Bring greenery indoors with plants beautifully grouped under glass. The sleek presentation gives flora a contemporary spin and is also a terrific way to get herbs or seedlings off to an early start; when the time comes, remove them from the jars or cloches and transplant them into your garden. view a video of this project now!

Materials and Tools

Glass cloches

Mason jars

Garden pots

Plants

Moss

Potting soil

Charcoal, stones or fine gravel

Step 1: check out the local nursery

When building a terrarium, it’s essential to purchase plants that will flourish in humid conditions. tropical plants are ideal, as they flourish off of the moisture and sunlight they’ll be exposed to on a windowsill. speak with an expert at your local nursery for other options. I suggest small plants that can be potted in 4″-diam. vessels. stick to leafy green plants rather than colourful blooms for a modern look.

Step 2: collect cloches and jars

Vary the size and style of glass containers to keep the overall look loose yet stylish. I found a mix of cloches at Restoration Hardware and West Elm. They’re large enough to accommodate much more than one plant in a pretty grouping or a single tall plant, such as a white potted orchid. Scavenge through kitchen cupboards or thrift stores for mason jars big and small.

Step 3: build your garden

Use terracotta or clay pots in muted colours for planting. Don’t worry about scratches or chips — that all adds to the rustic “secret garden” look. mix fine gravel or stones with a bit of charcoal at the bottom of each pot or jar. (The stones help with drainage, while the charcoal mitigates odour from the dampness.) position your plants with a little potting soil, finish with a layer of pretty moss and organize them in front of a window. Then, don’t forget to water!

Cloches (orchid, fern), watering can, Restoration Hardware; cloche (white base), jar with handle, teapot, cups, West Elm; glass lidded vessel, Teatro Verde; console, Angus & Company; chairs, Elte; throw, Lothantique; vessel (on table), terracotta pots, black pot (orchid), shears (inset), Bacon Basketware.