- 1). Wash and dry your container and collect your supplies. If you are using a plastic bottle, remove the label and cut away the top of the bottle about 6 to 8 inches up from the bottom.
- 2). Add a layer of pebbles to the bottom of the container. Depending on the size of your container, you will need a ratio of 1 to 4 of pebbles to soil. The pebbles will allow for proper drainage of the water from the soil.
- 3). Add a layer of activated charcoal about 1/2 inch deep. This will act as a filter for the water in the terrarium and help keep it fresh.
- 4). Add a layer of damp sphagnum moss. This will act as a filter between the soil and the charcoal layers, keep the soil from settling into the pebbles and keep the water flowing.
- 5). Add the soil to fill about a quarter to a third of the terrarium. The best soil to use is one part potting mix with one part sand. This will help the water drain to the bottom, but it is not necessary. There is also a potting soil made for planting cactuses that already has sand mixed into it.
- 6). Plant the seeds or the seedlings that you have picked out and add any decorative items to this part of the terrarium. Options include tiny plastic animals, glass marbles or tumbled glass. You can also decorate with another layer of moss.
- 7). Water the terrarium until the soil is damp but not drenched and you see the water beginning to drain into the pebbles. There should not be a pool of water in the pebble layer. Replace the top and place the terrarium somewhere that gets indirect sunlight. If you used a plastic bottle, slide the top part that you cut off over the bottom part that is holding the plants.
SHARE
