As many of you saw on Facebook and Instagram, we went on a giant lumber run this weekend, which means there’s a lot of building about to start in the nursery. But before we begin, the walls and ceiling need a fresh coat of paint, so we hope to have that done today and tomorrow and share an update on Monday. Three cheers for finally getting rid of those door-spray marks!
While we tackle the painting, I wanted to share a simple, anyone-can-do-it project that involves living things. The highlight: a tiny deer now lives in a tiny glass house inside our home.
Good news: he can’t die, but the plants around him certainly can. This project is partly an experiment to test whether low-maintenance plants actually exist, because I don’t exactly have a green thumb. Remember when I asked for help keeping my cacti alive? The surprising update: they’re all still alive over two months later.
How did I manage that? By mostly ignoring them. I’ve watered them once in two months. People advised me to give a little water only when the soil felt very dry, and I followed that advice to the letter. They seem to appreciate the restraint—at least they haven’t staged a protest by dying. Some of you even spotted them in last week’s chair post. Little cacti, well done.
Encouraged by that success, I felt bold enough to try another “set-it-and-forget-it” idea: a terrarium. I found an attractive glass container at a local shop a few weeks ago. It was originally sold as a light fixture but wasn’t drilled for wiring, so it was discounted. It practically begged to be filled with a few green plants and a small plastic deer. I thought, why not see if my black thumb can make and maintain a terrarium with minimal upkeep.
Here’s how I made it.
Step 1. Choose a glass container you like. A large jar or apothecary-style vessel works well for this project.
Step 2. I read about a dozen terrarium tutorials and noticed that versions including charcoal seemed most likely to remain self-sustaining. The charcoal helps filter the water and keep the environment balanced, reducing the need to open and water the terrarium frequently.
Step 3. I put together a short shopping list: gravel, charcoal, potting soil, and small plants. I grabbed potting soil from the garage and used some gravel from our driveway. I bought two small succulent plants at the home store and picked up a small bag of horticultural charcoal at a local greenhouse.
Step 4. Add an inch or so of gravel to the bottom of the container to provide drainage.
Step 5. Add about an inch of charcoal on top of the gravel layer. This helps keep the terrarium fresh and reduces the chance of mold or odors.
Step 6. Add two to three inches of potting soil on top of the charcoal, enough to anchor the roots of your plants comfortably.
Step 7. Place the plants into the soil, arranging them carefully and gently pressing the soil around each root ball so they sit securely.
Step 8. For whimsy, I added a tiny plastic deer to the scene. It’s a small touch that makes the terrarium feel like a miniature world.
Step 9. Lightly mist the plants to settle the soil and provide initial moisture. I splashed a little water inside and then sealed the container to create the enclosed environment.
It’s been over a week and the plants are holding up nicely. They haven’t drooped—in fact, they look a bit happier than they did in their plastic starter pots. There hasn’t been dramatic condensation or fogging of the glass, which is sometimes a sign that the terrarium’s moisture balance is off. At this point the verdict is still out on whether this will be a thriving little habitat or a damp, lonely tomb. I’ll keep an eye on it and report back.
I’d love any terrarium tips from people who have more experience, since your advice was great with the cacti.
Update: I discovered that another blogger recently made a similar terrarium using a kit. It’s a nice ready-to-assemble alternative and looks quite polished with decorative touches. Their photos were lovely and inspired me to try a simpler, budget-friendly version at home.