grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

  • Home
  • About
  • Media
  • Crafts
  • Farm
  • Food
  • Garden
  • Reading & Books
  • Sunday Letter
  • SHOP!

How to Make a Terrarium and Survive Winter…

February 24, 2015 By Talya Tate Boerner 6 Comments

How to Build a Terrarium and Survive Winter

Yes, it may be frigid outside, but we shall survive winter and not let our green thumb’s get moldy. Can I get an amen? Winter is the perfect time to tend to your house plants, create a terrarium and divide/transplant those babies springing up in your pots. And if you don’t have any houseplants, go buy some as soon as possible. Plants add life to your home and help ward off the winter doldrums. Plus there’s that whole oxygen thing. Good stuff.

Did you know you can buy tiny terrarium plants on-line? Yep! Google terrarium plants and see what you find.

I’ve always wanted to make a terrarium, especially one in a glass cloche. I’ve been keeping my eyes open for these domed shaped beauties whenever I go to flea markets or antique stores, but they are impossible to find. Or, super expensive. I found this one sold by Modern Glass and Vase on Amazon for $17.99. Deal of the month I think! It’s heavy duty and exactly what I’ve been looking for.

They come in different sizes. Mine is approximately 7″ by 8.5″.

How to build a terrarium

Making a terrarium is not rocket science, but there are steps to follow and basic ingredients needed. If you don’t already have this stuff in your potting shed / garage / wherever, head over to your local gardening center. I promise, they will be thrilled to see you, (especially this time of year), and more than happy to help you gather these ingredients.

  1. River Rock
  2. Charcoal
  3. Potting Soil
  4. Moss

How to build a terrarium - step by step plus ingredients

Step One: Place a smooth layer of river rock on the bottom of tray or container to act as a drain field for excess water.

Step Two: Cover rock evenly with carbonized charcoal. Charcoal purifies excess water and prevents mold and fungus from growing (since there are no drainage holes).

Step Three: Add potting soil over the charcoal layer, 2 to 3 inches for planting. This was a bit tricky with a dome cover. I left a trench around the edge for the lid.

Step Four: Plant! Dig a hole with your finger and place plant into it. These are small 2″ plants. Not much digging required.

Step Five: Place sheet moss in water and get it moist. Cover soil with moss. Add decorations if you like. (Shells, marbles, etc.)

Step Six: Mist with water. Cover. Watch grow.

how to build a terrarium

That’s a big marble in my terrarium. Looks odd in the pictures, I know.

 

Keep out of direct sunlight. You may need to uncover occasionally and add a spoonful of water. I’m hoping that eventually mine will take care of itself, but I haven’t had it long enough to know yet. In the month or so I’ve had it, I’ve only watered it a couple of times.

This would make a wonderful gift too.

how to make a terrarium

Now, on to a few other ways to spiff up your indoor gardening and ultimately survive the long cold winter.

Place a glass bell cloche over a single plant to make it a focal point. This also reduces watering and provides heat. A mini greenhouse. I love this look.

indoor gardening ideas

Add small plants to vintage planters. I have a collection, many from my mother in law. Sentimental, kitschy and fun.

vintage planter

For something different, plant a tiny something in an unusual container. This miniature ficus is zen-ish. Anything that creates calmness can be a lifesaver when cabin fever sets in.

zen-ish planting / winter gardening

Yesterday we received another round of snow. I’m tucked in with my coffee, hoping to write a few words. Creating these little green spots helps satisfy my gardening itch during winter. Spring will be here soon. Stay warm friends!

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]How to create a terrarium and survive the long cold winter. [/tweetthis]

“Snow falling soundlessly in the middle of the night will always fill my heart with sweet clarity.” ― Novala Takemoto

Musical Pairing:

The Head and the Heart – Winter Song

sparking snow in Fayetteville Ar

my backyard – so glittery!

 

Filed Under: Gardening, Nature & Seasons Tagged With: glass cloche, mini-garden, terrarium, vintage planter, winter gardening

Wanna receive my monthly Newsletter? Sign up here!

Comments

  1. Barbara thompson says

    February 24, 2015 at 7:55 am

    This would be a great project for my granddaughter that likes to garden.
    Easy to follow directions…

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 25, 2015 at 2:06 pm

      Definitely Barbara!

      Reply
  2. Dorothy Johnson says

    February 25, 2015 at 10:18 am

    Love your terrariums ! I’m also drawn to those expensive cloches. Occasionally I see them in TJ Maxx for a reasonable price. This post makes me wish I had bought them!

    Reply
  3. fifa 16 hack says

    January 4, 2016 at 4:55 pm

    |}Think relating to World Cup and your head quickly turns to the yellow and gold. Who is able to forget Brazils all conquering 1970 team, arguably the competitions greatest ever team, or the 1982 classic of Zico and company? Or how about 1994 and the deadly Romario or the 2002 vintage of the great Ronaldo? Few others teams in sport dominate such World competitions the particular mind because Brazil national team.
    fifa 16 hack http://creditsfut.com/

    Reply
  4. Sabrina says

    December 17, 2016 at 4:39 pm

    Hi! I love the project and it was one of the more simpler ones that I stumbled upon but I was wondering as to why we should keep it out of direct sunlight. I thought that putting it where my windowsill would be the best option due to plants requiring light. Hope to get a response to clarify my confusion 🙂

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      December 18, 2016 at 6:50 am

      Hi there! Woodland type plants such as ferns prefer indirect bright light rather than direct light. If you are planting desert plants such as cacti, they will be fine in direct light. Hope this helps!

      Reply

COMMENT: Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Talya Tate Boerner


Hi! I'm Talya. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Baylor graduate. Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE

and

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law


Click to BUY NOW!

Gene, Everywhere

Never miss a blog post! Subscribe via email:

Receive my not-very-regular Newsletter?

Most Popular Posts…

  • Sunday Letter: 01.10.2021
  • My Favorite Reads of 2020
  • Keep in touch...
  • How to Make a Terrarium and Survive Winter...
  • Farm Art Friday: Boots on Fence Posts

Most Recent

  • Sunday Letter: 01.10.2021
  • My Favorite Reads of 2020
  • my One Little Word for 2021
  • Sunday Letter: 12.20.2020
  • I Made a Foraged Holiday Swag

Grace Grits index

Prior Posts

Search Categories

Tags

A to Z April Blog Challenge Autumn BAT Baylor Book Reviews childhood Christmas cotton creative writing prompt Dallas Desserts Eureka Springs Fall Fayetteville Food Gracie Lee Halloween home humor Johnson Family Keiser Lake Norfork Lucy and Annabelle Mississippi County Mississippi Delta moving Munger Place Nana Northeast Arkansas Northwest Arkansas Osceola poem Reading Schnauzer simple living simple things spring spring gardening Summer sunday letter Talya Tate Boerner novel The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee Thomas Tate Winter Wordless Wednesday
Follow on Bloglovin

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!

All content and photos Copyright Grace, Grits and Gardening © 2021 · Web Hosting By StrataByte