Do you terrarium?

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

I've always been drawn to terrariums, their little living worlds seem so charming. When I was in Lahaska, PA a while back, one of their garden shops always carried a lot of terrarium plants and supplies. I thought this was an omen and so I purchased what I needed. They also suggested a book to read. I knew I already had what I thought was a little terrarium that I bought a few years ago that I would use to plant. It turned out I had a greenhouse, something to put potted plants in for humidity, but it's not made to plant right in to, the tray on the bottom is not deep enough. So the search was on.

My DH reminded me that there are a couple of terrariums I was supposed to take from the barn on the family farm in VA. So after making the trip down a few weeks ago and upon entering the barn, all he could hear was movement in there. He would have to go in and go upstairs to get my treasures. It turns out the barn was housing snakes all summer and even with my encouragement, it was not happening! Maybe this winter.. So the search was still on..

I came across a greenhouse in Ikea, larger than the little one I had. I thought maybe I could find a tray for it and for only $20, I thought it was worth a try! I checked all the garden centers, container stores, you name it! Then I found a tray of sliced pound cake in Costco, the tray fit but was a little shallow. I also cut down a window box liner that fit nice, but with it being solid white, I didn't like that it blocked the view of terrarium layers.

Here's the supplies:

I opted for the clear pound cake tray, building the sides up with thin flat rocks I had in the yard. The first layer is rocks, then charcoal, then soil. Then the fun part, adding plants and whatever decorations you want.

I bought some moss with the plants, but added some from my own yard. Here's the finished project:

It is already building up humidity inside and looks to be surviving nicely, but I'm still on the hunt for my dream terrarium, where pound cake trays are not required (we are still eating that pound cake!)! It's a fun way to get your gardening fix through the winter! And maybe I'll get my DH to get in that barn one of these days!

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Very pretty Janie.  And, I love the little turtle in the corner.

[Gail and Bailey]

Such a cute little garden!

[F, Calla & Luca]

What a pretty garden you created and a great how to. I have a huge old bottle on my front porch, at least two feet tall. It was my father's originally. It's heavy and has a fairly narrow opening. I have thought o making it into a terrarium but for all these years it sits and waits : ) not sure how I'd manage to plant it, sort of like a ship in a bottle.

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

Thanks! It was fun to do!

F, love the idea of a terrarium in a huge bottle, what a perfect enclosure! I'm sure you could manage with the stone and charcoal, they could even be mixed together. The soil could go in pretty easily, but then you'd have to set the plants in place somehow.. maybe with one or two of those extending forks?! I think you could do it!