A terrarium kit brings together what works as one

Building a terrarium takes around ten elements that all need to work together: a container with the right proportions, a drainage layer, a suitable substrate, plants with similar needs, moss, and tools to work at the bottom of the jar. A kit avoids the two mistakes that ruin a first attempt: plants that can't cope with the container's conditions, and compost that's too rich and starts to ferment.

Each kit matches a precise format. The tropical kits and the moss bottle close up: they create a small water cycle and suit woodland plants. The desert kit stays open, with a mineral substrate and succulents. The cork-stoppered jar has a wide opening, handy for putting together a first scene without any special tools.

What you'll need to do

Allow one to two hours to put it together, no particular skill needed. Work on a protected table, lay out all the elements before you start, and stick to the order of the layers. To understand each step, follow How to build a closed terrarium or the succulent terrarium tutorial.

Tools and misting

Long tweezers, long-handled scissors and a cleaning brush make all the difference once the container's neck gets narrow: they let you place a plant or remove a damaged leaf without reaching in by hand. The mister is for moistening the substrate at set-up, then correcting a drop in humidity, without ever pouring water straight onto the glass. The Watering a terrarium guide explains the rhythm to keep to.

Still unsure which format to choose? The Find my project quiz will guide you with four questions.