Glass globe
Our signature dodecahedron glass globe. It has 11 glass sides and one open face.
DIY Kit instructions
Build your terrarium at home.
Thank you so much for purchasing our DIY Kit. We have built so many terrariums, and we want to make sure your experience is the best it can be. This guide will walk you step by step through making a beautiful terrarium while navigating its tight geometry. Carve out some time for yourself, and let's begin.
What is in your kit
Open the box and lay everything out.
Build materials
Burlap sacks containing charcoal, soil, sand, small pebbles, moss, shells, rocks, and a few live succulents.
Tools
A few tools to help with assembly: tongs, a spoon, and a spray bottle.
Step by step
Build your terrarium with patience and intention.
01
Clean and position the globe
Wipe down the inside of the globe to remove any lint or dust from its travels. Observe its shape and how you can navigate inside it. The space is small, so follow the steps closely for the best outcome. Place the globe on a desk with the open face facing toward you, not toward the sky.
02
Add the charcoal
You can use all of it. Charcoal gives the plants great drainage, allowing them to go through the natural cycles of wet and dry.
03
Prep and place the soil
Using the spray bottle, moisten the soil. This brings it to life and makes it easier to sculpt and plant in. Add the soil to the globe while thinking about placement. You can build it up against one side or keep it flat. Let the plants guide you.
04
Review your succulents
Think about where you would like to put each piece. The more you add to the globe, the harder it becomes to navigate. Placing the bigger succulents in the back first is key.
05
Prep the succulents
Important: lightly spray the roots, but make sure the rest of the plant stays dry. Moist roots connect better with the soil, but if you wet the whole plant now, soil and other decorations may stick to it.
- It is not the end of the world if this happens, but keeping the plant dry will greatly affect the final result.
- If your succulents do get messy, they will clean up once they complete a dry cycle. The soil and sand will fall to the bottom of the globe.
06
Plant the succulents
Use the tongs to grab the base of each plant and start placing your succulents. With the spoon, compact the soil around the roots. When you are done, all of the succulents should be planted firmly and should not shake or move easily inside the globe.
07
Add sand and moss
From here on out, it is all about decor and style. The kit includes extra materials so you have room to be creative, and you do not need to use everything.
- First, add the sand. Use the spoon to place it around the globe, picking up the terrarium as needed to ensure even coverage.
- Next, add the moss. Lightly spray it, and it will rejuvenate, becoming soft and fragrant. Tear it apart to fit your style, then place it elegantly in the globe with the tongs.
- A key design tip is to tuck the moss under the succulent leaves, between the soil and sand. This makes it look more natural.
08
Add small pebbles
Using the spoon, add the small pebbles. Placing them at the apex of the globe creates an amazing sense of immersion. The amount and distribution are up to you. Some students have even tried half sand and half pebbles, creating their own style.
09
Place the shells
Add the hand-selected shells as the final accent pieces to complete your globe.
10
You completed your terrarium
Thank you for being patient with us from a distance. My wife and I have built terrariums with and taught so many people through this guided experience, and we wanted to share it through this DIY Kit so our customers can take the experience home. We hope you found a moment of peace.
Last of all, we would love to see your final design. Please share it with us on social media or by email. We would love to see what you built and how it grows over time.