Terrariums: Gardens Under Glass

The single best introduction to building terrariums at home. Maria Colletti, dubbed a “terrarium savant” by Edible Manhattan and a popular workshop instructor at the New York Botanical Garden, wrote this book to take you from zero experience to confidently designing your own miniature gardens. It has earned a trusted place in the terrarium community since its publication.

Why Start Here

Many terrarium books are either too narrow, focusing on one style of build, or too vague, offering pretty photos without enough practical guidance. “Gardens Under Glass” strikes the right balance. Colletti starts with clear explanations of the science behind terrariums: how moisture cycles work in closed containers, why drainage layers matter, and which plants actually thrive in glass environments. By the time you attempt your first build, you understand the principles, not just the steps.

The book features over twenty complete terrarium designs, each with step-by-step photographs. The range is genuinely useful: you get closed tropical terrariums with ferns and moss, open desert arrangements with succulents and cacti, air plant displays, and even terrariums built around orchids. Colletti covers container selection in detail, helping you understand why certain shapes and sizes work better for specific plant combinations.

What makes this book stand out for beginners is Colletti’s workshop background. She has taught terrarium building to thousands of students in person, so she knows exactly where people get confused or make mistakes. Her plant recommendations are specific and practical. She does not just tell you to “use a fern.” She names the varieties that work best, explains why, and suggests alternatives if you cannot find her first choice.

The photography deserves special mention. Every project is shot in natural light with clear angles, so you can see exactly how each layer should look as you build. For a craft where visual cues are essential, knowing what a properly misted terrarium looks like versus an overwatered one, this visual guidance makes a real difference.

What to Expect

A beautifully photographed, workshop-tested guide to building terrariums of every style. At 176 pages, it covers the science of miniature ecosystems, plant selection for different container types, over twenty step-by-step projects, and practical care instructions. The tone is knowledgeable and encouraging, and the progressive range of projects means you can start simple and build toward more ambitious designs. This is the book you will keep coming back to as your terrarium collection grows.