Last Updated on September 19, 2022 by Ellen Christian
This desert terrarium DIY craft was inspired by a craft I found in Terrariums Reimagined. Learn how to make a mini dessert planter of your own.
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Desert Terrarium DIY
We don’t have a desert in Vermont to enjoy and I had never seen a real cactus growing anywhere but in a pot before my recent trip to Texas. It was really neat to see cacti growing along the side of the road, and since I was missing the sun and warmth, I decided to make my own little desert.
Of course, it still isn’t warm and sunny in my desert but I can pretend for a while. I found this desert terrarium craft in Terrariums Reimagined: Mini Worlds Made in Creative Containers by Kat Geiger.
Materials
- Open topped glass jar or planter
- Gravel or Perlite
- Cactus potting soil
- Sand or gravel
- Grafted cacti or succulent plants of your choice
- Decorative materials
Instructions
- Pour Perlite or other drainage material into the bottom of your glass vessel until it is about 1″ deep
- Gently remove the cactus from its pot and place it with the soil on top of the Perlite.
- Add cactus friendly potting soil to the container until it covers the Perlite by 1″ and surrounds the bottom of the cactus root.
- Add colored soil or gravel until the soil and the top of the cactus root are covered. Adjust the plants so they are standing up.
- Add decorative objects.
- Lightly water your cactus terrarium with 2 tsp of water from a medicine dropper once a month. Place it in bright indirect light.
Variations on this craft
One of the fun things about making a desert terrarium is that each one looks so different. A variety of different containers can be used from a large fish tank to a small canning jar. You can choose any type of grafted cacti or succulent that you like. The decorative materials you add will really make your desert terrarium unique. I chose plastic horses since I was missing my them from my trip to Austin. Plastic lizards or tortoises could be added as well.
I found everything I needed except the glass bowl at our Home Depot. I used Miracle Gro Perlite, Miracle Gro Cactus Palm and Citrus Soil, and Mosser Lee Pearl Stone Soil Cover.
There are lots of different types of terrariums you can make including tropical, tilandsia and even children’s themed terrariums. If you are looking for more ideas or more in depth planting information on the types of soil for each type of terrarium, I recommend Terrariums Reimagined: Mini Worlds Made in Creative Containers by Kat Geiger.
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
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