Tiny Worlds in Balance: Terrarium Making

2PM onward, (until materials run out), MJN

A terrarium is a sealed glass garden, a living, self-contained ecosystem. If it’s set up right, the plants recycle water, air, and nutrients inside the jar, so it can keep thriving without you ever needing to water it again.

Join us in making our own little worlds in jars, a hands-on way to see how ecosystems sustain themselves, and a reminder that balance and care make life possible in a jar, a neighborhood, or the whole planet.

You’ll get to take your terrarium home, and we’d love to hear back later. Share how yours is doing as we grow these tiny green worlds together.

Are terrariums really self sustaining?

In theory, yes! The plants, soil, microorganisms, and water form a mini water cycle: plants release moisture, which condenses on the container walls, and then drips back into the soil. Light provides energy for photosynthesis, which produces oxygen and food for the plants. The plants (and soil microbes) then release carbon dioxide to keep the cycle going.

If balanced, a sealed terrarium doesn’t need watering or outside inputs. (There’s a famous one in the UK that’s been thriving since 1960!) But it only works if conditions are right. Too much water, wrong plants, or not enough light can make the system collapse.