I’ve been interested in terrarium since years ago actually but never really encouraged myself to learn about it. Taking care of succulent has been my interest recently. Although, I don’t know yet how to really take care of it.. (I’ve killed 3 succulents! 😦 ). Frustrated with succulent, I’m thinking of learning about terrarium instead. Not sure if it’s a good idea though haha.
I searched online about terrarium workshop and everything seems so expensive.. But then I tried to search on fave and found several terrarium workshop. I chose J2 Terrarium after googling about them and seems legit. So I bought the voucher on fave for S$22 for 1 person. On the app, it said I need to do the booking via message. Apparently, they are on whatsapp with the same number so that makes it easier to book an appointment.
J2 Terrarium is located in Yishun area inside the A’Posh Bizhub building (1 Yishun Industrial Street 1, #04-06, Singapore 768160). From the lift lobby, just look for number 06. It’s quite easy to find. When I arrived, there were some other people as well so I guess this workshop must be good then (or at least, considered cheap?!).
The voucher from fave is valid for the small jars. There are 2 options for it. And if you decided to choose another jar, you just need to top up the difference. At first I was lazy to top up and just used the small jar, but after looking at other people’s jar I decided to opt for the dome model.
After I picked my jar, she showed me the place where I can sit. Most of the participants came with their partner or friends. On the table, there were tools, gravels, colorful sands, soil, sphagnum moss and stones. So excited to learn about this!
There are 2 types of terrarium, which is closed terrarium and open terrarium. Closed terrarium is suitable for plants that can live with moisture/need watering often, while open terrarium is suitable for cactus and succulents because they don’t need watering that often. Closed terrarium will act as a small ecosystem where it can hold the water inside and circulate it, that is why we sometime see condensation on closed terrarium.
The first thing to put on the jar is gravels. I put the colorful gravel on the bottom and covered all of it. The gravel is used to contain excess water if any, so the soil won’t stay wet for too long because that can cause the root to rot.
Next is sphagnum moss, I put it on the gravel and pressed it especially around the glass because on top it we will put soil and we don’t want the soil to fall to bottom part. That’s why they used sphagnum moss to separate the gravel and soil. This is the important part.
On top of it, we put soil. No need to pressed it just pour it loosely until about 1 cm. We can put colorful sands as decoration (optional). If we want to use colorful sands, then it doesn’t need to pour on the whole surface with it, just put them on the edge where we can see it behind the glass while the middle part we can put soil instead. Noone will see what’s inside it anyway 😀
Next, we put soil. Lots of soil but not too much. We need to give space for the plants as well. For the dome jar like mine, I need to stop pouring soil about 1 cm from the jar edge because on top of soil we will put small gravels as decoration and we don’t want it to reach the edge.
After we’re done with soil, then it’s time to pick the plants! For closed terrarium, we will use fittonia and holland moss. And for open terrarium, they will use succulents and preserved moss (not live moss and comes in different colors). Jason then explained to us on how to take the plants from their pot and place it in terrarium soil. Since I was making closed terrarium, I picked my fittonias! It can fit 3 plants in my jar so I chose 3 different colors of fittonia 😆
We are allowed to pick 1 figurine for free to put inside the terarium. I picked totoro figurine (was torn between totoro or dog figurine but totoro won). Back to my table, I arrange the plants, holland moss and figurine. Then I covered the soil with pebbles as finishing touch. Before I put the cover of my jar, Joy told me to spray the plants and moss about 3 – 4 sprays.
And tadaaa!! I present to you my terrarium creation 😁
Overall it was a very nice experience and surprisingly relaxing. I love making terrarium! The problem is if I have to do it myself at home I need to have the tools and stock up on the equipments. J2 Terrarium also selling a DIY terrarium kit for S$18 at their website though so maybe if one day I want to make another terrarium again, I just buy the DIY kit so I won’t have too many extra. They gave us a paperbag to bring home our terrarium, and that paperbag worth S$2 if we bring it back to purchase something from them.
If you’re looking for thing to do on the weekend in Singapore, you can try this terrarium workshop at J2 Terrarium. For first time customer, you can buy voucher from fave! I think it’s worth the price!
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