Even if you feel like houseplants aren’t fit for your black thumb, you should try a DIY terrarium. A terrarium allows anyone to enjoy the benefits of houseplants in their home, without the same level of maintenance or fuss. Terrariums are easy to make, and are wonderful gifts to give away! Stick around to see how you can make your own DIY terrarium in a few easy steps today.

Before you start, you will need the following supplies:

• a glass vessel to house your terrarium {World Market has lovely options such as the glass and cement terrarium pictured above!}
• small rocks for drainage
• activated charcoal
• potting soil
• an assortment of your favorite succulents or other small plants
• moss, geodes, or other decorative items

Follow these steps to construct your DIY terrarium:

1. Place a layer of small rocks in the bottom of your vessel. In general, the larger your terrarium, the thicker the layer of rocks should be. Keep in mind as you add layers that you will want plenty of space left in the top of the vessel so that your terrarium does not appear crowded or overstuffed.
2. Add a layer of activated charcoal on top of the rocks. This helps keep your terrarium clean and bacteria-free. You can find activated charcoal for horticultural use at Amazon.
3. Now add some potting soil just deep enough to cover the roots of your plants. The type of soil will vary depending on your plants. Succulents need a soil specifically formulated for succulents.
4. It’s time to add the plants! Start with the largest of your succulents. Use the smallest ones to fill in any gaps. Have fun with it, because this is the best part.
5. Finally, add some decorative accents such as geodes or moss. This is optional, but really adds to the overall look of your terrarium.

For more tips on DIY terrariums, check out the World Market blog!