KIT CONTAINS:
- (1) 8.5" Black Geo Terrarium Cube
- (3) 2” Succulents
- (1) small bag Soil
- (2) small bag River Pebbles
- (1) extra small bag Sand
- (1) extra small bag Charcoal
- (1) extra small bag Lava Rock
- (1) small bag Reindeer Moss
- (1) Wooden Pick
Congratulations on your purchase of a Succulent-Plants.com DIY Geo Succulent Terrarium! Please carefully remove your succulents from their packaging upon arrival, handling them with care to avoid damaging the leaves. Your succulents can be kept in a bright windowsill and watered weekly until the kit is ready to be used. Upon arrival, we ask that you check to make sure all listed components are included and that the terrarium has arrived undamaged.
- When ready to assemble your succulent terrarium, prepare your work area by setting the terrarium container on a level surface with enough room for the materials. If this project is being completed by a single person, make sure to have all bagged materials already open, in arm’s reach, and out of the way.
- Pour ½ of the bag of River Pebbles into the base of the container. These stones will act as drainage, keeping the roots of your succulents dry and happy.
- Evenly sprinkle the Charcoal across the top of the pebble layer. Taking this step will help keep the hard mineral content of the soil and rocks low, discourage the growth of algae or bad bacteria, and even prevent certain pests.
- Empty the bag of Soil into the container and gently spread to create a thin layer across the drainage pebbles, heavily focusing towards the back. It can also be helpful to slightly lift the terrarium and barely drop it against your work surface a few times to settle the soil.
- To remove a succulent from its container, give the pot a few light squeezes to release the roots and gently pull while holding the plant on its side. If the plant does not easily pop out, hold the pot upside down with one hand while cradling the succulent in the other, using gravity, and if need be slight pulling with your bottom hand to gently slide the plant and its roots into your fingers.
- If the roots are well developed, you will need to remove most of the soil by gently rolling the clump, allowing the soil to fall as you work your fingers through the roots. Pieces will inevitably break off during this process, which does not hurt the plant. You can place them back into their pots after doing this with each succulent.
- Now it’s time to start considering your terrarium landscape. We have included an easily re-creatable example, or you can take your own creative design route! One way to plan your design is by holding the succulents in the terrarium to see which you would like where and at what angle.
- During the planting process, you may need to hold the terrarium with the opening facing a bit upwards to prevent soil and gravel from spilling out.
- Create a divot towards the back where the first succulent will go, usually the biggest or tallest. Holding the succulent with the roots going downwards from your fingers, gently work the roots into the layers of soil, charcoal, and pebbles without touching the bottom. Using your other hand, carefully pour River Gravel from the lip of the bag to cover exposed roots. Continue this on all sides to stabilize the succulent and direct its angle: equal amounts on all sides will face the plant upwards while varying amounts will set the succulent at an angle.
- Create another divot for your second succulent, being careful not to uproot the one already planted. Gently wiggle the succulent into place and using the provided wooden pick, carefully push the roots down into the soil.
- The third succulent should be the smallest and planted in front of the other two succulents. Create another divot, being careful to not disturb the other plants. Gently wiggle the succulent into place and carefully push the roots down into the soil using the provided wooden pick.
- Spread the remainder of the River Pebbles across the top. The layers of soil and pebbles should come to the lip of the container. However, you place the pebbles, pieces will likely get stuck in between the succulent leaves. These can be carefully removed by using the provided wooden pick.
- Water your freshly planted succulents with three ounces of water, focusing on their bases.
- Pour accenting piles of Sand using the lip of the bag in two or three areas of the terrarium.
- Tuck pieces of Reindeer Moss around your succulents.
- To finish your terrarium, pour a small pile of lava rocks in front of the succulents.
CARE DIRECTIONS
- Place your terrarium in a bright location that does not receive direct sun for longer than 30 minutes a day.
- Watering frequency depends on the amount of light the plants receive. Being in a terrarium the humidity is already higher, which lessens their need to be watered through the roots. If kept in a warmer or sunnier spot, the water is quicker to evaporate, and the terrarium will need more frequent watering. Look through the glass and pay attention to the dampness of the rocks at the base, and only water when these rocks are totally dry or if the succulent leaves are starting to soften.