Botanical Boys - Terrarium Build Guide

Thank you for choosing a Botanical Boys terrarium kit from The Foalyard. Each kit is hand-packed for a tiny enclosed garden that lives on its own moisture and air cycles. Follow these five steps to build yours.

Before you start: keep an empty bowl handy for trimmings, and give yourself a clear workspace.

1. Clay pellets

Add a single layer of clay pellets to the base — just enough to cover it, with no large gaps. This drainage layer creates air pockets so moisture can circulate. Depending on your jar, you may have a few pellets left over.

2. Sphagnum moss

Break the moss into small pieces and spread a thin layer over the pellets, right up to the edge. Press it down with your cork tool to form a seal. This stops soil falling through and keeps the layers neat.

3. Substrate

Pour in the soil, building a gentle mound towards the centre roughly as deep as the cork on your tool. Press lightly, then make a planting hole about the width of a 50p coin with your finger. If you are planting a ginseng fig, make the hole a little larger.

4. Plants

Split your Fittonia at the roots into smaller clumps, shake off excess soil, and pair it with ivy or fern to make a small bouquet. Plant into the hole and firm the soil so everything stands upright — add a little more soil if roots are showing.

5. Decorative touches

Tuck green moss into the gaps like small hills (trim any brown roots for a tidy finish), then scatter decorative stones to suggest paths or beaches. Finish with a shot-glass of water at the base of the plants.

You are done. For ongoing care, read our Botanical Boys terrarium care guide. Browse Botanical Boys kits and terrarium figures to add characters to your scene.