How to Put Together a Tropical Terrarium with Fairy Flair

Last spring I put together a fairy lantern for my downstairs patio. I loved it so much that I decided to do a second one to keep indoors this year. But since summer’s on its way, I know I will be spending most of my time outdoors. With that in mind, I needed something that will not require a lot of attention.

I had a terrarium that sits empty at the moment and thought it would be the perfect home for some cute little fairies I found in a craft bin. My last terrarium was in a large bottle that a good friend had fallen in love with. I gave it to her as a housewarming gift and I never replaced it. But… today is the day so I thought I would share with you how to put together a tropical terrarium with a little bit of fairy flair!

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Terrariums can be any shape or size. Choosing the perfect one for you is a big part of the fun! It can be a simple greenhouse shape like the one I’m making today or a beautiful terrarium table and everything in between!

The Base

The purpose of a closed terrarium is to create an ecosystem where the plants can thrive with little intervention. To create such a special place, you need to have a good base to start with. You can accomplish this with just three easy steps.

• Step 1 Gravel – a layer of small rocks or gravel provides the drainage you need to prevent root rot in your plants. When learning how to put together a tropical terrarium this is the very first step to take and the very first layer inside.

• Step 2 Horticulture Charcoal – Spread a thin layer of horticulture charcoal on top of the rocks. This layer will soak up excess moisture and prevent mold inside.

• Step 3 Soil – The soil you choose should be determined by the plants you will be using. Tropical plants like I will be using today will do well with a coir, sphagnum moss or houseplant soil. ( For succulents you will need a soil with coarse sand for extra drainage. ) My plants are quite small so adding 2-3 inches of soil will be enough. You can measure the depth of the soil you need to add by removing your plant from its pot to see the size of the root ball. Keep in mind that your plants need room to grow.

Now with the base complete, it’s time to add your plants. When considering how to put together a terrarium, choosing the right plants is paramount to success. You are on your way to creating a mini rainforest so it’s important to choose plants that will thrive in that setting. The list below will help you do just that.

Plant Choice

• Ferns – As houseplants, ferns can be very tricky. It is sometimes hard to handle their intense need of moisture. That very trait is what makes them an ideal choice for a closed terrarium setting. The moisture trapped inside is perfect for these pretty little gems. There are several kinds of ferns that can thrive in a closed terrarium setting. Even the finicky Maidenhair would be a good choice.

• Pilea – Just like the ferns above, there are several different types of Pilea plants. One of the prettiest is the delicate baby tears plant. Another choice in this species is the Artillery Plant. Even though it is sometimes called a fern, this plant is actually a part of the Pilea family. Any nursery with a fairy plant department will have countless others as well.

• Vines – There are many plants in the vine family that also work well in a closed environment. English Ivy is a good choice and can serve as ground cover or can climb if you give it an anchor. The Mini Pixie plant is a good choice as well. Its arrow shaped leaves add an interesting look to any terrarium.

• Nerve Plants ( Fittonia ) thrive in a closed environment. They love the warmth, moisture, and humidity. The many types and the colors of their foliage make them a great addition if green is not your color. The Red Star Fittonia and the Pink Star come in dwarf sizes and are terrarium favorites.

Another great plant that does well and offers color is the polka dot plant. Flowering plants such as the African Violet are good choices for larger terrariums.

Make it Your Own

Now that you know how to put together a tropical terrarium it’s time to let your creativity take hold and have some fun! For me, fairies are the perfect thing to bring my terrarium to life. The fairies I found in my craft box were a hard plastic that I felt would stand up well to the humidity inside my miniature world. I checked and the fairies are still available on Amazon! They are just adorable!

After covering the soil with a bit of sheet moss, it was time to add the fairies. I took a river rock from some outside landscaping, covered it with moss, and it became a bench for one to sit upon.

The other fairy lays on a mossy hill and looks into a gazing ball that I made with a vintage drawer pull.

I added a pretty little butterfly and that would be all the accents my small terrarium could hold.

Terrariums are such a pretty accent all by themselves or as part of a vignette. The poem above is free for all subscribers to download and print by clicking on the picture below.

I added a fairy charm from an old necklace to the outside as a finishing touch. But… I felt like there was still something missing.

Lights! Just what I need to make my terrarium as pretty when the evening sets in as it is all day long.

Now that you know how to put together a tropical terrarium, it’s time to learn how to care for it!

Caring for a Tropical Terrarium

Part of the what makes a terrarium such a great home accent is the fact that they are so easy to maintain! Once you’ve completed your planting, you will want to carefully water each one just enough to moisten the soil around them. Don’t be alarmed if they look a little droopy for a day. It is simply a bit of transplanting shock and they will bounce back quickly. Once you’ve closed the lid, the plants begin creating their own ecosystem inside.

Until it is well established, however, you will need to monitor it on a daily basis. A tropical terrarium needs indirect sunlight, humidity, and a healthy soil to thrive. All these things work together with your plants to create the perfect atmosphere. If the plants look healthy after a week, leave the lid closed and continue to monitor. The plants will tell you when it’s time to water and how much they need. If they appear wilted you will need to open things up and check the soil. On the other hand, if it’s dry, then just as you would do with a potted houseplant, give it a drink. If the soil is still moist and the plants are wilting, they may be too close to sunlight. Try moving it a little farther from its light source. Inside the glass container, it may be heating up too much.

After a few weeks, you will have established your watering schedule. It is normal for droplets to gather at the top of the terrarium. That is your rainforest at work! If the glass gets foggy however, that is also a sign of too much water. A few small adjustments and your work is done.

Cleaning Your Terrarium

An occasional cleaning of the glass inside will keep your terrarium looking brand new. Using a mixture of water and vinegar will remove any white residue that accumulated from mineral deposits. Distilled water will help to alleviate that problem and is healthier for the plants in the long run. Be sure to give your fairies and any other elements a quick wipe down too! This is also a great time to open things up for an hour to refresh the air inside.

It may seem a bit intimidating at first but once you’ve worked out the kinks, there is little to do but enjoy the miniature world you’ve created. Watch closely… one day when you least expect it, you may even see the fairies dance!

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