How to make a succulent terrarium, the perfect spring time gift!

Who doesn’t love a succulent? From my years of experience working at farmers’ markets, all ages and genders react the same way to a little succulent sitting in a jar. “That’s so cute!” they say, eyes lighting up, hands automatically going to pick up the jar. Most are even filled with the confidence that they can keep it alive. They should be, because succulents are the easiest plants to take care of in my opinion, even beating out awesome air plants.

With this wisdom in heart, who needs some spring time gifts? I personally have birthdays, a housewarming, Easter and Mother’s/Father’s Day coming up. Fortunately, I have many succulent babies in my garden that are wanting to venture out and find new homes.

I want to share my process with you on making the perfect spring time gift.

How to make a succulent terrarium!

That brings me to Green Gifting Tip #2, Give a plant!

A native plant that benefits local pollinators or one that you have grown yourself makes a special gift and is very eco-friendly and affordable. I am going to focus on succulents this time, specifically hens and chicks, but the possibilities are endless for this idea. Make sure whoever you are giving the plant to has the right living conditions for the plant. For example, succulents need a lot of sun so your gift receiver will need to have a window or table that gets a lot of sun. If they don’t, consider a different kind of plant for them.

So you can either harvest your own succulent babies or buy a mom with babies at a store with a good garden section or local nursery. You want as many babies as you can get so you can use some as gifts and some for planting in your garden. Hopefully, next year you will have your own babies to harvest! This will save you money and resources in the future.

Watch this video, Transplanting baby succulents for making terrariums.

When harvesting young succulents try to get as much of the taproot as possible, but even small and fine roots will take most of the time.

Supplies needed: baby succulents, clean and pretty jars or glass containers (try to re-purpose ones you already have), pebbles (needed for drainage), cactus/succulent potting soil, charcoal (soil conditioner), pretty topping material (try using sand, tiny shells, more pebbles or beach glass), decorative items (gemstones, driftwood, larger shells, mushrooms, fairies, animals, etc.). Think of the person you are making it for and what kinds of things or colors they like.

Here’s another video to help you out, How to make a succulent terrarium!

Basically, you will just be layering your supplies. Start with about 1/2 inch of clean pebbles at the bottom of the jar. Then add a teaspoon or tablespoon (depending on size of jar) of charcoal to the center of the pebbles. Cover with soil, leaving about ¾ inch space from top of jar. Create a hole in the center of the soil with your finger and add your baby succulent. Push soil back to center, next to succulent. Top with sand, pebbles or tiny shells and add pretty things. Dribble a little water over the plant, put in a sunny window and you are done!

I highly recommend making your terrarium a couple of weeks before you want to gift it, just to make sure that the little plant took to the transplant and is thriving in its’ new home. Sometimes they fail to thrive for different reasons. I always make more than one at a time, and then I always have a cute gift ready for giving.

Basic care for succulents: they need lots of natural sunshine, good drainage and a little water.

Let the soil dry out really well before watering again.

Here’s the last video for the day, Eco-friendly tips for making succulent terrariums.

To save money and resources, try not buying anything for this gift idea. You might already have all of the supplies, or maybe someone you know does. They might be wanting to get rid of things. You can later give them a succulent terrarium as a thank you!

Another idea for giving succulents is to take starts from your own plants, in particular jade varieties, and put them in pretty glass or ceramic vases filled with water, like the two pictured below. They can live like this for years.

If you want to give a terrarium but don’t want to make one yourself, I offer some terrarium kits that come with hardy, little air plants. You can see all 5 designs here.

Finally, I want to encourage you to get outside and see what’s growing in your yard for inspiration. If you don’t have a yard, take a walk thru a park or the woods. Spring time is the best time for giving a plant, offering earth, life and beauty!

From my heart to yours,

Brigitte