How to Build a Tropical Terrarium

Clean the container with hot, soapy water, then rinse and dry it well. Place it in a location with bright but indirect sunlight to avoid burning the plants inside.

Put a 1-inch layer of pebbles on the bottom of the container for drainage. Cover this with a 1/2-inch layer of horticultural charcoal to prevent toxins from harming the plants.

Cover the drainage and charcoal layers with a thin layer of sphagnum moss to prevent the soil layer from mixing into the lower layers.

Add a 1 1/2-inch layer of potting soil. Build a hill in the center of a terrarium viewed from all sides, or make the hill in the back of terrariums viewed from only one side.

Set the tropical plants in various arrangements inside the terrarium before removing them from their containers. Place large plants in the back of terrariums viewed from one side, or in the center when viewed from all sides.

Bury the plants at the same depth in the soil as they grew in the containers. Keep the foliage off the sides of the terrarium container. Place decorative figurines, rocks, driftwood or other ornaments in the terrarium, if desired.

Mist the plants with a spray bottle to dampen the soil. Stop watering when you see water dribbling into the drainage layer.

Dry the inside glass of the terrarium and then cover the top to create a humid environment. If the container doesn’t have a lid, use plastic wrap or cellophane. Secure this in place with tape or rubber bands.