this post we’ll talk about how you can make your own
• Weed block
• Rocks
• Terrarium friendly plants
• Natural items like moss/bark/ decorative rocks

Choosing a Terrarium Container

The first step in Terrarium building is finding a container. You can use plastic or glass. I think that glass make it look more expensive or elevated rather than using glass though.

There are so many options of terrarium containers you can purchase from places like amazon. For example I love these cute class containers with a work ball closure. There are also really pretty ones that are metal and glass that look like little houses.

My favorite containers to use though are ones that I find at Goodwill, there are always really pretty glass jars for a few dollars, or another great option is the jar that Adams peanut butter comes in!

Terrarium Drainage

For both an open and self sustaining terrarium you will need proper drainage. So your first layer in the bottom of your jar should be rocks. You can buy them from Amazon or a craft store. If you have river rocks in your yard like I do you could even go outside and collect some of those to use. You’ll want this layer to be about 2 inches, but this is just a loose suggestion.

Activated Charcoal

For a self sustaining terrarium you’ll want a layer of activated charcoal. You can skip this step for an open terrarium. Alternatively, if you’ve happened to just have a bonfire and have the left over crumbly black bits of the wood left over you can use this as your next layer. Before you put the activated charcoal layer you can lay down a piece of weed block on top of the rocks if you want to have a more defined looking terrarium where you can see all of the layers but this is optional.

What Does Activated Charcoal Do for a Self Sustaining Terrarium?

You may be tempted to skip this step, but it’s pretty important. The activated charcoal has a few functions. First, it keeps your terrarium from emitting a gross smell. Second, it helps filter the water in the terrarium, and finally it helps keep mold and mildew from forming. Moss can be used in place off activated charcoal, however it is not nearly as effect.

Selecting Plants for Your Terrarium

A few things to consider when choosing plants for your self sustaining terrarium are size, light requirements, do they do well in humidity.

Generally, you will want something that isn’t going to grow very big or quickly. Unless your terrarium will be right in a window it is likely you will want plants that can handle indirect light, to low light. Additionally since the self sustaining terrariums are humid on the inside of the container you will want plants that can handle the environment the closed container.

Where to Buy Plants for Terrariums

A few places to consider finding plants are Local nurseries, or plant shops, online shops, or propagating things you or a friend may already have. I bought mine from Lowe’s. They have a great house plant section and as I was looking for plants I realized that some of their tags mentioned they would be good in terrariums. I found this very helpful.

A list of Terrarium Friendly Plants

• Fern
• Jade
• Moss–I find this is my back yard ,but you can also purchase online
• Nerve plants
• Peperomia

You’ll want to plant your plants as normal in potting soil on top of the layers of rock and activated charcoal.

Assembling Your Terrarium

There are endless ways to arrange a terrarium. I like to lay out my plants before planting to get an idea of what things are going to look like before going all in.

Some options are using many different types of plants mixed with moss, branches, rocks, and other natural findings. I love looking for things to pick up and add to a terrarium on my walks with my dog. It’s like a fun treasure hunt.

Another option would be picking one plant using it as a focal point and adding some moss and other natural findings or even little action figures or something.

When I started building terrariums I started looking on Pinterest for ideas, you can look at my board here. I also checked some books out of the library to learn the basics ,but also to get ideas of how to design my terrarium. The books are Terrariums Gardens Under Glass and Miniscapes Create Your Own Terrarium

Watering Self Sustaining Terrariums

Watering at first is a little tricky. Once everything is in place and you are ready to close the terrarium, give it a good watering as you would if you would leave it open. Over the next few days you’ll want to watch your terrarium closely. Once a day the walls off the glass should have condensation on them like the picture below. If the condensation stays all day open the lid for a few hours so some water evaporates. If there is no condensation once a day add a little more water every day until the condensation appears. Once you get the amount of water correct you really shouldn’t have to open the terrarium again as the water is soaked into the soil and then “rains” back down, just like a little ecosystem.

You Should Make a Terrarium!

Terrariums are super fun to make. There are endless ways to design them, whether it is just a traditional terrarium, or has a theme like desert, woodland, fairy garden, dino land. If you get addicted to making terrariums like I did, remember terrariums make great gifts, even for people without green thumbs. I’ve given away several so far and everyone has seemed to love there’s. So give terrarium making a try it’s really creative, and with the endless possibilities it’s a lot of fun!