Traditional terrariums are mini landscapes grown in glass bowls and jars or under a dome. They are a fantastic way to add plants to your interior spaces especially if space is limited but you can also take them a step further. For a fantastic feature piece, you can turn a glass-topped coffee table into a terrarium with a few adjustments and clever selection of plants. And don’t stop there, if you have a fish tank that’s been sitting empty, take it from aquarium to terrarium in a few easy steps.
Gather your supplies
• Fired clay balls
• Sphagnum moss
• Horticultural charcoal
• Potting mix
• Moss
• Plants
STEP 1 Build a grow box from marine plywood to fit inside the table legs. Reinforce the legs for the extra weight and line the box with a PVC pond liner to waterproof it. Or, you can use a pond shell in the base with ply cladding, then stain or paint it.
STEP 2 Create a base layer of fired clay balls. Soak sphagnum moss in a bucket of water then, working with a handful at a time, squeeze out excess moisture and spread a layer about 20-30mm deep over clay balls.
STEP 3 Pour a thin layer of horticultural charcoal over the sphagnum moss and spread it out evenly.
STEP 4 Scoop potting mix over the charcoal layer to about 150mm deep. Make planting holes, remove each plant from pot and place in hole. Backfill with potting mix and firm down.
STEP 5 Spray the plants with water to moisten the mix and help create humidity in the terrarium. Replace the glass top and you’re done!
Get the project sheet
Download the step-by-step instructions to this aquarium terrarium
For more gardening ideas, pick up a copy of the latest issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine in selected newsagents and supermarkets or buy online today!
If you didn’t catch the episode on TV, you can watch the full ep HERE on 7Plus
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