Terrariums add variety, depth, and beauty to your plant collection. You can easily make it at home using upcycled containers. Making an upcycled jar terrarium is also a fun and educational project to do with kids.
Upcycling is about using materials you already have on hand in new ways. Its usefulness is further increased by using a large jar that has already done its job. Even if a bottle’s final destination is a recycling facility, it’s better for the environment to reuse it and extend its life than throw it away.
About terrariums
A terrarium is a small indoor enclosed garden that creates a moist habitat in an environment different from your home. This means you can maintain plants that wouldn’t normally grow in your bioregion or home’s temperature. These plant containers require minimal care and maintenance as moisture stays in their habitat much longer than regular potted houseplants.
Terrariums are usually created in a transparent container with a lid. Some terrariums don’t have lids and have very small openings, while others use colored glass containers, but these options are not recommended for first-time terrarium owners. Terrariums usually should not be kept in very warm or sunny areas as they already create a greenhouse effect.
Materials needed
- Used jars (2 quarts or more): For a bottle, the bigger the better. For this tutorial, I used a pretzel jar. Extra large pickle jars (2 quarts or larger) work well.
- soil: If you have potting soil, add a little compost.
- rock: Place small stones or pebbles at the bottom of the terrarium to act as a water storage area.
- Used pantyhose (or moss, or other thin fabric): Pantyhose create a barrier between the rocks and the soil, keeping the voids between the rocks clear and free from filling with soil. Cut pantyhose to size with scissors and overlap them where needed to cover the entire soil. If you don’t have pantyhose, you can also use a thick layer of moss or another thin piece of upcycled fabric. Regular paper or newspaper will not work as a barrier as it will break down.
- plant: We recommend taking the jar to a plant store to see if your new plant friend will fit in your terrarium. Choose plants that like moisture and won’t quickly outgrow their enclosed habitat. Succulents don’t do well. some colorful things Plants that like terrariums Includes Polka Dot Plant, Prayer Plant, Ripple Peperomia, Nerve Plant, and Wandering Jew. Types of green foliage suitable for terrariums include many types of ferns such as Moon Valley friendship plant, creeping fig, arrowhead plant, golden clubmoss, baby tears, spider fern, button fern, and artillery fern . Check with your garden center for additional recommendations. In this tutorial, I used the Prayer Plant.
- scissors
- Trowel
- Newspaper (optional): If you’re working indoors, consider laying down newspaper for easy (compostable!) cleanup.
- glass cleaner and rag
Set up an upcycled jar terrarium
Step 1: Prepare the jar
Remove all food residue, remove the label, and wash the jar thoroughly with soap and water.
Add some holes to the jar lid. If you don’t have a drill, you can drill holes by driving nails into metal or plastic lids. I used a cordless drill to drill five holes in the plastic pretzel jar lid.
Step 2: Layer rocks, barriers, and soil
Add pebbles or stones to the bottom of the jar. Start with a layer of small pebbles, then add a layer of larger pebbles on top of that until it’s 1 to 2 inches deep. Place a layer of pantyhose, moss, or other fabric on top of the rock. Be sure to cover completely. Shovel in a mixture of potting soil and compost.
Step 3: Add plants
Dig a hole and plant your terrarium inhabitants. It is recommended to cut off leaves that have not reached their peak, as in the future the plant will not be easily accessible. You may also need to trim it to fit better in your new environment. Planting them in a terrarium can be difficult since you can’t reach inside the terrarium. You may want to use the thinnest trowel you have or a long-handled spoon.
Step 4: Clean up and water your plants.
Remove any dirt from the sides of the jar and wipe the jar clean. Do not use glass cleaner on the inside of the jar. Use only on the outside of the jar.
Water the plant and cover.
Enjoy your upcycled jar terrarium
Watch for mold and wilting leaves and clean them immediately. You may need to add more holes to the lid or reposition the planter.
This prayer plant grows in an enclosure and you don’t have to worry about cats munching on it.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on November 10, 2020 and updated in October 2024. All images courtesy of Maureen Wise.
