Terrariums Part 1: Bits of Nature Under Glass

I’ve been wanting to try to make terrariums for a while. This weekend I assembled everything I would need to start some simple, fun terrariums. First, I picked out some vases/vessels that I thought might work. The only real requirement for a terrarium vessel is that it be glass. It can have a lid or no lid-both work.

I didn’t realize when I chose them that most of these vessels are pretty small. So Part 1 of my terrarium adventure was making SMALL terrariums.  Large terrariums will come next.

I bought most of my materials (sand, charcoal, soil, stones) at Valley View Farms in Hunt Valley. In addition to the purchased materials, I foraged for material (bark, pine cones, moss, twigs, rocks) in the yard, in my neighborhood on my evening walk and on this weekend’s bike ride.

The plants (air plants, succulents, ice plant, begonias came from Valley View, Breidenbaugh Farm, Plant Masters and from my yard.

So…this was my first terrarium. I loved it because it was made in a traditional “fish bowl”vase  filled with two types of sand, several kinds of stone and one lovely/lush succulent. Simple but very cool!  

This was my fave! I feel like a Killers song should be playing in the background!

This one would look great on a mantle with candles and other potted pieces.

This is a woodland scene inspired by our bike ride/hike through Robert E Lee park today. The cube is filled with blackened charcoal and sand and is planted with several types of moss.

I got this vase at Ikea years ago and it was always to skinny to use for much. This is a great little spot of nature to put on a window sill or office desk.

I had to use at least one Ball jar. This was a short, squat one filled with charcoal, moss and bark.

This was the last terrarium of the day. It was in a sideways spice jar filled with sand, bark, stones and moss.

I’m really excited about these terrariums because I think they are going to be great for centerpieces, home or office decor or for gifts. They’re customizable and require little to no watering. What could better? Who wants one?