Fun DIY Terrarium Designs in San Francisco

Build a miniature garden at a terrarium class in San Francisco and discover for yourself just how versatile they can be! Open or closed, succulents or cacti, there are so many ways you can customize a DIY terrarium to suit your own personal style. 

But first, what actually is a terrarium? In Latin, the word terrarium roughly translates to ‘land within a container’. Think of it as an aquarium but with plants instead of fish! Aside from being excellent space savers that are easy to care for, terrariums also make beautiful decorations for your home and are a wonderful way to bring a piece of nature inside. 

To build a terrarium, you fill a glass container with soil, plants, and pebbles, creating layers that will support your plants as they grow. You can choose from a variety of plants like moss, air plants, and even cacti. Terrarium classes are straightforward and easy to follow, making them the ideal gift experience for any of the nature lovers in your life!

When it comes to selecting a DIY terrarium class, you may want to consider how your mini-ecosystem will look, how much you will need to care for it, and how your home environment might affect it. Considering trying one of these fun SF activities for yourself? We’re here to help you find the best terrarium design to suit you and your space!

Should I choose an open or closed terrarium?

As the name suggests, an open terrarium is exposed to the elements, unlike a closed terrarium which has a lid. An open terrarium is a wonderful option if you want to care more closely for your plants and develop your green thumb! At an open terrarium class in San Francisco, an expert floristry teacher will show you how to water your plants and keep them happy and thriving!

This design is ideal for a succulent terrarium and plants that require a more arid environment, like cacti or air plants, as they prefer more sunlight than closed terrariums and sometimes require pruning to keep them from getting overcrowded. A glass geometric terrarium is one of the most popular open terrarium styles and makes a unique and interesting addition to your home.

If you are looking for fun things to do in San Francisco, learning how to make a closed terrarium is a great choice if your home or office has limited sunlight – or if you have limited time! Closed terrariums are self-sufficient and require little maintenance, so if you tend to be a bit forgetful of your plants, these are the DIY terrariums for you. This design works well with mosses, ferns, and most tropical plants. The soil in these kinds of terrariums should be kept damp but never soggy or wet. 

Looking for unique date night ideas? Discover how to make the ideal environment for your terrarium with our expert floristry teachers in a private class.

Get playful with a simple succulent design

Succulent terrariums are some of the most popular DIY terrarium designs as these small but powerful plants thrive in almost any habitat. They grow quickly, require little to no maintenance, and are just adorable! With numerous varieties to choose from, it is super easy to make your succulent terrarium pop with fun colors and unique shapes.

The simplicity of succulent terrariums also makes them fun to make with a group of friends. Giggle with your bachelorette party as you sip bubbles and learn how to make a terrarium – we call this succulent and sip! Or try out our terrarium team building activities and unwind with your colleagues over a casual session. Whatever the occasion, learning how to make a succulent terrarium is something anyone can try!

Create desert environments with cute cacti

Feel inspired by majestic, desert landscapes at a cactus terrarium class in the Bay Area. Cacti love warm and arid environments and are the perfect decoration for a sunny balcony or porch. These plants grow easily and require little to no attention, making them one of the best DIY terrariums for beginners.

If you are looking for fun things to do in San Francisco with friends, a cactus terrarium class will give you a glimpse into the lives of these desert plants and show you how to create the ideal surroundings for them!

Wait, you can make a terrarium without soil?

Unlike other terrarium designs, air plant terrariums do not need soil. This is because their special, thin leaves provide these beautiful plants with all of the water and nutrients they need. As soil is not essential, these terrariums can be decorated using more interesting layers like sand, moss, or rocks, and displayed almost anywhere.

Air plants are commonly used in hanging terrariums and displayed like ornaments. They are ideal if you are looking for a design that favors style over function and is easy to make at home with the right air plant terrarium kit. 

Challenge yourself with tropical plants

Perhaps you are an avid gardener who knows all there is to know about plants. If this is the case, a tropical terrarium class may be the perfect challenge for you. They are ideal if you want to bring a bit of the tropics into your home and your design can be as simple or elaborate as you want it to be – the choice is yours!

Requiring a little more TLC than other terrarium designs, our expert floristry teachers will show you how to create a lush and vibrant jungle environment, ideal for these exotic plants. Learn more about the diverse habitats that your plant species come from and get creative with mosses, ferns, and epiphytes. You’ll be amazed by the stunning tropical landscape you can create in just a few short hours!