Back when I was in high school, 5 years ago give or take a century, terrariums were all the rage.
And they are all the rage again.
Cool. Groovy. The bee's knees, I tell you!
All you need to make your own DIY terrarium is:
- a container
- gravel or small stones
- charcoal
- potting soil
- some small plants
- fun doodads to liven up the place
I bought my Anchor Hocking cracker jar at Walmart for $5 and change. It comes in different sizes and this one is the large 1 gallon size (for those huge saltines, I suppose).
I scuffed up the metal lid with sand paper and spray painted it to give it a more vintage look (I used Rustoleum's Lagoon color).
I have bought these jars numerous times over the years and always paint the lids and then all of a sudden they look like they came straight out of the 50's.
I added roughly ½ inch of stones on the bottom, followed by 1 inch of charcoal and topped by 2 ½ inches of potting soil.
Then I gingerly planted the plants, set my Adirondack chair and purple martin birdhouse up, misted the foliage with a little water and screwed on the lid.
I don't expect to have to water it again for a few weeks, if not a few months. A few years might be pushing it.
Wouldn't these make a great Mother's Day gift?
Add a box of wine and a card and you're all set.
Other posts you may enjoy:
DIY Terrarium Woodland Version
DIY Coffee Pot Terrarium
Rustic Log Bird Feeder
Sir Thrift-A-Lot
Those are cute! I'd keep the box of wine & just add the card, though.
Poquitolita
I love those jars. Just the laugh I needed today with the "Box of wine" line! We had one in our fridge growing up, right next to the 2 gallon box of milk!
P.
Would it be poor form to just email this post to my daughter? Because that would seriously be awesome for Mother's Day! "PS - Do not forget box of wine, but can skip card." No? 😉
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
I remember making terrariums, too (I'm so retro I just bought an African violet) and love the idea of the jar!
Musings from Kim K.
Love this and have to ask where you got the mini chair and birdhouse.
TARYTERRE
This is clever, indeed. Where do you get the doodads?
Carlene @ Organized Clutter
Very cute. I thought it was a vintage jar at first. Do the plants grow fast in there?
Robin Johnson
Pam it's adorable. I love it.
great tip on painting the jar covers, I have a few of those jars haning around. Can't wait to paint the lids a bright, cheerful red!
Melinda
So very cute! Love the chair and birdhouse.
M 🙂
Jo
Very cute - where did you get those cute embellishments - love the chair and birdhouse!
TracyMB @ Crows Feet Chic
So darn cute and I love the painted lid. Just wondering though, how do the purple martins get in?
Shabby chic Sandy
That's adorable--what fun!
Diane
I'm starting to see these all over as well. Love the chair and the little plants. So pretty for Spring!
awal.ny
I love the little chair and birdhouse. Terrariums are my in between winter and spring gardening. I think you gave me a great idea how to personalize my mother's day tea cup plants. Have a great week. Alaina
Pam
To answer the questions about my doodads - the mini Adirondack was one of those fairy garden pieces of furniture. The chair is resin and originally was brown, but I painted it white. And the purple martin house was one of those plant sticks that you'd decorate a plant with if you were giving it as a gift. It's resin too and then I just clipped off the extra stick part to make it fit in the jar.
I bought them both at a fancy garden center here in Columbus, but I would think any larger garden center would have similar pieces.
[email protected] Salvaged Treasures
Adorable!! I sure do remember the terrariums of yesteryear, so happy to see them coming back with a vintage twist.
Margaret
I love it!! Looks adorable. I must try making one.
Margaret
Ellie VanCaster
I so remember making lots of them, then making macrame hangers for them and gave the out for any possible occasion.
Everyone who got them were so sweet and never once said "No more please" 😉
Marissa
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!
Oh I wish you could come to my house, so that we could do this project together cause somehow I know I would ruin it.
I wish I was as crafty as you..
Debby
I might just do this for my mom. Did you get the doodads at a garden center. I did think it was an old jar. Thanks for all the instructions.