Terrarium Time!

As you all know, there's no shortage of love in my body for succulents and terrariums.  I had been planning to make another one for some time now but time just hasn't allowed.  I finally had the chance to go shopping for all of the materials to make one and the first place I went might actually surprise you.  

Marshalls is actually one of the best places to get a container when you plan to make a terrarium.  They have a ton of different options at outrageously great prices.  I have a friend who also likes to make terrariums and she normally goes for a nontraditional look with hers and she found a skull container and other assorted shapes and sizes.  You would be shocked to see what you can find so definitely check it out!

Right now Lowes has an absolutely amazing selection of succulents and cacti.  I couldn't have been happier when I walked into the greenhouse and saw so many selections.  When you're looking at the options, don't forget to pick up some soil that is specifically for cacti, it should be right next to where you'll see all of your options for succulents and cacti.  They will try to entice you with sand and pebbles and stones and all this other stuff but do not fall victim! 

I have to admit this is probably the terrarium that I have made that I most proud of because it is absolutely stunning.  I didn't even realize that when I was selecting some of the plants to include, they were matching!  I had just been picking out some of the ones that I loved the most but I didn't realize that they all had a purple motif.  So, if matching is something that you enjoy, try and design your terrarium that way!

First I put a layer of soil in the bottom of the open bowl.  After that, I decided to plant the largest plant and then situate some of the rocks on the side.  I don't know why, but when I was planning to build this terrarium, I had in mind to include some rocks.  I specifically wanted to have them included in the design.  So if you're not sure what you want to include or you don't know where to start with your terrarium, planning it out a little bit beforehand is a great place to start.

After the largest plant was included, I started placing everything else around it and designing everything as I went along.  If you're not a planner or a control freak when it comes to DIYs, this is the best way to go.  I really think it comes out best when you just go with the flow.  Here is the final photo!

I hope that you absolutely love this as much as I do! Let me know your process on how you decorate your terrariums.  Have you ever made one before?  Send me a tweet and let me know where you get your succulents from as well!  Thanks for reading as always.  -Brit.

Growing a Garden of Cacti and Succulents!

As you know, I have been obsessed with the whole terrarium thing lately.  I don't think I have to re-explain that one.  I have literally been all over the internet at the couple of surrounding towns trying to find places to go that will sell succulents to buy and cool looking cacti.  There are a couple of places close to me that are supposed to carry some awesome succulents so I cannot wait to get there to try some but for now these great ones from Lowes are going to have to do.  

Since my last post, I visited Lowes again to check out the selection.  Upon first walking in, I didn't see anything and I got worried because I thought the succulents and cacti had gone 'out of season' or something.  I carried on looking though and found a HUGE section of amazing looking ones inside!  I was so happy because they were even better looking ones than last time so I took FULL advantage.

As you can see here, the top cactus is a beautifully vibrant orange.  I thought this was perfect for the fall coming up.  I don't know why I feel the necessity to match the color with the season but as you will soon see, I didn't do that for everything.  Orange is my favorite color though so when I saw this one, I just could not pass it up.  On the left, that succulent is apparently called 'E.T.'s Fingers.'  I thought that was so hilarious and I just generally LOVED the look and color of them.  Take a closer look:

How stunning is this orange?  Absolutely beautiful:

Tbqh, I don't know what this next succulent is called and I completely forgot to look it up.  I love the speckled look of it though because it brings something different and it's not as 'traditional looking:'

Another thing I wanted to mention is that as you can tell, I decided to put these in mason jars.  They look absolutely adorable!  This was not my original plan though as I had wanted to put them in one long glass, rectangular shaped planter.  (Not sure if you know what I'm talking about so let me insert a picture).  This one is from Crate&Barrel and looks a little darker than normal glass, I would want normal glass, but I think it just looks this way because of how it was photographed.  I mainly wanted you to understand the shape I wanted.  I really wanted to line up the plants because I love that look.  I was unfortunately unable to find literally ANYTHING like this anywhere near me and I'm not keen on order glassware online.  Really sucks but I decided to go with mason jars for the ones I've planted so far and I don't hate it!  We will see what happens with the others I have left to plant...

How STUNNING is this color?  Amazing!  This is what I mean about not always matching the colors with the seasons.  I don't always and this is a perfect example of it.  I couldn't pass up the color and the name of this specific one is 'Gymnocalycium mihanovichii Hibotan.'  A mouthful for sure!

This one is so interesting!  I saw it and HAD TO HAVE IT as soon as I saw it.  It is a Cactus Strawflower called 'Golden Barrel/Echinocactus grusonii.'  These names though!

Not sure if you were able to see on the 'Still to plant' photo but I got the E.T.'s Fingers for $1!  I was so excited about it.  Although these plants are pretty inexpensive, it never hurts to see whats on the sale planter, they usually have a bunch of things over there!  Not to mention, you might get inspiration for making something else!  After all, I did go from making a terrarium to putting random cacti in mason jars and I am NOT MAD AT IT thank you very much, lol!  

Have you done this?  I can't wait to see what I actually decide to do with the other plants that I haven't sorted out yet.  Hopefully one of the planters that I want actually shows up somewhere around me.  If you have any suggestions on where I can get one, please let me know!  Send me a tweet or leave me a comment and thank you so much for reading as always!  Talk to you soon.  -Brit.