How-to video: Create your own terrarium

Creating a terrarium is an enjoyable family project and takes only a few minutes to assemble. Almost any glass container of any shape can be used, from a brandy snifter to a large bottle or, of course, a Wardian case. An aquarium is particularly easy to use, with a large opening that’s child-friendly. Covering the top with a piece of Plexiglas will reduce watering needs to almost nil.

Materials needed:

• Terrarium (enclosed glass container, such as an aquarium)
• Potting soil
• Charcoal
• Pebbles and decorative rocks
• Small scoop

• Dwarf ferns such as maidenhair (e.g., Adiantum hispidulum) and button (Pellaea rotundifolia) types
• Parlour palm seedlings (Chamaedorea elegans syn. Neanthe bella)
• Earth stars (e.g., Cryptanthus bivittatus)
• Carnivorous plants* such as Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) and sundews (e.g., Drosera capensis)
• Flame violets (Episcia reptans, E. cupreata and their hybrids)
• Creeping fig (Ficus pumila)
• Fittonia (Fittonia albivenis)
• English ivy (Hedera helix)
• True mosses
• Pileas (e.g., Pilea depressa, P. microphylla)
• clubmoss (e.g., Selaginella kraussiana)
• Miniature sinningias (e.g., Sinningia pusilla)

*Carnivorous plants are extremely sensitive to minerals of any kind, so use only rain or distilled water.

Go to page 3 to read a complete transcript of the video