Do-it-yourself terrariums

You'll be amazed to realize just what you can do when you create your own miniature garden inside a glass. Even children will love this activity as they watch their plants growing. Creativity unlimited!

You will need:

- Fishbowl or glass vessel of any size (drinking glass, vase, jar etc) of any size. - Horticultural charcoal (cut into pieces 3 cm x 3 cm), moss, zeolite sand and compost (all can be easily bought in any gardening store). - Plants of your choice (*see below for a guide). - Tools for planting such as scissors, plastic cutlery, brushes and chopsticks, newspaper to funnel the soil into the container and plants and water spray. - Decorative accessories: colorful rocks, sand, seashells, figurines, etc.

* Pick the right plants. Almost any houseplant will grow inside a terrarium. Consider, for example: cacti, begonias, small palms, miniature orchids, miniature ferns, ivy and other creepers, bromeliads and plants in the dracaenas family.

How to make a dry terrarium

1. Wash the glass container in hot, soapy water. Rinse and dry, then clean it with alcohol 70 percent proof to make sure your glass is sterile. 2. Create a charcoal layer on the bottom of the jar about 1 centimeter deep. 3. Add a 2.5-cm moss layer. 4. Spoon in a layer of compost of 5 to 7 centimeters. Dig small holes for the roots. 5. Take plants out of their pots, remove extra soil from the roots and trim damaged leaves. Place the plants in the holes and pat soil over the roots. Place taller plants at the back. If your glass has a small opening, use chopsticks to position your plants. 6. Add a zeolite layer of about 2.5 to 5 cm deep to cover the soil. 7. Dampen the zeolite-covered soil using the water sprayer. Be careful not to overwater. 8. Decorate with pretty rocks, colored sand, seashells and figurines. 9. Enjoy! Keep it in a light area, but out of the direct sun.

*To make a wet terrarium, the order for the layers is: zeolite sand (can be combined with colored sand) - charcoal - moss - compost. Place your plants after making the last layer. *Once every two or three weeks, place your terrarium in sunlight for four to seven days. To water your terrarium, use a sprayer. A small terrarium with few plants needs watering once every five to seven days. Water a bigger one with more plants once every three to four days.