8 Cool DIY Terrariums

Sunset Magazine

In these mad-for-crafts times, terrariums are hotter--and easier--than ever. Create your own tabletop garden in 30 minutes or less.


Brake fern and baby's tears
Brake fern and baby's tears


Tabletop jungle
Brake fern rambles above baby's tears in a Roost recycled-glass bubble terrarium from Velocity Art and Design ($121; velocityartanddesign.com).
More DIY projects


Conifer seedling
Conifer seedling


Tiny tree
A narrow conifer seedling shows off its columnar shape in a tall jar (similar Burken jar $5; ikea.com).
Gift plants--always in season


A mini green jungle
A mini green jungle


Half-dome
A mini green jungle of five-finger fern, lemon button fern, dwarf mondo grass, and Scotch moss thrives in a Terradome terrarium by Ric Lopez ($85; modernpast.com).
Intro to ferns


Assorted succulent cuttings
Assorted succulent cuttings


Dryscape

Assorted small succulent cuttings cluster in the Vibe glass canister from the Container Store (42-ounce canister $8; containerstore.com).
More on succulents


A single button fern
A single button fern


Leafy greens

A single button fern fills an Edda carafe with wooden-ball lid from Anthropologie ($38; anthropologie.com).


A tiny patch of Irish moss
A tiny patch of Irish moss


Moss mound

A tiny patch of Irish moss creates a velvety carpet in an Anchor Hocking Presence glass sugar bowl from Target ($3.50; target.com).
Decorating with moss


A little African violet
A little African violet


Wallflower
A little African violet blooms in the Wall Bubble from Flora Grubb Gardens (from $14; 415/648-2670).


A cool but temporary display
A cool but temporary display


Splash of lime

'Aurea' creeping Jenny makes a cool but temporary display in an Anchor Hocking Heritage Hill jar--it'll stay happy as long as it stays small (3-quart jar $27; amazon.com).
More on container gardens