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Terrariums-Part 4 Planting your Terrarium

© Diana Pederson

If you've been following this series of articles, you should now have a container, tools and plants. You are ready to turn these into a beautiful terrarium.

First, study your container. Does it have an obvious front and back? If so, this will determine where you locate your plants. If it doesn't, you will select a side to serve as your "back".

Second, determine the arrangements of the plants within the container. If it has a large top opening, this is easy because you can simply move the small pots of plants around until you like the arrangement. If the opening is narrow, you may have to settle for planning it out in your mind.

Third, begin filling the terrarium with your drainage and potting media. Lay down a layer about 1/2" thick of pea gravel or aquarium gravel. This provides drainage. Now, put down about 1/4" of horticultural charcoal which keeps the soil from developing a sour smell. Next comes the layer of your chosen soil mix. If it doesn't appear too out of proportion, use about 3" of soil. This should be enough for most fibrous rooted plants. Slope the soil from the back towards the front--I often have a 1 1/2" difference between the level of the back soil and the front soil. However, if your terrarium is round, you may choose to simply have a level planting surface. It is difficult to tell you exactly what to do because so much depends on the shape of your terrarium and the height of your plants.

Fourth, plant your terrarium. Use a spoon to scoop out the potting holes. The plant should be situated so the base of it is level with the top of your soil. Don't allow the plant's base to be above the level of your soil. Follow the same procedure with each plant.

If you have used a container with a narrow opening, you have to be creative to get your plants into the terrarium. If you are coordinated, chopsticks may be used to gently lower the plant into the opening. Wrapping it with a piece of paper will protect it from damage during this process and make it easier to slide it into the container.

Fifth, mulch the surface of the soil. You may choose to use a "living mulch" such as Baby tears or some other mat forming plant. Crushed stone or aquarium stone (in various colors) or even chopped bark make good mulches. Keep the size of the mulch pieces in proportion to the size of your terrarium.