As I mentioned yesterday, I spent some time this past weekend doing a little indoor gardening. Before I go on, however, I have a confession. In the past, I have made multiple attempts at indoor miniature gardens. I planted succulents in creamers and glass jars and tried terrariums in myriad containers and cloches. No matter what I did, my mini-gardens never survived.
This time around I decided to cheat a bit. I found a DIY terrarium kit that literally includes everything you need to make this adorable fern garden.
While I’m normally all about DIY, I thought this kit was a pretty good deal. I figured out that by the time I purchased all of the individual pieces for this, I would end up spending about as much, if not more. Plus, there are step-by-step directions so hopefully I did things right and can keep this bad boy alive.
However, if you are the die-hard DIY type, I will fill you in on the steps to create this.
First, you will need a container. I’m obsessed with this one because of its shape and gold color. Next, put in a layer of small pebbles. This helps with drainage.
Then, add a layer of activated charcoal. In a closed environment, such as that in a terrarium, the charcoal helps to filter the air and keep it fresh. On top of the charcoal, place a later of moss. This will keep the soil from falling down into your pebbles.
Next, add your plants and soil.
Finally, you can put in a few decorative items like reindeer moss and larger pebbles.
And that’s it. Pretty cute, right?
I think the completed terrarium looks totally awesome. Right now I have it sitting on my coffee table. Typically, terrariums shouldn’t get direct sunlight because can the plants can burn through the glass. I’m hoping this spot will provide just the right amount of light.
The kit also comes with a small sprayer bottle to add moisture when necessary.
If you want to recreate this look, you can find this kit by clicking here. If you’re not in a rush, keep your eyes peeled because now and then RedEnvelope has sales or offers free shipping. Gotta love that!
Have you been able to create a terrarium AND keep it alive? What’s the secret?
I wouldnt know about keeping it alive. Good luck though!
Hopefully luck is all I’ll need. Thanks Caroline!
xo Michael
This is great! I can never keep succulents alive? (I heard you couldn’t kill them?) I think I will try this! Thanks for the advice. I’ve been doing a little indoor gardening myself lately.
Any plant can’t be killed. Haha. This I know. I think most people tend to overwater succulents. They need very little and a good amount of sun.
xo Michael
I love this! I want to get a cute little terrarium for my daughter to take when she goes away to college later this fall. A kit would be so much easier. Very neat!
It totally is. It can be expensive buy all the ingredients you need anyway. Thanks Kari!
xo Michael
I love fresh plants in my house. I will be looking out for some sales from Red Envelope. I hope you will keep this plants alive and let your green thumb( palm ?) kick in, and keep us updated once in awhile how it is faring. As for myself, I only have 5 plants at home that are still alive from the tons I got. Good luck!
Ha, we’ve yet to keep a terrarium alive! We try and try and try… oh, boy. I hope you’ll give us an update in a month or two, and if it works for you, then we may have to give Red Envelope a try!
I too have killed many a houseplant. I still haven’t figured out the whole terrarium thing. I would love to try this one, but I am in the throes of trying to not murder the 2 fiddle leaf fig plants I bought a couple of months ago. I am hoping my black thumb turns green 😉 Can’t wait to see how your little fellas hold up. Keep us posted! Oh, and I LOVE the actual terrarium. It screams you!
love this look.
So pretty, love it!!
Pretty, but I am really loving those pom-pom coasters!!!
Erika, I spotted the little pom pom coasters too and want some!
Thanks Alice! I have a tutorial for them here: https://inspiredbycharm.com/2014/01/diy-wool-felt-ball-coasters.html
xo Michael
New here, and I love, love, love your blog design–so cute!
I am terrible with house plants…I kind of have a reputation for killing them. You have to water plants regularly? Who knew? I have a spot in my house where this terrarium would look amazing, and I think just maybe I could keep it alive.
Love this! I adore succulents and terrariums, and it wouldn’t have occurred to me not to put a terrarium in direct sunlight . . . glad for that tip. I don’t have much luck keeping plants alive, but I’m willing to give it a try! We did have a rather sturdy basil plant going in our windowsill for a while . . .
Too funny; Sherry at Young House Love JUST made something JUST like this without a kit. I can’t believe it! Great minds think alike I guess. 🙂 http://www.younghouselove.com/2014/01/oh-dear-can-he-breathe/
I know! I totally saw that. We were chatting about it on Instagram. Haha.
xo Michael
Love it and love the container. Geometrics are a hot trend this year! I have been wanting to make my own terrarium for the past year now ever since I saw them popping up all over Pinterest. I may have to check out Red Envelope’s kit as well. FYI: I purchased your rattan blinds and absolutely LOVE them. However it took my husband about 3 hrs to hang them on 3 windows because of our slanted window moldings.
Thank you! I’m loving it too! And I’m so glad you got the blinds! Aren’t they great? Bummer about the hanging time, it literally took me 5 minutes a window.. if that. I hope the work was worth it!
xo Michael
Love your photography! Which camera do you use, and do you have any online tutorial recommendations? I’m about to try Shoot Fly Shoot. Thank you! 🙂
Thanks so much! I used a Canon 70D. For wide shots I just used the kit lens, any close-ups are with my Macro EF 100mm 1:2.8
I just use YouTube and A LOT of practice to teach myself. Good luck!
xo Michael
Really love this! Can you tell me which plants you used? I see different ferns; but there are so many species…
I guess i see: davalia bullata and an aspelnium… But can you tell me if im right and the full names?
I have a 50cm big jar, so perhaps you know another fern i can use as well 🙂
Hope to hear!
Hi there! As I mentioned in the post, I used a kit from RedEnvelope. Everything came together, so I didn’t pick out the plants specifically. I made this a few years back, so I don’t remember the plants by name. My apologies.
xo Michael