Photography by Donovan Roberts Witmer
Of all the Martha Stewart talents I possess, I have to admit that a green thumb is not one of them. This, coupled with the fact that my husband and I live in the heart of Harrisburg with little more than a few square feet of outdoor space to our names, means that a garden is not a realistic aspiration for us. Still, there is something to be said for the joy of watching something grow and thrive under your care and keeping. With sunlight at a minimum in many abodes, you may find that a succulent is the perfect variety of plant for you. We certainly did. Follow these quick and easy steps to create your own low-maintenance, indoor garden: a succulent terrarium. Note: These look particularly perfect in groupings of two or three, or paired with some of your favorite decorative items on a coffee table.
Materials:
a glass container (a small fishbowl or antique milk glass for some fun flair!) small river stones charcoal cactus soil miniature succulents (try your local farmers’ market or nursery) moss (optional)
Tools:
spoon spray bottle with water
Preparation:
1. Start by adding a full, even layer of stones to a clean glass container. Follow with a layer of charcoal. These layers will keep your succulents from drowning via overwatering.
2. Add a bit of cactus soil, then nestle your succulents in the soil. Don’t worry about spacing the plants too far apart, as these plants often grow closely together.
3. Continue to spoon the cactus soil around your plants, patting the soil down as you go.
4. You may want to place a sporadic layer of river stones or some moss on the top, depending on the size of your container and how much soil is left visible.
5. Mist the plants with water and repeat once every 1 to 2 weeks, as necessary.
