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Terrarium making
Creating small, self-contained gardens inside glass containers.
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Startup cost
$25–$100
Difficulty
Easy to start
Typical session
~60 min
Activity
Sitting / gentle
Space
A table or desk
Equipment
A basic kit
What do you actually do?
- Layer drainage, charcoal and soil in a jar
- Plant small moisture-loving plants or moss
- Add stones, wood and tiny details
- Maintain humidity and trim growth
Why people enjoy it
- A living thing you can keep on a desk
- Quick to build, rewarding for months
- No garden needed
What you'll need
- Glass jar with lid (closed) or open bowl
- Gravel or clay balls
- Activated charcoal
- Potting mix
- Small plants or moss
- Long tweezers or chopsticks
Startup cost: $25–$100 — a rough beginner estimate in US dollars (2026). Borrowing, secondhand and library kits can bring it down.
Time & difficulty
A typical session is about 60 minutes. Easy to start: you'll make something you're happy with on day one.
Getting started
- Pick a closed jar for humidity-loving plants, or an open bowl for succulents
- Layer drainage, charcoal, then soil
- Plant small, slow-growing plants
- Mist lightly and keep out of direct sun
Common beginner mistakes
- Mixing succulents with humidity lovers
- Overwatering — there's no drainage hole
- Placing a closed jar in direct sunlight
Accessibility
Seated and gentle; wide-mouth containers are easier for less dexterous hands.
Courses & resources
We haven't verified specific courses yet, so we're not listing any rather than guessing. Libraries, community centers and the official sites of tools you use are good first stops.