How do I create a JAR bottle garden? Step-by-step instructions for JAR series

Before creating your first bottle garden, ask yourself: How much soil do I need? Which drainage is best? Are the plants starting to get moldy? How do you create the perfect ecosystem so that it works? 

We have made countless attempts to achieve the perfect conditions. And to make it easier for others, we put together a set that worked best based on our tests. We would like to share this with you in the following guide.

Step 1

Carefully fill in the lava gravel from bag A for drainage and distribute evenly at the bottom of the bottle garden.
Tip: Hold the glass jar at an angle and let the gravel slide down the side wall to avoid the risk of breakage. 

STEP 2

Distribute activated carbon from bag B evenly over lava gravel to prevent mold growth in the bottle garden.

STEP 3

Carefully fill in the plant substrate from bag C, which we have specially mixed, in order to provide the plants in the glass with a perfect basis for life.

Tip: Please use an underlay, e.g. old newspaper, to prevent soiling.

STEP 4

Compact the plant substrate carefully and evenly by hand and then use your fingers to dig 3 small plant holes (for 2 small plants and moss) on the edge of the glass, which are deep down to the lava gravel.

Tip: A previously created sketch for the arrangement helps.

STEP 5

Take the plants out of the flower pot by pushing them to the side and standing upside down and place them in the holes. Press carefully but firmly on all sides.

Tip: Place the tallest plant last, as centrally as possible, so that there is plenty of space for your hands in the glass.

STEP 6

After the smaller plants and the moss have been planted on the outer walls, a hole is dug in the middle and the tallest plant is placed there. Then press/compact the potting soil at the edge of the glass with your fingers. The middle of the jar thus represents the highest point of a hill in your garden glass.

STEP 7

Carefully place the decorative stone on an open space in the bottle garden and press lightly.

STEP 8

Use a soft cloth (e.g. handkerchief) to carefully clean the inside and outside of the plant glass of soil and dirt. The leaves of the plants can be cleaned of dirt, for example, with a small brush. If necessary, particularly high shoots of the central plant can be cut off with scissors.

STEP 9

Use a measuring cup to measure out 100 ml of low-calcium water (ideally rainwater) and spread it carefully and evenly in the glass. Then close the bottle garden and set it up in a bright but not sunny place (ideally a north or east window).

Step 10

After about 2 to 3 days, the moisture is evenly distributed in the soil. Then open the bottle garden again for about 24 hours until the surface moisture has evaporated. If necessary, repeat step 10 (2 – 3 times) until the glass no longer fogs up during the day. A light mist in the morning is normal and shows that the biotope is working well.