Ready to build something beautiful? Here’s everything you need to grow succulents like a pro!
Succulents are one of the most popular choices for beginners and experienced hobbyists alike, and it’s not hard to see why. They’re resilient and they don’t demand a lot of attention. Planting succulents in a terrarium is a fun, creative project that rewards you with a living decoration you’ll actually be proud of!
That said, succulents do have some specific needs worth knowing before you dive in. Unlike tropical plants, they prefer dry conditions and good airflow, so the setup you create for them matters more than you might think.
The good news is that once you understand a few key principles, everything else falls into place pretty naturally. First, though, let’s talk about why the type of terrarium you choose matters so much. Succulents are happiest in open terrariums because they need air circulation to stay healthy.
One more thing before we get into the nitty-gritty: don’t stress too much about getting everything perfect on the first try. Terrariums are forgiving creative projects, and most mistakes are fixable. Think of this as a fun experiment as much as it is a decorating project. You’ll learn a ton just by doing it.
Before you start: what you’ll need
Before getting your hands dirty, it helps to have everything ready. Gathering your materials in advance makes the whole process smoother and a lot more enjoyable. Here are the essentials you’ll want on hand for succulents in a terrarium:
- An open glass container with enough depth
- A drainage layer: small pebbles, gravel, or coarse sand
- Activated charcoal (a thin layer above the drainage)
- Cactus and succulent potting mix
- Your chosen succulent plants
- Top dressing: decorative gravel, colored sand, or crushed shells
- Optional: small decorative accents like figurines or driftwood
Getting the right soil mix is especially important, and it’s something a lot of first-timers overlook. Regular potting soil holds far too much moisture for succulents and will cause problems down the line.
Stick with a gritty, well-draining cactus or succulent mix. Either way, drainage is the goal. Moreover, you can check out a whole article about terrarium substrate mix here and learn to make your own!
Besides, it also helps to lay out your plants before planting so you can experiment with the arrangement without disturbing the soil. Think about height variation: mixing taller, more structural plants with low, spreading varieties creates a composition that feels natural and dynamic rather than flat.
How to plant your succulents step by step
Alright, let’s get into it! We’ll walk you through the whole planting process from the ground up. Follow these steps and you’ll have a gorgeous arrangement ready to display in under an hour! And the more you do it, the more intuitive it becomes.
Step 1: Build your layers
First, start with a drainage layer, about the size of two fingers of pebbles or gravel at the bottom. This is essential when growing succulents in a terrarium because it keeps excess water away from roots.
On top of that, add a thin layer of activated charcoal. It keeps the soil fresh, fights bacteria, and stops funky smells from developing, a small step with a surprisingly big impact.
Step 2: Add your soil and position your plants
Pour in your cactus potting mix to about 2 to 3 inches of depth. Make small holes where each plant will go, always starting with the tallest one as your visual anchor.
Start from the center and work outward, easing each plant’s roots into its hole. Press the soil around the base. Snug enough to hold the plant upright, but not so tight it blocks drainage.
Step 3: Settle the roots and check spacing
Once all your plants are in, tap the container gently on a flat surface so the soil settles around roots. This removes air pockets key for keeping succulents in a terrarium stable as they establish.
Check that you’ve left some breathing room between plants. Overcrowding leads to poor airflow and nutrient competition and while succulents are tough, they do better with a little personal space.
Step 4: Add the top dressing and finishing touches
Spread top dressing — fine gravel, colored sand, or crushed shells — across the soil. It makes the whole arrangement look polished and intentional, and it helps slow moisture evaporation between waterings.
Finally, add a couple of decorative accents: driftwood, tiny crystals, or a small figurine. Keep it to two or three pieces max so your plants stay the undisputed stars of the arrangement.
Caring for your succulent terrarium
Once it’s built, caring for succulents in a terrarium is genuinely easy and that’s one of the best things about choosing these plants. There’s no need to hover over them daily. Just a few simple habits will keep everything looking great.
Set the right temperature
Temperature is worth mentioning too. Succulents prefer moderate temperatures and don’t love dramatic swings so keep them away from cold drafts near windows in winter and from heat sources like radiators that can dry them out too fast. Room temperature is generally perfect.
Remember to water correctly
Watering is the one area where most beginners go wrong. Succulents are drought-tolerant, so less is genuinely more. Water lightly every 1 to 2 weeks in warmer months, and cut back to once a month or less in winter. The golden rule: always let the soil dry out completely between waterings. If you’re not sure whether it’s time to water, it probably isn’t.
Succulents like light
Light is the other key factor. Succulents need bright, indirect light a spot near a sunny window works great. If your plants start stretching out toward the light source (a process called etiolation), that’s their way of telling you they need more brightness.
A dedicated grow light is a really solid solution if your space doesn’t get consistent natural light throughout the day.
Remember to give them the attention they need
Finally, make it a habit to do a quick check every couple of weeks. Remove any dead or yellowing leaves, and scan for early signs of trouble like mold on the soil or tiny pests on the leaves.
Catching issues before they take hold is so much easier than dealing with them once they’ve spread and a small amount of regular attention keeps your terrarium looking its best all year round.
Troubleshooting common problems
Even with the best setup, things won’t always go perfectly — and that’s completely normal. Here are the most common issues that come up with succulents in a terrarium, along with quick fixes for each:
- Root rot: Usually from overwatering. Remove the plant, trim any mushy roots, let them air-dry for a day, then replant in fresh dry soil.
- Mold on soil: Too much humidity. Move the terrarium somewhere breezier and water less often.
- Pests (mealybugs, gnats): Dab bugs with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab. For gnats, let the soil dry out more between waterings.
- Leggy growth: Not enough light. Move closer to a window or try a grow light.
- Leaves dropping: Could be overwatering, low light, or natural shedding — check your setup and adjust accordingly.
Don’t get discouraged if you run into one of these. Every terrarium builder goes through a learning curve, and troubleshooting is genuinely part of the process. The more you pay attention to your plants, the faster you’ll learn to read what they need and you’ll get better at it every single time.
Keep learning and keep growing
Now that you’ve got a solid foundation for building and caring for a succulent terrarium, you’re ready to explore even more plant options and there are so many wonderful ones to discover.
If you’re curious about other plant types, they each bring their own textures, rhythms, and care requirements. Every new terrarium build is its own little adventure, and your skills grow with each one.
One great next step is to explore closed terrariums, a different world from succulents in a terrarium, but equally rewarding. They’re nearly self-sustaining once set up and can go weeks without any attention.
We’d love for you to check out our article “Best closed terrarium plants for beginners“. It’s full of great plant picks and tips and it might just introduce you to your next favorite green obsession. Go read it!