Do you love to give plants as gifts? If so, you may find that some of the recipients are frustrated by having to care for a plant when they have black thumbs. However, you can give your friends and family plants that are virtually impossible to kill by making a simple terrarium.
To make your plant in a jar, you will need a large glass jar with a closable lid, such as the gallon pickle jars used in restaurants and delis. You will also need pea gravel, potting soil (not garden soil) and a few small houseplants. Good choices are English Ivy, African Violets, Rubber Plants, Prayer Plants, and Jade Plants.
Clean your jar thoroughly. Remove the label by soaking it in hot water for a few minutes so that it is easier to peel off. Pour two inches of pea gravel into the bottom of the jar. Pour four inches of potting soil into the jar on top of the gravel.
Now, you are ready to plant your jar. Carefully take your plants out of their pots and look at the roots. If your plant is root-bound (This is a term that means the roots are starting to grow up and are wrapping around the plant's other roots,) gently tug the roots loose so that they will be in a position to easily grow into the soil. Make a hole in the soil and carefully place your plant in the hole. Firm the soil around the plant.
Next, carefully water the plant until the soil is settled. Stop watering once the soil is moistened, since over-watering could cause rotting. If you pour the water too quickly, you can end up splashing soil on the sides of the jar. If the jar does get a bit dirty, you can wipe the soil off with a damp cloth.
Once the plant's leaves have dried off, close the lid of the terrarium. If the container is properly moistened, the plant will not need to be watered frequently. In fact, I haven't needed to open my terrarium and water my plant for over a year. Since the terrarium will be closed, don't place it in direct light or it can overheat and actually cook the plant.
Finally, you can give a plant as a gift without striking terror in the heart of a black-thumbed recipient.
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