{
  "id": 36380,
  "title": "Forget high-maintenance houseplants: A DIY terrarium is a gorgeous centerpiece that thrives on neglect",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/forget-high-maintenance-houseplants-a-diy-terrarium-is-a-gorgeous",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-02T07:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Tom's Guide",
    "slug": "tom-s-guide",
    "url": "https://www.tomsguide.com/home/forget-high-maintenance-houseplants-a-diy-terrarium-is-a-gorgeous-centerpiece-that-thrives-on-neglect"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Building your own terrarium offers a satisfying and cost-effective way to create a miniature garden. With a clear glass container and a few key materials, you can craft a thriving ecosystem right on your desk or windowsill. Begin by selecting a suitable vessel – a wide-mouthed jar for dry-loving plants or a tall, narrow container to cultivate a lush, jungle-like environment. Clean and dry the container thoroughly before proceeding.\n\nChoose the style of your terrarium and plants accordingly. An open terrarium, lacking a lid, is ideal for succulents, cacti, and air plants that prefer bright, dry conditions. Closed terrariums, with their sealed environment, nurture mosses, ferns, fittonia, and creeping figs, thriving in a humid, rainforest-like atmosphere. Opt for young plants or cuttings from existing plants to keep costs low and allow ample room for growth.\n\nConstruct your terrarium in layers, starting with a layer of pebbles or gravel for proper drainage, followed by a thin layer of activated charcoal to maintain freshness and prevent mold. Add a few inches of potting mix – cactus compost for open terrariums and a peat-free houseplant mix for closed ones. Gently plant each selected plant, creating small wells in the soil and ensuring adequate spacing. Decorate the terrarium with decorative pebbles, driftwood, moss, or a unique stone to enhance its visual appeal.\n\nPosition your terrarium in a location with bright, indirect light, avoiding direct sunlight that could scorch the plants. Closed terrariums require minimal watering – open the lid occasionally to allow for ventilation, or mist lightly if the glass remains fog-free. Open terrariums need watering every one to two weeks, directed towards the soil instead of the foliage. Trim back any overgrowth to maintain the desired shape and size.\n\nThe beauty of a DIY terrarium lies in its affordability and the rewarding sense of accomplishment that comes from creating a living miniature world. For less than the price of a dinner out, you can construct a lush, self-sustaining ecosystem that demands little maintenance and continuously delights with its greenery.",
  "summary": "A DIY terrarium is a beautiful and low-maintenance centerpiece that thrives on neglect. With a glass container, some plant materials, and the right soil mix, anyone can create a miniature garden that requires minimal care. Terrariums come in two main styles, open or closed, each with its own set of preferred plants. Open terrariums are suitable for succulents, cacti, and air plants, while closed terrariums create a humid environment ideal for mosses, ferns, fittonia, and creeping fig. The construction process involves layering the terrarium with pebbles, activated charcoal, and potting mix before planting and arranging the chosen plants. With a bit of creativity and care, a DIY terrarium can be a stunning and effortless addition to any home.",
  "key_points": [
    "DIY terrarium offers cost-effective miniature garden creation",
    "Open terrarium suits dry-loving plants like succulents and cacti",
    "Closed terrarium nurtures humid-loving plants like mosses and ferns"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}