Jam Jar Terrarium

Even when I’m not making soap, I always feel like I have to make something. (It’s a blessing, and a curse.) So last weekend I made these cute little terrariums (terraria?) out of empty jam jars.

I’ve been noticing lately that terrariums are a bit of a fad. They keep popping up on blogs that I read, and even Modern Mouse (a local gift shop that carries our soap) has tiny terrariums like these made by Tortoise Loves Donkey.

A tutorial I read recently for a light bulb terrarium really inspired me. But, having no burned out light bulbs (mostly curly fluorescents at our house) and LOTS of empty jam jars, I decided to clear off my kitchen windowsill and make room for my little friends.

I was done in about 30 minutes, including the time it took for me to hunt around my garden for just the right little bit of plant to snip and insert into its new home. I just layered some clean sand into each jar, then added some fresh potting mix and moistened. Chopsticks were handy for poking in the little plants. I used some Scotch moss, a bit of Sedum rubrotinctum (Pork and Beans plant) and some Sempervivum tectorum (Hen and Chicks plant). Some pebbles and found seashells round out the decor. You’ll notice that one of the jars I planted sideways, reminiscent of the light bulb terrarium.

I’m very happy with them. They add so much life to the windowsill. All it took was some reused glass jars, some common plant supplies and cuttings from things I already had growing at home anyway.  These would make great little gifts, or a nice way to bring a little green to a drab work desk!