Could someone tell me how best to plant an enclosed, relatively self sufficient terrarium?”
But I’ll tell you what worked for me. (All these materials should be available at a good garden center. Believe it or not, you may find good houseplants at supermarkets or discount stores.) Start with at least an inch of gravel in your container (an inexpensive fish bowl works fine). I like to put another 1/2″ of granulated charcoal on top of that. Add an inch or two of the lightest soil you can make (I like peat moss and vermiculite and a small amount of a slow release, balanced fertilizer). Don’t add garden soil, as the organisms in it will take over in your enclosed garden. You would like your medium to be sterile to start. Dampen your medium. As moisture cannot drain, you don’t want to see much water in the bottom of the bowl in the gravel. Tamp down the soil. Decide if you want any features in your garden: a branch, a stone, a sculpture. You’re ready to plant. Many plants will work in a terrarium. Stay away from low moisture, cacti or desert-types. You’d also like dwarf or slow-gr
