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Tutorial: Spice Jar Mini Terrariums

Tutorial: Spice Jar Mini Terrariums | Red-Handled Scissors

Turn your empty spice jars into mini moss terrariums with this fun, simple Earth Week project. Tiny terrariums are the perfect way to green up your home decor, and they also make great recycled gifts!

Supplies:
* Spice jars, cleaned and dried
* Fresh moss or Dehydrated live terrarium moss, soaked per package instructions
* Dried moss
* Polished gravel
* Terrarium soil

Tools:
* Bamboo skewer or chopstick
* Plant mister

★ Please note that the links provided above are affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you choose to make a purchase after clicking through. ★

Tutorial: Spice Jar Mini Terrariums | Red-Handled Scissors

Step 1
Gather your terrarium supplies, then assemble the gravel, dried moss, and soil layers as shown above. Lightly spray the soil with the plant mister to dampen. (You will add the top moss layer in the next step.)

Important: Before you start your terrarium, make sure you allow enough time to soak and rehydrate any dry materials, including dehydrated moss, dried moss, and compressed soil. The soaking process generally takes about 3 hours.

Step 2
Once your layers are in place, use a bamboo skewer or a chopstick to artfully arrange your moss, pressing it firmly into the soil. When you’re done, place a few pebbles on top of the moss to add some color and finish off the landscape.

Step 3
Mist the moss lightly, then secure the lid. Place your finished terrarium in a shady spot where it will receive only filtered light.

To keep your terrarium healthy, spray it every 3-4 weeks (or more often if it’s hot/dry) with a plant mister. The moss should be damp, but never wet.

Terrarium tips:

• If your water is very hard or contains chlorine, you’ll want to use bottled water to rehydrate your materials and water your terrarium. Chemicals in water can burn moss and cause it to turn brown and die.

• Most mosses like filtered light or shade. Avoid putting your terrarium in a window or any location where it will be exposed to direct sunlight.

• Build moss terrariums in containers with lids. Open containers dry out quickly and require daily attention.

• If you’ve over-watered or notice a ton of condensation on the glass, open the top for a few hours to allow some of the extra moisture to evaporate.

In the mood for something a little fancier? Check out my Twig Terrariums Terrarium Kits review. (You’ll love them!)

Ready for more upcycling projects? Earth Week Roundup: Top 5 Upcycling Tutorials

12 comments

  1. Glenda M says:

    These are just darling. I can see my older folks doing them. They love live plants.
    Thanks so much for sharing such a beautiful unique project.

  2. Hey, I rarely leave comments, but it’s now winter and I have the itch to grow stuff. While the seeds to my herbs have only just been planted I need some thing green and beautiful inside. This is great. Also your link for the mosses and soil got me the best deal (Amazon Prime Member). Thank You :-)

    • Any dried or compressed materials should include instructions on the packaging for rehydrating the item. The amount of water needed, etc. can vary depending on the material–that’s why it’s a good idea to follow the instructions on the packaging–but I included the 3 hour time in the instructions because, when planning this particular project, it’s a good idea to keep it mind that it can take several hours for the materials to become fully saturated.

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