Terrariums are an incredibly fun and satisfying gardening project. These mini self-contained worlds allow you to create a slice of nature in a glass container. And succulents make the perfect terrarium plants.
With their hardy nature and sculptural shapes succulents can transform an ordinary glass jar into a living work of art.
In this simple guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make your own beautiful succulent terrarium, step-by-step.
Why Make a Succulent Terrarium?
There are so many great reasons to try your hand at a DIY succulent terrarium:
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They’re low maintenance. Succulents are tough, drought-resistant plants that don’t need much care to thrive Perfect for beginner gardeners.
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Endless design options. With hundreds of succulent varieties to choose from, you can create any look and feel you want – from desert landscapes to mystical fairy gardens.
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Fits any space. Terrariums are compact and can liven up any tabletop or shelf.
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Makes a great gift. A succulent terrarium you’ve crafted yourself makes for a beautiful and thoughtful gift.
Step 1: Choose Your Succulents
With thousands of succulent species and varieties, the choices can seem endless. But here are a few tips for picking the best succulents for your terrarium project:
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Go for small varieties. Look for petite rosettes, low trailing succulents, and compact upright varieties that will fit nicely in your terrarium.
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Play with colors and textures. Mix different shapes and colors to create visual interest. Contrast spiky succulents with smooth, rounded varieties.
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Include trailers. String of pearls, burro’s tail, donkey’s tail are all trailing succulents that can cascade over the edge of your terrarium.
Some great succulent choices include echeveria, sempervivum, haworthia, sedum, and senecio rowleyanus.
Step 2: Pick Your Vessel
You can house your succulent terrarium in just about any clear glass container – from fish bowls to apothecary jars. Just make sure it has an opening to allow airflow. Consider:
- Size of the opening – is it big enough to allow you to plant inside?
- Height and width – allow enough space for soil and plants to grow.
- Shape – domed, spherical, rectangular, or geometric. Get creative!
Make sure to thoroughly clean and dry your terrarium container before adding soil and plants.
Step 3: Add a Drainage Layer
Succulents hate sitting in wet soil, so proper drainage is key. Start by adding a 1-2 inch layer of gravel, small pebbles, or lava rocks to the bottom of the container. This will allow excess water to drain away from the soil and prevent root rot.
Step 4: Add the Potting Mix
Use a gritty, fast-draining soil blend made for cacti and succulents. You can find pre-mixed cactus soil or create your own blend using equal parts of:
- Coarse sand or perlite
- Peat moss or coco coir
- Compost
Mound the soil above the gravel layer, leaving a few inches at the top for your plants.
Step 5: Include Hardscape Elements (Optional)
Decorative rocks, driftwood, sand, moss etc can help create a natural looking scene and visual interest. Play around with arranging any hardscape materials you want to include.
Step 6: Plant Your Succulents
Now the fun part! Start by gently removing any nursery soil from the roots of your plants. Use a spoon to make depressions in the soil for each succulent, then carefully place the roots into the holes and backfill around them.
Aim for variety in heights, shapes, and colors as you place the plants. Leave some space between each plant to allow them room to grow.
Step 7: Add Finishing Touches
Consider topping the soil with sand, pebbles or moss. You can also tuck in any decorative elements like shells, miniatures, crystals etc to complete your terrarium design.
Finally, give your planted terrarium a spray with water to settle the soil before admiring your work!
Caring For Your Succulent Terrarium
The self-contained environment of a terrarium means succulents need a bit less care than potted plants. Follow these tips to keep them thriving:
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Light: Place in bright, indirect light. Avoid full sun which can overheat a glass terrarium.
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Water: Wait until soil is completely dry before watering. Then soak thoroughly.
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Airflow: Open any lids or coverings once a week to prevent excess humidity.
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Fertilizer: Use a weak cactus fertilizer every 2-3 months.
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Pruning: Trim any overgrown or dying leaves/stems.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
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Mold growth: Caused by excess moisture. Allow the terrarium to dry out more between waterings and increase airflow. Remove any affected plants or soil.
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Leggy/stretching plants: Not enough sunlight. Move to a brighter location.
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Brown, wrinkling leaves: Underwatering. Soak the soil thoroughly when dry and remove any dead leaves.
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Rotting stems/leaves: Overwatering or poor drainage. Allow soil to dry out before watering again. Check that water can drain through the gravel layer.
Inspiring Design Ideas for Succulent Terrariums
The wonderful thing about succulent terrariums is you can get really creative with the design. Here are some ideas to spark your imagination:
- Mini cactus garden with sand and desert-themed decor
- Whimsical fairy garden with mini furniture & accessories
- Simple green array of assorted echeveria rosettes
- Tropical terrarium with air plants and preserved moss
- Minimalist concrete planter with a single sculptural succulent
- Eclectic mix of colors and shapes for visual interest
- Rock and crystal embellished succulents like living geodes
The possibilities are truly endless when making your own succulent terrarium. Let your creativity run wild!
With this easy step-by-step guide, you now have everything you need to create a spectacular living succulent terrarium to brighten your home. Have fun playing with shapes, textures and designs – and enjoy watching your mini succulent world thrive.
Pick the right plant
Choose a slow-growing and small plant for your terrarium.
Consider a range of leafy plants, succulents and cacti, picking the right one for your open (dry) or closed (humid) ecosystem.
Here are some suggestions, but there are many more out there:
- Air plant (Tillandsia stricta)
- Nerve plant (Fittonia)
- Meadow spikemoss (Selaginella apoda)
- Polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachy)
- Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum)
- Earth star bromeliad (Cyrpthanthus)
- Inch plant (Tradescantia zebrina)
- Hen and chicks (Echeverias)
Why not get creative and design a set of ‘scenes’, from a fairy tale woodland to an arid desert-scape?
Or keep it minimal and just have the one to start.
These miniature glass plant displays are an easy way to bring a bit of greenery into your home.
Feel like your living room could do with some plant love?
Terraria are enclosed glass containers with a beautiful display of slow-growing plants. They are a great way to get a dose of nature indoors.
These mini glasshouses are easy to maintain, and every creation is unique.
Terrarium, Emma Chandler © RBG Kew
You probably have a few glass containers around your house – from old jam jars to large pasta containers.
Pick any container that gives you enough room to get to a plant once it’s in there.
No lid? No problem!
Open terraria are better for cacti and succulents. Tropical plants, like mosses or air plants, fare better when you create a humid environment so make sure theres a lid closed on tight.
- Small stones or pebbles: Grab some gravel from your front yard for the base layer to help drainage along
- Soil: Potting soil is vital. Most soils will work fine for this, and you only need about a handful
- Activated charcoal: This might not be in everyone’s sheds, but easy to find. This will keep your terrarium water fresh and avoids bacteria growing
- A selection of small tools: pencil/chopstick, little trowels, long spoons will do
- Decoration: Anything you fancy to make it truly unique. Moss makes a colourful base, or little objects can bring it to life
- Plants, of course!
How to Make A Terrarium (Full Version) // Garden Answer
FAQ
How long do succulent terrariums last?
Succulent terrariums can last indefinitely with proper care. The longevity largely depends on the environment you provide, including appropriate lighting, watering, and maintenance. Succulents are slow-growing and can thrive in a confined space for years.
What succulents are good for terrariums?
- Anacampseros telephiastrum f. variegatum ‘Sunrise’ …
- Haworthia fasciata – Zebra Plant. $5.99.
- Corpuscularia lehmannii – Ice Plant. $5.99.
- Faucaria tuberculosa. $6.99.
- Haworthia attenuata ‘Super White’ $5.99.
- Crassula rupestris ssp. …
- Crassula ovata ‘Baby Jade’ …
- Crassula ‘Variegated Money Maker’
What soil to use for a succulent terrarium?
In the bucket, mix 2 parts coir with 2 parts sand and 1 part perlite. This is the soil that the succulents/cacti will grow in. The sand helps with drainage, as does the perlite. The perlite also helps prevents soil compaction, which promotes faster and easier root growth for plants.
How to make a succulent terrarium?
Succulents, including cacti, come from very hot parts of the world. This means that they require proper air exchange and low humidity levels. Because of this, you must choose an open container to make a succulent terrarium. A little enclosed terrarium with an opening might be also suitable for fewer smaller plants.
How do I create a terrarium of my own?
The first task of creating a terrarium of your own is selecting what type of plants to utilize. Many terrarium crafters will tell you that succulents are the way to go. Hardy, low-maintenance, and delightful in their range of textures and shapes, succulents are a natural choice for a terrarium, and extremely easy to use to make your own.
What kind of succulents can be planted in a terrarium?
Try to always choose smaller and slower growing succulents. Some great succulents for terrariums are: hens and chicks, jade plant, echeveria, aeonium, panda plant, zebra plant, dwarf aloe, Mammillaria cacti and so on (more ideas in this post). If your plant is too tall or large, you can prune it a little.
Do succulent terrariums require watering?
Succulent terrariums need to be watered less frequently due to the glass enclosure that acts as a mini greenhouse and keeps the water trapped in, causing longer evaporation times. I prefer this terrarium design because it has ample open space, preventing it from getting too ‘mushy’ or ‘cloudy’ inside.
Do succulents look good in a terrarium?
Succulents can look good in terrariums, but they might not be the best option. Other indoor house plants may thrive better. However, the success of a succulent terrarium depends on the design. For instance, a shallow terrarium with proper drainage would be more suitable for succulents.
How do you care for succulents in a terrarium?
Succulents need proper deep watering, but then need to dry out completely. To achieve this, water with around a quarter cup of water for smaller and medium containers. Alternatively, you can also heavily mist the soil. After you make your terrarium with succulents, place it in a bright spot without direct light.