Photograph by Scott Waite
It is one of the quietest living things you can keep, and one of the most satisfying to look at at the end of a day.
Try this
- Find a clear container with a lid. A large jar, an old fish tank or an apothecary jar all work. Wash it with soap and hot water and let it dry.
- Gather a few supplies. A soilless potting mix with low fertility, a handful of horticultural charcoal, a long spoon, and a cork on a skewer for tamping soil (Penn State Extension).
- Choose small, moisture-loving plants. Moss, small ferns and other slow-growing woodland or tropical plants. Skip succulents and cacti; they don’t do well in closed terrariums. Buy moss from a nursery rather than taking it from the woods.
- Build it. Mix the charcoal into damp, not wet, soil, add enough to match your largest root ball, then plant the smallest pieces first. You can skip the old layer of rocks at the bottom; it is no longer thought to help drainage.
- Find it a home. Bright light, out of direct sun, which can overheat it. Mist lightly, wipe the glass, and close the lid.
- Watch the weather inside. A light fog that drips back onto the soil is a good sign. If it is heavier than that, open the lid for a day or two.
If it feels hard
- If something turns brown or fuzzy, remove it right away. Problems usually show up in the first few weeks and settle after.
- If you are not sure what to plant, ask a local nursery for small plants that like humidity.
Make it yours
- Alone: make it a slow project. Plan the layout on paper before you plant anything.
- With someone: build two small jars side by side and see how differently they grow.
- Low energy: a single cushion of moss in a jar is a complete terrarium.
- On a budget: reuse a jar from the kitchen, and ask a friend for a cutting.
Or try a small tank
If water appeals more than moss, a small planted aquarium is the terrarium’s cousin. About 10 million U.S. households keep freshwater fish (APPA). The one rule beginners need: let a new tank cycle for 2 to 6 weeks before adding fish (API Fishcare). The Calgary Aquarium Society’s beginner’s guide covers the rest.
Why it works
Living things in view change a room. In a study at Britain’s National Marine Aquarium, watching underwater displays was linked to better mood and lower heart rate and blood pressure (Prothom Alo). A terrarium offers something similar on a smaller scale: a slow world to rest your eyes on, one that asks very little in return.
Where to start
- Creating a closed terrarium (Penn State Extension)
- Beginner’s guide to fishkeeping (Calgary Aquarium Society)
- Public Garden Finder: many botanical gardens have conservatories full of terrarium-sized plants to inspire you
A jar of moss won’t change your life on its own. But it will be there every morning, quietly growing.
I hope this finds you well,
Scott