The Moss Fairy
DIY Terrarium Starter Kit – Everything But the Jar
DIY Terrarium Starter Kit – Everything But the Jar
Free UK delivery. International rates at checkout.
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EVERYTHING BUT THE JAR 🌿
Got an empty jar, vase or glass container waiting for a purpose? This DIY terrarium starter kit contains the essential layers and tools for creating your own miniature terrarium or mossarium—without making you buy another container you don’t need.
Just add a jar. Choose one of the live-moss options if you’d also like us to supply the greenery.
The supplied quantities suit most small-to-medium glass containers. Exact coverage will depend on the shape of your container and how deeply you build each layer.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Clay pebbles for drainage
- Activated charcoal
- Sphagnum moss
- Terrarium topsoil mix
- Mini silver soil scoop
- Step-by-step assembly instructions
Every component is individually packed and labelled, ready for your build. The glass container is not included.
CHOOSE YOUR KIT
Kit Only — The complete starter kit for anyone who already has their own plants or moss. Sourcing your own moss? Browse our full live moss collection.
Kit + Live Moss — Everything in the starter kit, plus fresh living moss for creating your miniature landscape.
Kit + Live Moss + Brass Frog — The complete kit, fresh live moss and one tiny solid-brass frog to inhabit your new world.
HOW THE LAYERS WORK
The clay pebbles form a drainage reservoir beneath the soil. Activated charcoal helps keep the enclosed environment fresher, while sphagnum moss helps separate the layers and retain moisture. The terrarium topsoil creates the growing layer for your moss and suitable humidity-loving plants.
BUILDING YOUR TERRARIUM
- Add the clay pebbles to the bottom of your container.
- Sprinkle a thin layer of activated charcoal above them.
- Add the sphagnum moss to help separate the drainage and soil layers.
- Spoon in the terrarium topsoil.
- Arrange your moss and any suitable small plants.
- Give everything a gentle mist and place the terrarium in bright, indirect light.
Your step-by-step instructions will guide you through the complete build. Want a preview first? Read our step-by-step moss terrarium guide, or start with what a mossarium actually is.
CHOOSING A CONTAINER
A clear glass jar, vase or similar container will let you see the layers and monitor moisture easily. A lid helps create a humid, enclosed environment for moss, while an open container will need more regular moisture checks.
Clean the container thoroughly before building and avoid anything with sharp edges or damage.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR TERRARIUM HAPPY
Keep it somewhere cool with bright, indirect light. Avoid hot windowsills and strong direct sun, which can quickly overheat the glass.
If you add live moss, mist only when it begins to look or feel dry. Heavy condensation usually means there is too much moisture—remove the lid for a while and allow some fresh air inside.
For more help, read our guide to caring for live moss in a terrarium.
MAKE IT YOUR OWN
Add small stones, bark, suitable humidity-loving plants or one tiny brass resident. Every build develops its own character, and no two miniature landscapes turn out quite the same.
MAKE IT A GIFT
This miniature mossarium makes an unusual gift for plant lovers, terrarium beginners and anyone who could use a small patch of woodland on their desk. Gift wrapping and a personal message can be added.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does this kit include a jar?
No. This is an everything-but-the-jar kit, designed for a glass container you already own.
Does the kit include live moss?
Live moss is included only when you select one of the live-moss options. Choose Kit Only if you already have your own moss or plants.
What size container will it fill?
The supplied quantities suit most small-to-medium glass containers. Coverage varies according to the container’s shape and the depth of each layer.
Are plants included?
No plants are included. Depending on the option selected, your kit may include fresh live moss.
Is the brass frog included?
The miniature brass frog is included only with the Kit + Live Moss + Brass Frog option.
Is this suitable for beginners?
Yes. The components arrive separately packed and labelled, with step-by-step instructions to guide you through the build.
Carefully packed in Bristol by The Moss Fairy. Free UK delivery. International delivery calculated at checkout.
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Instructions to set up terrarium were very clear!
Ordered the DIY mossarium starter kit as a gift for my partner. They loved it! Good set and instructions.
Thank you very much! I am sure I got this and have just missed logging it in. Thank you so very much. I have put several moss kits together trying different ones to see who's was the best. I do believe yours was one of the easiest as it came with very clear instructions, which made yours one of the easiest to use. I will be ordering more as soon as next month. Thank you!
Lovely little box of micro moss. Arrived in excellent condition. Will definitely be ordering from this seller again.
Great quality, quick delivery
- 5 stars: 15 (94%)
- 4 stars: 0 (0%)
- 3 stars: 0 (0%)
- 2 stars: 0 (0%)
- 1 star: 1 (6%)
Instructions to set up terrarium were very clear!
Ordered the DIY mossarium starter kit as a gift for my partner. They loved it! Good set and instructions.
Thank you very much! I am sure I got this and have just missed logging it in. Thank you so very much. I have put several moss kits together trying different ones to see who's was the best. I do believe yours was one of the easiest as it came with very clear instructions, which made yours one of the easiest to use. I will be ordering more as soon as next month. Thank you!
Lovely little box of micro moss. Arrived in excellent condition. Will definitely be ordering from this seller again.
Great quality, quick delivery
Purchased at the end of March. A full month later and haven’t received order. I did not realize there was an option to track. Not seller’s fault but messaged seller about wether live moss would survive this long in packaging and if there’s any way she has any info on her end of the shipping but got no response.
Order was from the UK to Canada.
It wasn’t a cheap product for what it is and neither was shipping. But I took a chance thinking the product seemed well thought out. Seems the gamble didn’t pay off. So pretty
Funny thing is, I ordered something else from another store that was also from the UK a week or so after placing the moss order and I received that in a week. Really don’t know what else I can do.
Got it for my sister she loved it great quality
Was easily able to get started from the included instructions, includes everything you could need other than the jar or bottle itself (and maybe a pair of chopsticks depending on what you are using for a container) I just hope I can keep it all alive long term!
Good quality items and enough for a small/medium terrarium. Arrived promptly and well packaged.
Got it for my dad for fathers day and he loves it!
Fast delivery. Plants still alive - that means it’s good components:-) thank you 🙏
This kit was exactly as described. Great service and what we needed to make up a Christmas Day terrarium. (We collected extra moss which was fun in itself). Thanks so much. I recommend heartily. 👍😁
Needed to send a message to the shop, got a response back quickly. Items arrived and seem great, enough for two reasonably chunky terrariums
Fantastic!
Very well packed, good quantity worth the money.
Arrived really quickly and was wrapped really nicely with instructions on each item, I loved it x
Very nice little kit to put a terrarium together. Arrived within 3 days and seller was quick to reply with some advice I needed. Would advise people to get the right container for the moss, I had used an open glass terrarium which isn’t suitable.
Thank you Moss Fairy!