Rainy day gardening project for the kids

January 23, 3:44 PMSF Gardening ExaminerChris McLaughlin

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Fun and easy terrarium for kids

Kids bored and stuck home indoors on a rainy afternoon? Head on down to the Home Depot or a local nursery, grab a few tiny plants, a few other odds and ends, and show them how to make a terrarium out of used soda pop bottles.

Throw in a small conversation about condensation and how the water will gather along the sides of the bottle and ‘rain’ on the plants. Kids thoroughly enjoy this plant science lesson disguised as a rainy day project. The used soda bottle makes it a ‘green’ lesson, as well. 

What you will need:

• 1 or 2 tiny plants
• 1 2-liter soda bottle with cap
• Scissors
• Small stones or pebbles to allow extra water to flow down to the bottom and not waterlog the plants.
• Houseplant soil
• Spaghnum moss or Spanish moss – this will act as a screen so the soil won’t settle into the rocks beneath as the water flows through. It’s also pretty as a finishing touch on top of the soil.
• Activated charcoal – acts as a filter that purifies the water as it cycles up and down the terrarium. Pet stores have this charcoal.
• Little plastic animals – optional

How to build the terrarium:

1. A parent needs to cut the bottom off of the soda bottle about 1/3 of the way up. Set the top aside.
2. Put a handful of stones at the bottom of the bottle (1-2 “ deep).
3. Sprinkle some charcoal over the pebbles.
4. Place some moss over the charcoal.
5. Add the soil to the layers.
6. Now, add your plants.
7. Add some moss over the soil and between the plants.
8. Place little animals around the plants if desired.
9. Put the soda bottle/terrarium lid over the top, squeezing the bottom so the sides are tucked into the top piece. If you want, cut a little slit on the edge of the bottom piece to help the lid go on.

After completing soda pop bottle terrariums with my 4H kids, I was inspired to buy a cut glass bowl and make a terrarium for myself! I put my own stamp on the project by planting irresistible, carnivorous Venus fly traps.