Imagine a whole miniature world that you have created with your own hands. A terrarium is not just a beautiful interior detail, but a living, breathing ecosystem behind glass. Making it yourself is easier than it seems, and it is a fascinating activity that is accessible even to beginners.
You don't need any special skills or expensive materials. Everything you need can be easily found in a flower or hardware store. The process is similar to creative design, where you gradually assemble your little garden, selecting plants, stones, and decorations to your liking.
In this article, we will walk you through the entire process step by step: from choosing the right glass container to planting and caring for your plants. You will learn how to avoid common mistakes and create a terrarium that will delight you for years to come with its green freshness and soothing beauty.
Which type of terrarium to choose
Before you start creating a terrarium, you need to decide on the type of design. In terms of shape, the container is almost always a parallelepiped, i.e., a three-dimensional rectangle.
It can be placed on a table either vertically or horizontally. This is what the main classification is based on.
- In practice, the most commonly used are horizontal structures, those that stand on a table, like an aquarium. Such terrariums are used to keep turtles, lizards, spiders, frogs, and snakes.
- There are also vertical containers – in this case, the bottom is the smaller side. These are tall structures that are used specifically for certain insects or snakes that live in trees. Thanks to their height, you can create two or three tiers using branches to imitate natural conditions.
There is another division of designs into two types:
Frame – these are particularly durable and reinforced with wooden parts. They are suitable for making large containers for keeping large pets, such as turtles.
Frameless – consist only of glass, i.e., several elements glued together. They are suitable for breeding small animals, such as lizards.
Making a terrarium with your own hands is easier than it seems: just take a transparent container, lay drainage, soil, and plant suitable plants — for example, succulents or ferns. The main thing is to choose the right materials: stones or expanded clay for water drainage, high-quality soil, and plants with similar needs. Place the terrarium in a bright spot, but out of direct sunlight, and don't water it too often — it's better to under-water than over-water. With this approach, even a beginner can create a cozy mini-garden that will liven up the interior and won't require complicated care.
Terrarium dimensions
Along with the type of terrarium, you need to choose the size of the enclosure. On the one hand, the larger the structure, the more comfortable it will be for your pet. But on the other hand, in a city apartment, you have to save space.
When choosing the dimensions, you need to proceed from the minimum requirements for the terrarium. They depend on the size of the animal, as well as the number of individuals you plan to keep.
The table shows the minimum sizes for common animals (per adult).
| Animal | Length, cm | Width, cm | Height, cm |
| Agama | 90 | 45 | 30 |
| Common snake | 80 | 55 | 55 |
| Bird-eating spider | 80 | 50 | 40 |
| Royal python | 100 | 50 | 50 |
| Land turtle | 100 | 50 | 50 |
DIY terrarium
If you plan to keep two individuals, the dimensions can be increased by 1.5-2 times.
Before drawing up a plan, it is recommended that you carefully study the species you plan to breed (the animal's parameters, the possibility of keeping it with representatives of its own and/or other species).
It is important to understand that the length and width parameters can be varied within reasonable limits. But it is worth considering minimum volume requirements. For example, each newt should have at least 10 liters. As for height, the requirements are usually more stringent—a minimum of 40-50 cm. This is because many pets can escape if the height is less.
Tip! It is better to choose sizes with a margin, because some pets may grow larger than expected. In addition, it should not be ruled out that over time, other individuals will be added to them, including for mating.
Choosing glass and glue
Simply put, a terrarium is a container consisting of 5 elements glued together. Therefore, when choosing materials, special attention should be paid to the glass and glue.
Choosing glass
When choosing the main material, you can consider the following options:
Classic silicate glass – transparent, provides excellent visibility, easy to care for, and affordable. However, it is not very durable and requires great care.
Plastic – this material is inexpensive and not very durable, it does not completely let sunlight through, so it is not worth considering.
Organic glass – much stronger than usual, affordable, lightweight.
Aluminum mesh – durable, does not prevent air from entering. However, it does not look as attractive as glass and partially blocks sunlight.
Beginners are advised to use plexiglass. The fact is that it is very convenient to work with, cuts and glues well, and most importantly, it is quite durable. Even if there is a defect or chip, it is more difficult to scratch it.
Plexiglass
This is important! But you need to understand that sunlight and UV radiation in general have a negative effect on this material, causing it to become cloudy.
It is best to choose cast plexiglass, rather than extruded. The material is more expensive, but it is more durable. If this is not possible, it is worth using ordinary glass.
Choosing glue
The adhesive must be of sufficient quality, reliably fix the glass parts, and at the same time be harmless in composition. It is important to understand that it will come into contact with soil, waste products, and possibly water.
Silicone sealant
Therefore, it is best to use silicone sealant. It has many advantages – high quality, complete safety for humans and animals, good adhesion, and watertightness.
However, care should be taken when working with it, because drops that get on glass or other materials are extremely difficult to remove completely.
Necessary materials and tools
Other materials will also be needed to create a terrarium:
- different types of profiles – corner and H-shaped;
- stainless steel mesh with small cells – it is better to buy extra, optimally 2 running meters;
- degreaser for glass treatment;
- fine-grained sandpaper for thorough sanding of edges;
- painter's tape and transparent tape;
- gloves;
- paper towels;
- paper for wrapping the glass before breaking it
- felt furniture pads (for the bottom surface of the container).
You will also need tools:
Tape measure, ruler
Step-by-step assembly instructions
Step-by-step instructions for assembling a terrarium. Once all the elements and details have been prepared and the drawing has been drawn up, you can start building the structure.
The step-by-step instructions are as follows.
Step 1. Spread newspapers or plastic wrap on the surface. Cut the glass out of the black frame using a knife and clean it so that there is no black factory sealant on the surface.
Step 2. Discard the frame consisting of sealant, and be sure to wear gloves when working.
Step 3. Cut the glass to size using a set square and tape measure. You should end up with 5 pieces: 2 end pieces, 2 long side walls, and a bottom. Make the cut by pressing down on the tool so that the glass breaks cleanly along the line. It is best to practice on a test piece first.
Step 4. Some black sealant may remain, so it must be removed using a solvent. Apply the liquid to a paper towel and get to work.
Step 5. Thoroughly wash the glass under running water and sand the edges with sandpaper. Cover each glass edge with paper tape, leaving a 5-10 mm gap. This will act as a barrier to prevent the sealant from spreading.
Step 6. Apply silicone sealant to the edges of the glass so that it is only on one of the two surfaces to be glued. Connect the lower part (bottom) first to the side glass, then to the rear glass.
At this stage, it is better to work with an assistant. The second person will tape the structure with regular tape so that it does not fall apart.
Step 7. Glue the remaining walls. Next, remove the paper tape, as the sealant will no longer spread.
DIY terrarium
This completes the main stage of assembly. Now you need to move on to the next step. reinforcing the structure with profiles. The further sequence of actions is as follows.
- Measure the length of the profiles and distribute them. Corner profiles are used to reinforce the upper rear corners, and H-shaped profiles are used for the front walls.
- Take a hacksaw for metal, a miter box, and saw off the profiles.
- Glue the prepared profile using sealant.
- Next, work with the mesh—cut it so that its size exactly matches the gap left in the glass. Secure the mesh using the same silicone sealant. Place 3 corner strips on top.
- The part of the mesh that touches the upper edge must be pressed from the inside of the terrarium with glass. It should overlap the mesh by 1 cm. This part of the glass is glued with sealant to both the upper wall and the mesh.
- Once the structure is completely dry, you can remove any remaining tape with a degreaser. Glue felt pads to the bottom.
Note! Vertical terrariums are made using the same technology, but in this case, the bottom will be the end. In addition, you may need to adjust the size, depending on what pet you plan to keep.
Creating a terrarium is a fun and creative process that anyone can do. As you can see, you don't need any special skills or expensive materials. Just follow these steps: choose a suitable container, lay the drainage and soil correctly, and finally, plant some hardy plants inside.
The most important thing in this business is to experiment and have fun. Don't be afraid to combine different types of moss, stones, and driftwood to create your own unique mini-landscape. Your first terrarium may be simple, but it will definitely give you the joy of creation.
Don't forget that such a green corner is a living system. All you need to do is provide minimal but regular care: water it occasionally, monitor condensation, and sometimes turn it toward the light. Then your own man-made world will be a joy to behold for a long time and will become a great source of pride.
