STEP 1: Prepare the container
Remove any price tags or stickers from your vessel and wash both the interior and exterior thoroughly to ensure that there are no unwanted residues that could affect the health of your plants. Imagine how you want to arrange your plants inside the jar.
STEP 2: Add your drainage layers
Once the container is ready, fill the bottom with rocks or pebbles. This is to create a false drainage layer so water can settle and not flood the plant. The depth of the rocks totally depends on the size of your container, but aim for 1/2″ to 2″.
STEP 3: Add the activated charcoal
The charcoal looks exactly like what you would expect it to and it’s messy. Sometimes it comes as small granules and other times it comes as shards – either works. You don’t need much, just enough to cover the rocks. The charcoal will improve the quality of your little world including reducing bacteria, fungi and odors.
How much activated charcoal do you use on one pot?
Your terrariums are beautiful! How do you keep them from Molding. I live in an apt. in Phoenix Az and I tried building a terarium with a fly trap plant. Within 4 days there was a white hairy mold covering the whole inside of the jar. Last week I brought home a 4″ pot of Basil that kept drying out. By day 4 there was a grey mold started around the dead basil stems and the rest of the plant had given up. Is there something I can do, or is it just a case of a black thumb?