Tending to a garden is calming and restorative. I often find gardening as satisfying—sometimes even more so—than decorating. Today I’ll show you how to make a simple succulent terrarium that doubles as a diffuser garden using essential oils.
Planting for health, stress relief, and self-care is one of the practical ideas I share in my book. Creating small gardens has been beneficial to my well-being over the years, whether I make a tiny arrangement or a larger one.
This weekend my daughters and I decided to make little terrarium gardens. Miniature gardens are therapeutic projects anyone can enjoy alone, and they also make a great family or party activity.
You might recall that I’ve made other terrariums and miniature gardens in the past. They’re easy to assemble if you let go of perfection and focus on creativity and fun.
Here is how to make a terrarium diffuser garden!
- Gather your supplies.
Visit a garden center or use plants you already have. Succulents and air plants work especially well. You can use almost any vessel—a glass jar, a small lantern, a teacup, or a coffee mug. Collect a potting mix suitable for succulents, small rocks for drainage, decorative stones or moss, and any small tools you might need to plant.
For our project we used a small glass terrarium-style container for air plants and a small brass lantern for a terrarium diffuser. Each container holds a bit of potting mix, rocks for drainage, moss, and the plants themselves.
2. Planting.
Start by placing small rocks in the bottom of your vessel for drainage, then add a layer of potting mix. To fit plants into a small container, gently remove some soil from around the roots. Position the plants, pat down the soil around them, and add more mix where needed. Finish by topping with decorative rocks and moss. You can include a small decorative stone for extra charm.
Succulents are generally hardy and forgiving. The most important care tip is to avoid overwatering. Even if a plant doesn’t thrive long-term, the process of creating the terrarium is enjoyable and rewarding.
3. Add essential oils (optional).
You can easily turn your terrarium into a gentle, natural diffuser by adding a few drops of essential oil to the moss. Place the terrarium where you’ll enjoy the scent—on a bedside table, bathroom shelf, or desk. Inhaling the aroma combines the sensory benefits of the plants with those of the essential oils.
I added about five drops of a calming blend to our terrarium and it smells wonderful. Any mild, non-toxic essential oil is suitable for this use. Popular choices for a soothing atmosphere include lavender, citrus blends, and other gentle calming oils.
Suggested oils that work well in small terrarium diffusers:
Peace & Calming
Lavender
Stress Away
Citrus Fresh
Frankincense
Peppermint
Lemon
Thieves
Raven
Valor
Diffusing oils in an ultrasonic diffuser is another effective way to distribute scent and enjoy the emotional and health benefits; it disperses tiny oil particles into the air when used with water. I often use a diffuser in the evening to create a calming routine for the household.
Essential oils can also help calm pets when used appropriately. In our home, a gentle calming oil has been helpful for our Goldendoodle during anxious moments. Always research and use pet-safe oils and consult a veterinarian if you have concerns.
Use non-toxic scents and safe practices.
Choose non-toxic, high-quality essential oils and follow safe usage guidelines. If you have pets or children, double-check which oils are safe around them and use oils sparingly in small, ventilated spaces.
