A DIY Father’s Day terrarium is a really excellent opportunity to rally the kids around a project for Dad. And we could not be more excited about this idea: Use those fairy-garden-making skills and personalize a planter for his man cave, desk, or bookshelf. (Would you call this a terr-him-ium?) (We’re totally going to call this a #terrhimium.)
Replace the fairies with something he’ll love: Add some action figures, make a mini-golf course or camp site, or fill it with dinosaurs. The Think.Make.Share team got together to create some fun, father-friendly planters to give you some ideas.
DIY FATHER’S DAY TERRARIUM OR PLANTER SUPPLIES
- Terrarium, planter, or other water-resistant container
- Sand (optional—enough to cover the bottom of your container about a 1/2″)
- Rocks (large and small—enough for a 1-2″ layer in the bottom of your terrarium or planter)
- Optional extras (different methods recommend adding activated charcoal and moss—all these layers are getting the water just right)
- Plant-appropriate soil (not optional—use plenty to cover the roots of your plants)
- Plants (Think about your theme—what should your foliage look like? What scale do you want?)
- Natural accessories (moss, stones, sticks, pine cones, and other bits and pieces from outdoors)
- Themed accessories: action figures, little green Army people, toy animals, model train figures (let your imagination run wild—but they should be waterproof)
- Craft supplies (in case you want to paint, glue, or decorate something)
Pro-tip: Make the project easier by getting a terrarium kit (they’re available with and without plants).
Another pro-tip: Or skip the assembly altogether and start with a pre-planted succulent garden.
Bonus pro-tip: Or avoid the heartbreak of under- or over-watered plants and just use the Handmade Hallmark Fairy Garden Kit and maybe some air plants.
MAKING YOUR FATHER’S DAY TERRARIUM
If you’re going the live-plant route, start with sand, followed by a 1-2″ layer of rocks in the bottom of your container.
Then add activated charcoal, then sphagnum, if you’re using those.
Finally, top it all off with a good layer of soil—it should be deep enough to give your plant roots some wiggle room.
Add your plants, leaving room for the accessories. For each one:
- Take it out of the pot.
- Gently break up the clod of dirt.
- Dig a little hole in your soil and put the plant in it.
- Pat the soil down around it.
Once all the plants are in, water them.
Now, the fun part: Create your tiny, manly world.
Coral lantern (whatever) from Hallmark Home & Gifts. Cabin is made of sticks, aluminum foil, and Crayola Model Magic.
You can find a startlingly wide variety of figurines at hobby stores and sites.
A battery-operated votive makes an excellent tiny campfire.
Nothing says your #terrhimium can’t be tasteful and on-trend.
DIY FATHER’S DAY TERRARIUM THEMES TO TRY
- Movies (action, horror, superhero, disaster)
- Age of the dinosaurs
- Sports (golf, hunting, rock-climbing, fishing—use a mirror for water)
- Outdoor fun (camping, landscaping, grilling out)
Share those bad boys with us on our Facebook page or tag @think.make.share on Instagram. #terrhimium