Tabletop jungle
Tiny tree
Half-dome
A mini green jungle of five-finger fern, lemon button fern, dwarf mondo grass, and Scotch moss thrives in a Terradome terrarium by Ric Lopez ($85; modernpast.com).
Dryscape
Assorted small succulent cuttings cluster in the Vibe glass canister from the Container Store (42-ounce canister $8; containerstore.com).
Leafy greens
A single button fern fills an Edda carafe with wooden-ball lid from Anthropologie ($38; anthropologie.com).
Moss mound
A tiny patch of Irish moss creates a velvety carpet in an Anchor Hocking Presence glass sugar bowl from Target ($3.50; target.com).
Wallflower
A little African violet blooms in the Wall Bubble from Flora Grubb Gardens (from $14; 415/648-2670).
Splash of lime
‘Aurea’ creeping Jenny makes a cool but temporary display in an Anchor Hocking Heritage Hill jar—it’ll stay happy as long as it stays small (3-quart jar $27; amazon.com).
Make it now
- Choose a clear glass or acrylic container, with or without a lid. Almost any size will work, as long as it’s big enough to accommodate your plants. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
- Spread a 1- to 3-inch layer of charcoal, gravel, or pumice on the bottom of the container for drainage.
- Add enough potting mix to surround plant roots. Gently settle the rootball into the soil, then firm it into place. Add more soil as needed.
- To water, gently spritz the soil around plants with a spray bottle, taking care not to overwater. If your plants love moisture, cover the terrarium to maintain humidity, but open it occa- sionally to prevent the buildup of condensation. For drought-tolerant plants such as succulents, keep the container open at all times, and water sparingly.
Plants that love glass
A good place to start looking for terrarium-friendly plants is the indoor section of your nursery. These growers love the humidity a terrarium provides: Ajuga, club moss (Selaginella), Fittonia, Hypoestes, maidenhair fern, miniature African violets and Sinningia, moth orchids (dwarf forms), Peperomia, and prayer plant. From the outdoor section: mondo grass, Scotch and Irish moss, and succulents.