Terrific Terrariums! An Ecosystem in a Jar!

If you're anything like me, and enjoy flippin' through design magazines, I'm sure you've also noticed the sudden popularity of desktop terrariums... no, not the ones that house lizards and snakes... the ones with cute little plants inside! These guys are EASY to make and so fun to assemble to fit your (and your home's) style! Also, they're a thousand times easier to care for than a house plant. I went with succulents as my plant of choice, but there are many options.

(the following directions are for a succulent/cactus garden, but its all the same, all you need to do is swap out the cactus soil for regular indoor potting soil, and lose the sand)

You will need the following:

• an awesome jar/container/apothecary jar/any other creative idea for a container! (as long as it's awesome) ;)
• activated carbon (sold at fish/pet stores)
• pea pebbles
• cactus/palm soil
• succulents (go for the super tiny ones...)
• sand or gravel for the top (not necessary... but it makes it look "finished" if you ask me)
• small brush, ( a paint or makeup brush should do the trick. )
• and if you're feelin funky, possibly a tiny figurine to put in your tiny ecosystem! (Mine is a lil' man sitting on a log playing a guitar. Picked him up at a flea market in Brazil!) be creative! anything can work!

Step 2:

Clean and dry the glass container. Layer the bottom of the jar with 1 and 1/2 inches of pea pebbles. This provides good drainage for your little plant friends. "Learned the hard way" tip: WASH the pebbles first! You'll be surprised at just how dirty they are right out of the package and it will make your jar look the same.

Step 3:

Add a 1/2 inch layer of activated charcoal on top of the pebbles. This serves as a filter for the plants and will nix any odor or extra moisture.

Step 4:

Add a 1 inch layer of soil on top of the charcoal/pebble layers. Place your new plant friends in your desired arrangement and pull the soil back to plant em. Start with the smallest plants if you are planting multiple plants. Add enough additional soil to cover the plant's root system and fill the holes. After you've got em just where you want, even out the soil and press around the plants to insure they are snug as a bug in a rug in their new home!

Step 5:

Pour enough sand in to make a layer that completely covers the soil. (about 1/2 inch) then use that lil' brush to give your succulent leaves a nice cleanin'. Brush off all the extra sand and dirt and BAM! Terrarium project done!