FOR BEGINNERS & HOBBYISTS

Plan the perfect
terrarium.

Accurate calculators, clear guides and practical checklists. Build thriving planted and bioactive terrariums without the guesswork.

No signup required • Works offline after first load

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Accurate planning tools

Calculate exact substrate volumes, drainage layers, and rough costs based on your container size.

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Beginner-first guidance

Proven build order, plant recommendations, humidity and lighting advice that actually works in real homes.

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Avoid common failures

Mould, pests, condensation problems and plant die-off — we show you how to prevent them before you start.

FREE & INSTANT

Planning Tools

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Essential Guides

Everything you need to know before you buy materials.

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CORE

Closed vs Open Terrariums

Which style suits your plants, space and maintenance tolerance?

Read guide →
LAYERS

The Perfect Substrate Layers

Drainage, barrier, soil mix, and top dressing — what actually matters.

Read guide →
ENVIRONMENT

Lighting & Humidity

How much light different terrariums need and how to maintain stable humidity.

Read guide →

Start with our beginner build checklist or jump straight into the volume calculator.

SOURCING

Where to buy supplies (UK)

Good terrarium materials are surprisingly easy to source once you know what to look for.

Specialist UK shops
Terrarium Designs, The Jungle, Etsy UK sellers, local plant nurseries.
Amazon & general
LECA, glass containers, perlite, coco coir, sphagnum moss. Always read recent reviews.
Free / cheap options
Clean jam jars, old fish bowls, stones from the garden (boil first), moss from woods (check legality).
Pro tip
Buy plants in person when possible. Online plants often arrive stressed and introduce pests.

Affiliate links and shop recommendations will be added as we test suppliers. All suggestions will be practical and honest.