Plant a Succulent Terrarium

Terrariums and succulents are not typically mentioned in the same sentence. Terrariums are known for jungle-like environments with high humidity, and succulents are known to live in pretty much the exact opposite environment. However, with a few tweaks to the typical terrarium set up, your succulents will thrive and you’ll have a modern Pinterest-worthy patio feature.

You will need

• A glass jar with a large opening and no lid, for air flow
• Succulent soil mix
• Gravel
• Activated charcoal (available at pet stores)
• Fine gravel
• Succulents of your choice

Tip: Use a Lazy Susan when planting terrariums for easy access.

Steps

1. Fill the bottom of the glass jar with a layer of gravel.

2. Add a 1cm-layer of activated charcoal. This prevents the water from turning green.

3. Add another layer of fine gravel to cover the activated charcoal. 

4. Fill 1/3 of the jar with succulent soil mix. (The layer was 5cm deep in our jar.)

5. Remove each succulent from its pot and tease out the roots. Dig a small hole for each succulent and plant them, firming down around the plants. Leave some space between each plant for increased air flow.

6. Cover the soil with a thin layer of fine gravel in the colour of your choice and decorate with stones.

7. Water the terrarium. Keep in mind that the terrarium has no drainage and succulents have low water requirements – ensure you do not overwater. For easy watering, draw up some water through a straw and water the roots directly to avoid drenching the soil.

8. Place in a high-light area.