Make your own lantern terrarium – the perfect Christmas centrepiece or handmade gift

Set the table in style with your own homemade terrarium

By Tamara Kelly
published

This year Christmas is all about crafting. Firstly to add a handmade element to festivities but also to make celebrations more affordable. This festive lantern terrarium is ideal for making an impressive mini indoor planter on a budget.

Perfect to add a sense of homemade pride to your decorating scheme, by making it the focal point on the Christmas table. Equally it's ideal to give as a gift for green-fingered friends.

Related: The budget DIY wreath trending for Christmas 2020 – here's how to make your own

Make your own lantern terrarium

lantern and plant decoration material

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Dan Duchars)

What you need to make a festive lantern terrarium

  • Lantern
  • A selection of succulents and plants, approximately 4-5
  • Florists moss
  • Pine cones
  • Gold glitter
  • PVA glue
  • Wooden sticks
  • Gold card or mini tree decorations
  • Coloured gravel

Step 1. Decorate the pine cones

table with decoration material

(Image credit: Future PLC/Dan Duchars)

Give the pine cones a gentle frosting, to make them feel festive. First step is to decorate a selection of pine cones with glitter. A blob of glue on the outer leaves will be enough to hold the glitter.

Step 2. Craft festive plant stakes

table with small cardboard christmas tree

(Image credit: Future PLC/Dan Duchars)

Make festive plant stakes by using craft glue to bond a wooden decoration to a skewer, trimming this down if necessary.

Step 3. Fill the lantern with moss and plants

wooden table with lantern and plants

(Image credit: Future PLC/Dan Duchars)

Place a bottom layer of moss at the base of the lantern, green side facing out. Add a thin layer of compost and water a little then plant up the succulents, placing the taller plants at the centre.

Step 4. Add the finishing touches

mini indoor planter created with lantern terrarium

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Dan Duchars)

Finally, scatter the gravel around the plant bases before adding the pine cones, plant stake and wire lights. Be sure to keep the battery pack out of sight around the back and thread it through the lantern door. Remove lights when watering the plants.

More handmade decorations: Make your own scandi-inspired felt Christmas trees – in four easy steps

Will you be making your own Christmas terrarium?

Tamara Kelly
Contributor

Tamara was Ideal Home's Digital Editor before joining the Woman & Home team in 2022. She has spent the last 15 years working with the style teams at Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home, both now at Future PLC. It’s with these award wining interiors teams that she's honed her skills and passion for shopping, styling and writing. Tamara is always ahead of the curve when it comes to interiors trends – and is great at seeking out designer dupes on the high street. 

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