How to make a terrarium

I know it is almost Thanksgiving, but this is a left over summer type project!

I made a terrarium today...I used to always have one, but haven't for years.  So when I cleaned out my pots this fall I saved some creeping jenny and a small fern shoot to use for the terrarium.  I found the gallon glass jug at Goodwill for 50 cents and thought it would be perfect.

First of all I put some gravel inside the jug, spreading it out evenly.  I used a knitting needle to do my spreading and arranging of the plants.

I added about 2 tablespoons of charcoal (I had some for a fish tank filter so I used it)...this helps somehow but really I can't remember, I just have always done this to my terrariums.  Then I added about an inch of potting soil.

and removed as much of the soil from my fern that I could by shaking it gently.  I did this so that I could fit it into the narrow opening of the jug.

Then I stuffed (yup, that is what has to happen here, sounds cruel, but the plants never seem to mind) the plant into the opening and drop it into the bottom.

Putting the creeping jenny in was easier because I had it rooting in water for a few weeks, so there was no dirt to contend with.

I added another two inches of soil and used my knitting needle to tamp down the soil around the plant roots.

Now, use a spray bottle to spray the inside of the glass to remove the dirt from the sides of the jug. Spray enough so the water runs down and washes the dirt down the sides of the jug.

I added a few stones for decoration and

that is it!

Here it is a few hours later after the humidity has dissipated a bit.

Within a few weeks it will look all lush and tropical in there (I hope), because I am thinking it would make a great Christmas present!

Now I can have a bit of summer all winter long in here...