How to Make a DIY Fairy Terrarium for a Tiny Garden That Brings the Magic Indoors

Winter has a way of making everything feel smaller. The days are shorter, the garden is quieter, and spending time outdoors isn’t always inviting. What better way, then, keep the magic of gardening alive during this season than by creating a DIY fairy terrarium?

A tiny indoor garden that brings joy long after Christmas has passed, there’s something undeniably whimsical about a terrarium at the best of times. When you combine it with your favorite fairy garden ideas, though? Well, then it effortlessly leapfrogs whimsy and straight into ‘pure magic’ territory.

And worry not, because a terrarium isn’t just for Christmas; this cozy winter project will bring you joy all year round. What could be better, eh?

How to Make a DIY Fairy Terrarium

Start with a clear glass container; this could be a large jar, a cloche, or even a small fish tank. You can also find dedicated terrarium containers, like this one from Amazon. Whatever you use, remember transparency is key, as it allows light to reach the plants and lets you admire your miniature world from every angle.

Before planting anything, take care to add a layer of small stones or gravel to the bottom to help with drainage. On top of that goes a thin layer of activated charcoal from Amazon, which helps keep the terrarium fresh and stops unpleasant odors in their tracks.

Next comes the soil; a light potting compost or moss-based soil works well, especially for humidity-loving plants. And, for planting, up the fairy ante with moss, tiny ferns, nerve plants, or other of those enchanting terrarium plants that thrive in enclosed environments.

DIY Fairy Terrarium Shopping Essentials

Remember, the goal isn’t perfection: it’s creating something that feels alive and inviting.

Add Some Magic

This is where the fun really begins with your DIY fairy terrarium, as it’s time to add pebbles, bark chips, tiny twigs for paths, and miniature decorations like fairy doors, mushrooms, or figurines.

There are no rules here. The process encourages imagination, storytelling, and slow creativity: something that feels especially nourishing during the quiet days between Christmas and New Year.

Once everything is arranged, lightly mist the terrarium with water so that it’s damp but not soggy. Most closed terrariums only need watering every few weeks, as moisture recirculates inside the glass, so all that's left to do is place it in a bright spot out of direct sunlight.

We promise: it will largely take care of itself.

One of those cozy hobbies that encourage mindfulness, patience, and curiosity, a DIY fairy terrarium isn’t just calming to make and maintain. Each day, in fact, it presents you with the chance to check on your tiny garden, watch for new growth, adjust a stone, or invent new stories about who might live there.

Best of all, your DIY fairy terrarium will remain long after the Christmas decorations are packed away to serve as a small reminder that even in winter, growth, creativity, and a little magic are still possible.

All you need is a jar, a handful of plants, and the willingness to slow down.