4 of my favourite themes are:
- Fairy Backyard
- Woodland Hike
- Island Getaway
- Southwest Scene
Learn on to visualise every theme, gather provides, and make your individual mini backyard!
Fairy Backyard
Think about a magical place with surprises round each bend.
Pebble paths, toadstools on mossy hills, tucked-away cottages, and animals peering by way of lush foliage set the stage for a whimsical theme.

For a Fairy Backyard, use crops like:
- Meadow spikemoss (Selaginella apoda)
- Polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
- Rockfoils (Saxifraga)
These moisture-loving species thrive self-sufficiently in a closed terrrarium.
In case you select an open vessel, mist the soil totally each time it feels dry.
Woodland Hike
Image your self clad in climbing gear, utilizing your strolling persist with climb rocky outcroppings between whispering pines, whereas a swift river flows under.
These are the photographs evoked with a woodland hike theme.

For a Woodland Hike, use crops like:
- Child tears (Helxine soleirolii)
- Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
- Pennsylvania clubmoss (Lycopodium hickeyi)
These do nicely in a closed container. In case you select an open one, mist totally each time the soil is dry to the contact.
Island Getaway
Have you ever vacationed in a tropical paradise the place dense unique crops give technique to turquoise oceans and white sand seashores suffering from shells?
Bear this scene in thoughts once you create your island getaway.

For an Island Getaway, use crops like:
- Alpine balsam (Erinus alpinus)
- Dwarf creeping fig (Ficus pumila)
- Dwarf Western maidenhair fern (Adiantum aleuticum)
Purple waffle is one in every of 5 “clear air” species mentioned in our article on unhazardous houseplants.
A Observe on Moss
For lush, moist preparations just like the fairy backyard, woodland hike, and island getaway themes, moss is an ideal floor cowl between crops.
Its texture and shade variations are excellent for replicating hills and valleys.
The fern is nice for creating mini landscapes. The fronds add top, to provide the phantasm of a cover of foliage.
Southwest Scene
Astride a palomino on a pebbly, parched riverbed, cacti and succulents dot the panorama as you go.
Use this imaginative and prescient to vogue a Southwest scene so life like you may really feel the solar in your again as you journey.

For a Southwest scene, use crops like:
This association is ideal for an open terrrarium. Mist often.
For much more mini backyard initiatives to create at residence, we propose trying out the guide “Artistic Terrariums: 33 Trendy Mini-Gardens for Your Residence” by Enid G. Svymbersky.

Artistic Terrariums: 33 Trendy Mini-Gardens for Your Residence
This guide, accessible by way of Amazon, consists of ideas for getting began and sustaining your terrariums.
It additionally presents a set of DIY initiatives with illustrated step-by-step directions, thorough supplies lists, and useful ideas.
How you can Make a Terrarium
Now that you just’ve chosen your theme and applicable crops, resolve the place you’ll place your mini backyard when it’s completed.

If it is going to be seen from all sides, hold this in thoughts as you organize your crops in a means that’s pleasing to have a look at from each angle.
In case your container will probably be seen solely from the entrance and sides, make sure to have these sides present to greatest benefit.
Let’s start! For all initiatives, you’ll need:
Provides:
- Activated filtering charcoal
- Chopstick or pencil
- Shut-fitting surgical gloves (elective)
- Terrarium (closed or open)
- Ornamental sand (elective)
- Collectible figurines (elective)
- Lengthy tweezers
- Modeling clay (elective)
- Newspaper
- Pebbles or pea gravel
- Crops (see above)
- Applicable potting soil
- Sphagnum moss
- Tiny trowel or long-handled spoon
- Water mist spray bottle
Activated filtering charcoal is used to kill micro organism and deodorize your association.

Soil Dawn Horticultural Charcoal
We like Soil Dawn Horticultural Charcoal, accessible on Amazon.
Ornamental sand is elective for floor decorations, and miniature collectible figurines are an elective ornamental addition to assist set the scene.
Modeling clay is right to have readily available to create a base for containers which can be more likely to roll.
Newspaper is a wonderful asset for any gardening craft undertaking. I prefer to hold it readily available to unfold out earlier than I get began, to guard my work floor.
It’s essential to arrange your terrarium with the suitable soil.
African violet potting combine is an effective alternative if that is what you’ll be rising, or cactus mixes which can be mild and free work nicely for southwestern favorites like succulents and cacti.
And talking of African violets, you may study extra about propagating them right here.
Sphagnum moss is ideal for layering, and it turns out to be useful for floor planting as nicely.
Directions:
- Select a theme and choose applicable crops (see under) and equipment.
- Wash container, instruments, pebbles/stones, and collectible figurines with gentle dish cleaning soap and water earlier than meeting. Rinse totally and dry with paper towels.
- Unfold newspaper over your work floor.
- Determine whether or not you’ll use your vessel horizontally or vertically.
- Cowl the underside of the terrarium with a layer of pebbles adopted by an inch of activated charcoal.
- Cowl activated charcoal with a layer of sphagnum moss, then add two inches of applicable potting soil.
- Determine the place you need your crops, and use your spoon to make a small gap in your first one.
- Grasp the plant gently with tweezers or fingers. Trim off all however an inch of root size, and place it into the outlet, overlaying the roots, and tamping the soil down with the pencil or chopstick.
Make sure you place them in order that they don’t contact the edges of the container, and don’t attain the lid.

- Proceed planting till all specimens are within the soil.
- If desired, fill in areas between crops with items of sphagnum moss, tamping gently.
- Add ornamental sand, pebbles, stones, and collectible figurines to outline your chosen theme.
- Mist foliage and soil calmly and shut the lid securely for closed preparations.
- Place away from direct daylight.
It’s essential to keep watch over your new miniature backyard. If a closed container turns into utterly fogged, you will have overwatered.
