This is our first year staying open during the month of January and I have to say, so far it’s been pretty successful! So thank you all for your continued support through this dreary month! We are continuing our FREE monthly Seedlings Garden Club for Kids in 2015 and have quite the line-up planned so don’t miss out! However, as always, if you can’t make it feel free to turn to our blog for that month’s project instructions…
This month we made Mason Jar Terrariums, and it was a huge hit. This project is so simple and can be done easily at home in any kind of glass container, with or without a lid.
Supplies
- Mason Jar, or any glass container (Lid is OPTIONAL)
- Small Gravel (fish rocks, or pea gravel would do)
- Activated Charcoal (OPTIONAL)
- Fresh Potting Soil
- Small Plants
- Items of interest (OPTIONAL)
Instructions
First you want to clean out and sanitize your glass container so that no existing bacteria can contaminate your new plants.
Then, IN THIS ORDER, you want to add enough small gravel to cover the entire bottom of the container to allow for drainage. Cover the gravel completely with charcoal (about 1/4 inch), this will filter the water draining down and keep your terrarium smelling fresh. Then cover the charcoal with potting soil, using anywhere from 1-4 inches of dirt depending on how large your container is.
You’ll then want to add your plants. Terrariums with lids help ferns, mosses and other “leafy” plants thrive by keeping moisture inside. They create their own “atmosphere”, by water evaporating out of the soil, collecting inside the container and on the lid, which then drops down into the soil again. Terrariums without lids are best for cacti and other succulents, which thrive in low humidity.
Lastly, finish off your terrarium with any items of interest, such as decorative rocks, tumbled glass, figurines, etc…
If you have a lid on your terrarium you’ll really only need to water it initially, because it will continue to water itself with the humidity trapped in the container.
If you have a terrarium without a lid, you’ll want to water every week or so as needed for the types of plants you chose.
Join us next month, Saturday February 7th, for valentines day planters. We’ll be painting up some decorative pots with lots of hearts and love for your special valentine.