10 closed terrarium builds under $20

Ten terrarium builds you can complete for $20 or less in materials. Each one is realistic, tested by hobbyists, and achievable in a weekend.

What “under $20” includes

• Container
• Substrate components
• Hardscape (small)
• 2-3 starter plants
• Moss

Not included: Tools (one-time ~$20, then free), ongoing maintenance supplies.

The 10 builds

1. Mason jar mini garden ($8)

Container: Pint mason jar Plants: Fittonia + sheet moss Hardscape: One small rock Substrate: 50/50 potting soil + orchid bark

Build time: 20 minutes. Difficulty: Beginner. Perfect first build.

2. Spice jar terrarium ($5)

Container: Empty glass spice jar with cork lid Plants: 1 small pilea cutting Hardscape: None Substrate: Just sphagnum moss (no drainage layer — too small)

Build time: 10 minutes. Difficulty: Beginner. Best as a gift or windowsill accent.

3. IKEA 365+ jar build ($18)

Container: IKEA 365+ jar (~$8) Plants: Fittonia + selaginella + moss Hardscape: Small piece of driftwood Substrate: Standard mix

Build time: 45 minutes. Difficulty: Beginner. Room for a real mini-ecosystem.

4. Apothecary jar classic ($15)

Container: Thrift store apothecary jar Plants: 3 small ferns + moss Hardscape: 2 small rocks + twig Substrate: Standard mix

Build time: 30 minutes. Difficulty: Beginner. Vintage look.

5. Tall cylinder terrarium ($18)

Container: Tall cylindrical vase (dollar store) Plants: Trailing pilea + cushion moss Hardscape: Vertical driftwood piece Substrate: Standard mix with extra drainage

Build time: 40 minutes. Difficulty: Beginner-intermediate. Showstopper.

6. Dual jar set ($15)

Containers: 2 matching mason jars Plants: Different plant in each Hardscape: None or tiny Substrate: Simple mix

Build time: 30 minutes total. Difficulty: Beginner. Best as a gift pair.

7. Geometric terrarium ($18)

Container: Geometric glass terrarium (Amazon, cheap options exist) Plants: Succulent arrangement (open terrarium — different rules) Hardscape: 3 small rocks Substrate: Cactus mix with extra perlite

Build time: 25 minutes. Difficulty: Beginner. Different skill set (succulents).

8. Light bulb terrarium ($12)

Container: Empty clear light bulb (carefully opened) Plants: Tiny moss bits Hardscape: Mini rocks Substrate: Thin layer only

Build time: 1 hour (mostly the bulb prep). Difficulty: Intermediate. Conversation piece.

9. Wine bottle terrarium ($8)

Container: Empty wine bottle (cut or corked) Plants: Long tweezers required — pilea or moss Hardscape: None Substrate: Thin layer

Build time: 1.5 hours. Difficulty: Intermediate. Unique display piece.

10. Bowl terrarium ($18)

Container: Glass bowl (no lid — open build) Plants: 3 small succulents + decorative moss Hardscape: Rock arrangement Substrate: Cactus mix

Build time: 30 minutes. Difficulty: Beginner. Low maintenance, kitchen windowsill friendly.

Cost-saving tips

1. Use what you have — jars from recycling, vases from thrift stores
2. Skip the “premium” substrate — basic potting soil + perlite works
3. Buy plants as cuttings — much cheaper than full plants
4. Trade with local builders — Facebook groups, r/terrariums
5. Start small — quart jars cost less than gallon jars to fill

Where to save vs where to spend

Save on:

• Container (any glass works)
• Substrate (basics are fine)
• Tools (one-time buy, lasts forever)

Spend on:

• Quality plants (cheap plants often bring pests)
• Good moss (better quality = better start)
• Springtails (worth every penny for closed builds)

The full cost breakdown

For a typical first build ($20 budget):

Item	Cost
Mason jar	$2
Potting soil	$2 (from big bag)
Perlite or orchid bark	$2
3 plants	$9
Small moss portion	$5
Total	$20

Then ongoing: $0-5/month for springtails, distilled water, occasional plant additions.

Next steps

• Built your first one? See our closed terrarium guide for the full setup walkthrough
• Want bioactive? Bioactive starter guide
• Ready to go bigger? [Browse all builds in our gallery (coming soon)]

Share your build in the Discord — we feature community builds regularly.