How to Make a Terrarium

Start with your terrarium or container, you can use anything you like, I would suggest a jar, open glass bowl, hanging glass bauble or glass terrarium.

Fill the bottom of the terrarium with a 1 1/2-inch layer of small rocks to collect the water drainage.

Add a layer of potting soil on top. It should be deep enough for the plants to root to, so about 2 1/2 inches.

Remove the largest plant from its container and dust excess soil off the roots. Using the end of a spoon, make a hole in the soil big enough for the roots and nestle the plant inside, tamping the soil down firmly to hold it in place.

Plan for approximately 1 plant per inch of container diameter.

Continue planting the rest of the succulents, working from largest to smallest. I found it easiest to start at the back and to work my way forward.

Finish with some landscaping. Place a few additional pebbles here and there to complete the look.

Use the same technique to create these beautiful bauble terrariums. I added some colour by using lichen found in the model scenics department.

Another simple and effective way to create a terrarium is by using jars or bottles. – these can be recycled from home or bought new at Hobbycraft. I've added some copper pebbles to mine and kept the arrangement quite minimalist.