Garden & Animals · Craft & Handwork
Terrarium
A sealed glass ecosystem that recycles its own water
In a sealed container the water cycles itself, so once built it can be left alone for months, which is the sharpest difference from any potted plant. Building is a one-off craft session: drainage, a barrier layer, substrate, moss and small plants, done in an afternoon. Too much water is the usual failure; constant fog means open it.
First stepLayer a lidded jar with drainage, a barrier, soil and moss, close it, keep it in indirect light, and air it for two days if the glass stays fogged.
Barriers
Cost to start
Under $50
Going deep → $300–2k
Alone or with people
On your own
Effort
Sitting
Without a teacher?
Self-taught
One session takes
1–2 hours
Where
At home
Why people take it up