Build Your Own Terrarium in Scotch Plains, NJ: A Hands-On Studio Experience
There’s something satisfying about starting with an empty glass container and watching a little landscape take shape beneath your hands. A patch of moss becomes a hillside. A few stones suggest a path. One carefully placed plant changes the whole scene.
At Nature Behind Glass in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, our hands-on terrarium workshops give you time to explore that process with guidance along the way. Studio sessions typically last 60–90 minutes, with space for up to four participants. During your visit, you’ll also have a chance to explore the studio’s terrarium gallery and see the possibilities of these small living worlds.
Start with the materials and a little curiosity
The workshop table is where it begins: glass containers, plants, moss, stones, and tools ready to work with. Seeing the materials laid out makes the process feel approachable. You can look closely at the different leaf shapes and textures and start imagining how they might fit together.
You don’t need to arrive with a finished design in mind. Part of the experience is discovering what catches your eye as you work. You might be drawn to a soft, mossy landscape, a splash of colorful foliage, or a few stones that give your miniature garden a sense of place.
Build your landscape, one detail at a time
As you assemble your terrarium, we’ll talk through the purpose of its layers, the placement of the plants, and how to work with the shape of the container. You’ll have guidance while making your own design choices.
Some of the most interesting decisions happen at a small scale. Should that stone sit a little higher? Would the plant look better toward the back? Does a patch of moss help bring the arrangement together?
There’s room to try something, step back, and adjust it. Moving one piece can change the balance of the whole terrarium.
The tools help with those little adjustments. Long straight and bent tweezers let you reach inside the glass, position a plant, or tuck moss into a space that fingers can’t easily reach. Learning how to use them is part of the fun.
Make something that feels like yours
Even with similar materials, each terrarium can take a different direction. The way you combine the plants, arrange the stones, and leave space between them gives your creation its character.
The aim is to help you understand the materials and feel comfortable making choices. You’ll be working with living plants, so the design you create is also the beginning of something that will grow and change.
Explore the terrarium gallery during your visit
A studio visit also gives you a chance to view the Nature Behind Glass terrarium gallery.
The shelves hold a variety of planted glass vessels, from small bowls and bottles to larger landscapes. Seeing them in person lets you notice details that photographs can miss: the depth of a planting, the texture of the moss, or how the shape of a vessel frames the plants inside.
Take a closer look, ask questions, and see what inspires you. The gallery can spark an idea for the terrarium you’re making or for a future project.
Learn how to care for your terrarium
Building is only part of the experience. We’ll also talk about caring for your terrarium at home, including where to place it, what to watch for as it settles in, and how its watering needs depend on the plants and container.
Understanding those basics helps you keep enjoying your creation after the workshop. You can also refer to our terrarium care guide as you get to know your miniature garden.
Plan your visit
Nature Behind Glass is located at 460 Park Avenue, 2nd Floor, above Wells Fargo Bank, in Scotch Plains, NJ. Studio visits are by appointment.
Our studio workshops typically run for 60–90 minutes and accommodate up to four participants. Come to spend time making something with your hands, enjoy the plants, and explore the gallery while you’re here.
Email hock@naturebehindglass.com for inquiries or to book a class.
