Here at Robert Kline Art, we love bringing the outdoors in, and what better way to do that than with a beautiful, easy-to-care-for succulent terrarium? Succulents are known for their hardiness and unique beauty, thriving in arid climates. With this guide, you’ll learn to create a stunning outdoor hanging terrarium that will add a touch of the desert to your home. Let’s get started!
Gathering Your Supplies
Before we begin, let’s gather our materials. Remember, you can always get creative and repurpose items you already have:
For the Terrarium:
- Glass terrarium: Choose a clear glass container with openings for ventilation. Don’t be afraid to get creative! A mason jar, an empty food jar, or even a vintage teacup can make unique and charming terrariums.
- Cactus potting mix: You can find this at most garden centers or online.
- Activated charcoal: This helps to prevent mold and keep your terrarium fresh. You can often find this in the aquarium section of pet stores.
- Coarse sand: This provides drainage for your succulents.
- Assorted succulents: Select a variety of succulents with different colors, textures, and sizes for a visually appealing arrangement. Some popular choices include jade plants, hen and chicks, and echeverias.
- Long tweezers: These will come in handy for placing your succulents in the terrarium.
- Paintbrush: This is helpful for gently brushing off any excess dirt from your succulents.
- Spray bottle filled with water: For watering your terrarium.
- Spoon: Useful for scooping and patting down the potting mix, sand, and charcoal.
Expert Tip from Sarah Green, Horticulturist: “When selecting succulents for your terrarium, consider their growth habits. Trailing succulents, like string of pearls or burro’s tail, look stunning cascading over the edge. Upright varieties, like echeverias or haworthias, make great centerpieces.”
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Terrarium
1. Preparing the Succulent Cuttings
- Taking Cuttings: Carefully take 10-12 small cuttings from your chosen succulents. Aim for a mix of trailing varieties, larger statement pieces, and smaller succulents for texture and color.
- Callousing: Allow the cuttings to sit in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight for a few days. This allows the cut ends to callus over, which is essential for root development.
2. Creating the Drainage Layer
- Sand and Charcoal: In the bottom of your glass container, layer about half an inch of coarse sand, sloping it upward towards the back to create a slight hill. Sprinkle a thin layer of activated charcoal over the sand.
Robert Kline’s Tip: “Don’t be afraid to get creative with the drainage layer. You can use colorful gravel, pebbles, or even broken pieces of pottery for a unique touch!”
3. Adding the Potting Mix
- Layering the Mix: Spread a half-inch layer of cactus potting mix over the sand and charcoal, following the same sloping technique as before.
- Moistening the Mix: Lightly mist the potting mix with water from your spray bottle. You want it to be damp but not soggy.
4. Arranging Your Succulents
- Planting: Now for the fun part! Use your tweezers or fingers to gently place the succulent cuttings into the potting mix. Start with the taller succulents at the back, then add the larger pieces, and finally, tuck in the trailing varieties.
- Securing: Gently press down on the potting mix around each succulent to secure it in place.
Caring for Your Terrarium
- Light: Place your finished terrarium in a bright area but out of direct sunlight, especially during the hottest part of the day.
- Watering: Water sparingly, only when the potting mix is completely dry. A light misting every 1-2 weeks is usually sufficient.
Enjoy Your Miniature Desert Oasis!
Congratulations! You’ve created a beautiful, low-maintenance succulent terrarium that will bring joy for years to come. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different succulents, containers, and decorative elements to make it your own.
Share Your Creations!
We’d love to see your unique succulent terrariums! Share photos of your creations in the comments below. And don’t forget to explore Robert Kline Art for more handcrafted gift ideas and inspiration.