How to Make a terrarium

How To Make A Terrarium

Here are some great projects on making your own terrarium in a variety of different styles from a dish terrarium to a soda bottle terrarium or animal terrarium.

What is A Terrarium? A terrarium is a miniature landscape with living plants and even sometimes small animals like lizards or turtles. (But not usually people like terrarium man!)

How to Make a Micro terrarium - These tiny terrariums have become very popular over the past few years. They are small, easy to care for and easy to make. I have a complete tutorial that uses the smallest flowers in the world. How to make a Micro Terrarium

Here is a new tutorial on how to make a beautiful organic diorama terrarium. Very complete tutorial with lots of pictures. How to make an organic diorama terrarium

materials for making a terrarium The Fool proof guide to making a beautiful terrarium in one hour! And that includes a trip to the local nursery or Home Improvement Store

Popular Projects:

A Bottle Terrarium because it is a closed environment this project is more challenging.
A Soda Bottle Terrarium (Fast, easy, inexpensive and fun - nice project for kids.)
A Dish Terrarium This is an easy project and looks really good
A Large Terrarium suitable for pets A big project that takes some time but is a very rewarding project for you and a pet.
Choosing a terrarium animal
Big Glass Terrariums

A Moss Terrarium

A Moss Terrarium
I have just started working on some Moss terrariums and I have some thoughts, pictures and informatio on them. terrarium is attractive, fun to make and very hardy. Here is a complete tutorial on how to make one. Moss Terrariums

A Desert Themed Terrarium
This kind of terrarium is attractive, fun to make and very hardy. Here is a complete tutorial on how to make one.
A Desert Terrarium

A Terrarium for Kids
Some guidelines and tips for great terrariums that kids can make. Includes a learning sheet that explains how a miniature ecosystem works. Lots of suggestions for selecting a container and plants.
A Terrarium for Kids

How about Making a Sand Terrarium? You might remember making sand sculptures in glass containers. A web visitor has taken this technique and created a terrarium out of it. You can use the sand to accentuate the beauty of the plants in the terrarium. See a bigger picture and read more about it here. Colored Sand Terrariums

Here are some tips and great pictures on how to make your own glass terrarium. This page also includes an amazing terrarium that was custom made to fit into a window. Make a glass terrarium tips

A Big Glass Terrarium

Thinking about making a big terrarium? A Big Glass terrarium can be a challenge, but can come out spectacular. Here are some pictures and tips of big glass terrariums submitted by web visitors.

Here is another terrific project made by Badia A. It is a Wildlife windowbox terrarium diorama. It is a custom built box with a picture frame front that has small wildlife figures inside. It of course has plants too. See more pictures and get some ideas to make your own here: WindowBox Terrarium

Here are some fantastic terrariums made by a guest artist (Thyrza). You can get some great ideas from these terrariums. They show remarkable artistic talent in choice of container, choice and arrangement of plants and in creating small accessories from polymer clay - Thyrza's terrariums - Polymer clay is a wonderful way to create some fantastic scenes and accessories in terrariums.

Here is another great project submitted by a web visitor and based on my lightbulb tutorial. It is a desert themed terrarium inside a lightbulb. See a larger picture and get some tips on how to do this here: The desert themed lightbulb terrarium

Carnivorous Terrarium - Here is a carnivorous terrarium you can purchase from Amazon.com. I absolutely love the simplicity and the variety of this unique terrarium. The acrylic terrarium is 6 inches tall and 6 inches wide. Included in the kit are 3 live carnivorous plants, Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea), Sundew (Drosera), and Cobra Plant (Sarracenia). Plus we include the soil and instructions. Click on the picture or the name to learn more about it on the amazon.com website. Read My tutorial essay on how to make one

Book: The New Terrarium: Creating Beautiful Displays for Plants and Nature In The New Terrarium , Tovah Martin, one of America's favorite gardeners, introduces you to the whimsical yet practical world of gardens under glass-a no-fuss way to bring snippets of nature indoors. Wherever you are, in whatever little time you have, terrariums are the perfect tool for nature lovers and gardeners everywhere.

New: A Terrarium within a terrarium - Here is a great concept that a web visitor has suggested - Make a tiny terrarium and put it inside another terrarium. See more pics and read about these moss terrariums submitted by a web visitor. Terrarium within a terrarium

New Article Raising the hobby of terrarium making to an Art form. I have some thoughts, tips and techniques here on what to think about if you want to bring terrarium making to a whole new level. Terrarium as Art

Tutorial: Overview of Terrarium Building - The basics of how a terrarium is made

Looking for ideas on what kind of terrarium to make? Here are some suggestions on creative terrariums you can make. Creative Terrariums

A Wardian Case

The History of the Terrarium - They were invented by a Man named Ward and in his honor terrariums are often called Wardian Cases. I also have a wonderful selection of Wardian Cases available from Amazon.com both in table top size and floor model: Wardian Cases

New Project: The Ten Minute Zen Terrarium: A video and tutorial on how to make an attractive single plant terrarium in no time at all. I cover selecting the container and selecting the plant and show you how to make it quick and easy. The Ten Minute Terrarium

Want to add a pool of water and a waterfall to your terrarium or vivarium? Here are some nice pictures and ideas submitted by a web visitor who did just that. This terrarium is terrific. Adding a water pump to your terrarium

New (May 2009): The Single Plant Zen Terrarium - I call a terrarium with just a single plant in it a "Zen" terrarium because of the elegant simplicity and beauty of it. If you are looking to do something special but without a lot of work you might consider one of these terrariums. I have some pictures submitted by a web visitor and some thoughts on making your own zen terrarium

New Article: Low Light Terrarium Plants: Want to make an indoor terrarium for the office, dorm room, apartment or place that doesn't get a lot of sunlight. Here is a list of suggested Terrarium plants that will thrive in low light or indirect light.

Apothecary Jar Terrariums

Apothecary Jar Terrariums These Jars make stylish and very attractive terrariums and they are small enough for a beginner with a large mouth for easy access. A web visitor has submitted these pics of apothecary jar terrariums learn more here

Terrariums come in many different and creative shapes and sizes. You can make a terrarium out of practically any type of enclosure from a bottle to a wine glass or brandy snifter.

Although there are many/many varieties of terrariums they can be categorized into three different types:

Open Air Terrarium - This is a type of terrarium that is not enclosed. It has no top and it often has no sides. This type of terrarium is the easiest to make and can usually be done in less than an hour. The dish terrarium is the most common way this type is made.
Self-contained Terrarium - This type of terrarium is completely enclosed so it has its own unique bio system. This type is more difficult to make and to maintain. It is more of a challenge. Several factors make this more of a challenge such as making sure it has the correct amount of water inside and that it gets the right amount of sunlight. This terrarium also often has only a very small top opening which makes it a challenge to get all the plants and materials inside.
An Animal Terrarium - This type of terrarium is more of a showplace for a pet such as a lizard or a turtle. The goal of this type of terrarium is to mimic the type of natural environment the animal would live in. Often times this type has either a jungle or a desert motif.

What Type of Terrarium Would You Like To Make?

	A Dish Terrarium This is an easy project and looks really good

	A Bottle Terrarium because it is a closed environment this project is more challenging.

	A Soda Bottle Terrarium (Fast, easy, inexpensive and fun - nice project for kids.)

	A Large Terrarium suitable for pets A big project that takes some time but is a very rewarding project for you and a pet.

	How to Make a Carnivorous Terrarium - This can be a dramatic and fun project. Learn how
More Terrarium Information
	Using a terrarium as a learning tool for kids Ideas for making an Ultimate Terrarium Being Creative - Ideas for a theme terrarium An overview of the basics of making a terrarium Terrarium book Terrarium kits Terrarium Plants
	Classic Fish Bowl Looking for something that looks good and is easy to use for a terrarium? This classic fish bowl is perfect and inexpensive. Available at Amazon.com