When should I water my terrarium?
Five questions about what you see: the glass, the soil, the plants. The tool tells you whether to water, wait or open the jar, and how to do it. Free, no sign-up.
Your result
Do not water
Water level: balanced
A light mist in the morning that clears during the day, and cool, moist soil: the water cycle is working. Change nothing.
- How to do it
- Leave the jar closed, where it is.
- Look at the glass in the morning, several days in a row.
- When to check again
- In a few days. Then run this check again.
- The guide that explains this advice
- Terrarium watering: how much and how often?
The page address keeps your answers: you can share it.
How it works
- Choose your terrariumClosed with tropical plants, open with leafy plants, or open with succulents. They are not watered the same way.
- Look at the glass in the morningIn a closed jar, condensation is the first clue. A light mist that clears during the day is the right state. With no lid, this question does not count.
- Touch the soil and look at the plantsCondensation does not measure the water at the roots. A finger in the soil and the state of the leaves complete the reading.
- Read the verdictThe tool checks your answers against the rules in our guides. It gives a verdict, what to do, and when to check again.
What the tool does not know
- The tool cannot see your terrarium: it is only as good as what you observe.
- It gives no volume in millilitres. No single volume suits every jar: size, soil and how well it closes all change the needs.
- It does not know the size of your jar, your plants or how warm the room is.
- It does not cover carnivorous plants, which have special water needs.
- It does not replace a diagnosis if there is mould, a smell or a rotting plant.
Guides to go further
- Terrarium watering: how much and how often?
- Terrarium condensation: too much mist or not enough?
- Terrarium too wet: how to save it
- Terrarium too dry: the signs and how to rehydrate it
Would you rather have a terrarium ready to build?Have a look at the terrarium kits.See the terrarium kits
Cite or share this tool
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
How often should I water a closed terrarium?
There is no fixed schedule. Published guidance ranges from every three weeks to every four to six months, depending on the size of the jar, how tight the stopper is and how warm the room is. Rather than follow a date, watch the condensation, the soil and the plants.
How much water should I put in a terrarium?
There is no right number: it depends on the volume of the jar and its state. Spray in small rounds, look at the colour of the soil, and wait until the next day before adding more. Adding water is easy; taking it out is hard.
No condensation on the glass: should I water?
Not automatically. A jar with no condensation is not necessarily dry. Touch the soil near the roots and look at the plants. If the soil is moist and the leaves are firm, wait. If the soil is dry and the leaves are drooping, rehydrate little by little.
Condensation all day long: is that normal?
A light mist in the morning that fades during the day is the sign of a working water cycle. Glass that streams from morning to evening means too much water: open the jar, let it dry, then close it again and watch.
Should I mist a succulent terrarium?
No. Misting wets the rosettes without reaching the roots. Pour a little water at the base of each plant, with a small spoon or a pipette, only when the soil is dry.
Which water should I use for a terrarium?
Water low in limescale is best: rainwater collected in a clean container, or demineralised water. Limescale leaves white marks on the glass as the water evaporates again and again.
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