Creating a mini terrarium is a fun activity to do with children. Especially if you let the children make their own terrarium. This is an activity suitable for almost all ages. As soon as a child doesn’t put everything in his or her mouth anymore, it is safe to do.
What do you need?
- Glass mason jars with lid (Or another glass jar with lid)
- Green soap with water
- Hydro grains
- Active charcoal
- Fresh potting soil
- Small tropical plants
- Stones (decoration)
- Playmobil (decoration)
Our steps for a child-friendly terrarium
1. Clean the mason jars
First you start with a clean mason jar. The most convenient is to clean the jars yourself. Before you know it, children’s fingers accidentally drop the jar. We recommend cleaning the jars with a mixture of green soap and lukewarm water. Then dry the pots thoroughly. This way you avoid stains.
2. Cover the bottom
A terrarium starts with a layer of hydro grains. Sprinkle a layer of hydro grains with the thickness of about 2 children’s fingers.
After the layer of hydro grains you sprinkle a handful of active charcoal. Attention! Do not walk, move or shake the mason jar at this moment. The intention is to keep the charcoal on the hydro grains as much as possible.
After the layer of hydro grains and charcoal you can apply a nice layer of potting soil. A layer of potting soil with the thickness of 4 children’s fingers is enough.
3. Decorate it!
Now comes the favorite step: decorating the terrarium. The most important thing, of course, is to provide the plants with a place first. You can decorate everything according to your own wishes.
A Playmobil doll sitting next to the plant, an animal of Playmobil or simply made of stones and moss.
You can also play with height. Make a mountain out of the potting soil and put the plant on it. Or place the plant in a hole. The choice is yours.
4. A little more with the plant syringe
Are you and your child(ren) happy? Then the mason jar is about to close! However, there is still one ingredient missing for the terrarium: moisture.
Spray with a plant sprayer 2 to 3 times in the mason jar. After that, the lid can be put on. Not for long, because the first month the plants have to get used to it.
In order to get the terrarium used to the best possible way, you can use the following scheme:
- Leave the lid on the mason jar for 24 hours.
- After the first 24 hours, the lid may be removed.
- As soon as the lid has been off for 24 hours the lid can now be on for about two full days.
- After the two full days, the lid can be taken off again for 24 hours.
- Repeat this process for about two weeks. Remove the lid less and less often. You’ll see that the amount of moisture becomes more and more balanced. After a while you leave the lid on, and you won’t take it off.
Terrariums ready? Then you don’t have to do anything about it. In the closed mason jar, nature regulates its own needs.
