As many of you saw on Facebook and Instagram, we went on a major lumber run, which means a lot of building is about to begin in the nursery. But first we need to paint the walls and ceiling, so we’re hoping to finish that today and tomorrow and have an update by Monday. Three cheers for finally removing those door-overspray marks on the wall!

While we tackle the painting, I wanted to share a simple, anyone-can-do-it project that involves living things: a tiny deer living in a tiny glass house inside our house. The good news is he can’t die, but the plants nearby most definitely can.

This project is one of my experiments to see whether low-maintenance plants actually exist, since my track record with plants is not exactly stellar. Remember when I begged for help keeping my cacti alive? The surprising update: they’re still alive and kicking more than two months later.

Want to know how I managed that? By mostly ignoring them. Seriously—I’ve only watered them once in two months. People advised giving them a drop when the soil feels very dry, and I took that to heart. They seem to prefer that minimal attention, and so far they’re doing fine. Some of you even noticed them in a recent chair post. Small victories for the cacti.

After that modest success with a no-maintenance planting approach, my confidence swelled just enough to try another supposedly self-sustaining setup: a terrarium. I found a glass container I liked at a local shop; it was originally intended as a light fixture, but the piece I bought wasn’t drilled for wiring and was marked down. It practically whispered, “Fill me with a few green things and a tiny plastic deer.” So I figured I’d try to make a terrarium that required minimal upkeep.

Here’s how I built it, step by step.

Step 1. Choose a glass container you like. An apothecary jar, a large glass jar with a lid, or any clear vessel with a sealable top will work well for a closed terrarium.

Step 2. Read up on terrarium tutorials to pick a method that fits your level of commitment. Many guides recommend a charcoal layer for closed terrariums because it helps filter the environment and keeps the system more self-stable, reducing the need to open and water frequently.

Step 3. Gather supplies: gravel, horticultural charcoal, potting soil, and small plants. I used gravel from my driveway to form a drainage layer, potting soil from the garage, two small succulents from a big-box store, and a tiny bag of charcoal purchased at a local greenhouse. These basic materials are inexpensive and widely available.

Step 4. Add about an inch of gravel to the bottom of the container to create a drainage layer and prevent roots from sitting in excess moisture.

Step 5. Add about an inch of charcoal on top of the gravel. The charcoal helps control odors and inhibits bacteria or mold growth, which contributes to the terrarium’s self-sustaining balance.

Step 6. Add two to three inches of potting soil on top of the charcoal. Make sure the soil depth suits the root systems of the small plants you selected.

Step 7. Plant your chosen small plants gently into the potting soil, arranging them so they have space to grow without overcrowding. If you’re using succulents, remember they prefer drier conditions, so keep that in mind for a sealed container.

Step 8. Add a decorative touch if you like—mine included a tiny plastic deer for whimsy. Personal details make the mini ecosystem feel like a tiny landscape or vignette.

Step 9. Mist the plants lightly with water to moisten the soil—just a few sprays or a small splash is enough for a sealed terrarium. Then close the container. In a closed terrarium, moisture cycles on its own, so you shouldn’t need to water again often.

It’s been over a week since I sealed my terrarium, and the plants are holding up well. There’s no drooping, and they even seem a little happier than they were in their plastic nursery pots. The glass hasn’t fogged into a dramatic fog of condensation, nor has it dried out completely—both are signs to watch for. The true test will be whether this small, sealed environment becomes a thriving micro-garden or a gloomy little tomb. I’ll keep you posted on how they fare.

If you have terrarium tips, especially for closed systems using succulents or other low-maintenance plants, I’d love to hear them. You all helped me with the cacti, so I’m hoping the terrarium community can share a few tricks for keeping this tiny ecosystem healthy and low-effort.