How to create your own terrarium garden

A terrarium is a delightful and low-maintenance way of bringing more natural energy into your home or office environment. Use these basic tips and steps for creating your own in-home mini garden.

You'll just need a few items to get started; many of them can be acquired inexpensively at a resale store:

• A clear glass container, preferably wide and with a flat bottom
• Smooth rocks, stones, pebbles, shells or artful glass pieces
• Activated charcoal or carbon
• Potting soil
• Moss
• Small plants of your choice
• A small shovel or large spoon

When choosing plants for your terrarium, try to stick with low-maintenance varieties that "play well" together. You'll want them all to be from the same plant family so that they can grow and thrive together. This will also make care and maintenance easier, since they should all require the same amount of water and sunlight.

If you're a fan of both cacti and succulent plants, these can do well together in one terrarium. They tend to need minimal water and lots of sunlight. At the other end of the spectrum, tropical plants require a perpetually moist environment and pungent conditions. Consider adding moss and lichens for optimal results with a tropical-themed terrarium.

• For the best aesthetics and visual effect, choose plants of a variety of different heights, leaf shapes, colours and textures. This will ensure that your terrarium looks engaging and exotic, which adds to your overall home or office decor. Or plan ahead and coordinate your plants with the overall theme and design of the room by selecting species with complementary colours or shapes.
• If you're interested in the Chinese art of Feng Shui, place your finished terrarium in the eastern part of the room (or the eastern side of your desk.) The east is associated with physical health, and placing natural items here can contribute to increased well-being.