Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. TV

Make a coffee table terrarium

Turn your old furniture into a garden under glass. - by Charlie Albone
  • 27 Feb 2020

Traditional terrariums are mini landscapes grown in glass bowls and jars or under a dome. They are a fantastic way to add plants to your interior spaces especially if space is limited but you can also take them a step further. For a fantastic feature piece, you can turn a glass-topped coffee table into a terrarium with a few adjustments and clever selection of plants. And don't stop there, if you have a fish tank that's been sitting empty, take it from aquarium to terrarium in a few easy steps. 

Gather your supplies

• Fired clay balls

• Sphagnum moss

• Horticultural charcoal

• Potting mix

• Moss

• Plants

Coffee table with a pond shell inside
Photography Brent Wilson

STEP 1 Build a grow box from marine plywood to fit inside the table legs. Reinforce the legs for the extra weight and line the box with a PVC pond liner to waterproof it. Or, you can use a pond shell in the base with ply cladding, then stain or paint it. 

Clay balls and sphagnum moss in a terrarium
Photography Brent Wilson

STEP 2 Create a base layer of fired clay balls. Soak sphagnum moss in a bucket of water then, working with a handful at a time, squeeze out excess moisture and spread a layer about 20-30mm deep over clay balls.

Horticultural charcoal in a terrarium
Photography Brent Wilson

STEP 3 Pour a thin layer of horticultural charcoal over the sphagnum moss and spread it out evenly.

Plant up a terrarium
Photography Brent Wilson

STEP 4 Scoop potting mix over the charcoal layer to about 150mm deep. Make planting holes, remove each plant from pot and place in hole. Backfill with potting mix and firm down.

Spray-mist terrarium plants
Photography Brent Wilson

STEP 5 Spray the plants with water to moisten the mix and help create humidity in the terrarium. Replace the glass top and you’re done!

Coffee table terrarium
Photography Brent Wilson
Fish tank terrarium mounted on a wall
Photography Brent Wilson

Get the project sheet

Download the step-by-step instructions to this aquarium terrarium

For more gardening ideas, pick up a copy of the latest issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine in selected newsagents and supermarkets or buy online today!

If you didn't catch the episode on TV, you can watch the full ep HERE on 7Plus

  • DIY
  • Garden
  • TV
  • Indoor Plants
Charlie Albone
Charlie Albone
Charlie has worked internationally and in Australia for the past 17 years, designing and building gardens that are timeless, inspiring and enjoyable to spend time in. In 2015 and 2016, he was awarded two Silver gilt medals for his own gardens at the world’s most prestigious flower show The Chelsea Flower Show.

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

Melissa makes colourful colander hanging baskets

Melissa makes colourful colander hanging baskets

How to grow and care for maiden hair ferns

How to grow and care for maiden hair ferns

The best plants to add to your terrarium

The best plants to add to your terrarium

A guide to dracaena plants

A guide to dracaena plants

{headline}

{headline}

What type of bonsai tree is best for you?

What type of bonsai tree is best for you?

How to grow and care for philodendrons

How to grow and care for philodendrons

5 plants to put in your bedroom for a better night’s sleep

5 plants to put in your bedroom for a better night’s sleep

{headline}

{headline}

6 pink indoor plants to brighten up your home

6 pink indoor plants to brighten up your home

Pink succulents are the prettiest new indoor plant trend

Pink succulents are the prettiest new indoor plant trend

5 ways to upcycle glass jars

5 ways to upcycle glass jars

10 plants that will survive indoors

10 plants that will survive indoors

How to care for indoor ferns

How to care for indoor ferns

10 of the best low light indoor plants

10 of the best low light indoor plants

How to save a dying plant

How to save a dying plant

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • 7mate
  • 7NEWS
  • 7Sport
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Shop This Offer
Treat yourself to a subscription