In case you don't know what a Lindt Maxi Ball is, it's a large clear plastic ball filled with delicious Lindt chocolates and you usually find them around Christmas and Easter when they're packaged up like a giant bonbon.
So, how do you go about turning one into a terrarium?
Well, here's what you'll need to make this cute woodland themed terrarium:
- Lindt Chocolate Maxi Ball
- Coloured gravel in your choice of colour
- Horticultural Charcoal - choose fine rather than coarse (this keeps the soil smelling sweet which is important as there are no drainage holes)
- Potting Mix
- Small piece of fly screen
- Selection of small plants (all with the same growing/moisture requirements). Mine are all ferns and come in 5cm (2" pots)
- Assorted figurines
You'll also need some scissors and a small pot that you can use to scoop the soil into position and a spray mister filled with water.
Before you can begin, you need to empty the plastic bonbon sphere of all the Lindt chocolates. The best way to do this is to eat them!
One half of the bonbon sphere is flat so it's perfect for the bottom. The other half conveniently has a hole in the top which will be great for plant respiration. Set the lid aside.
Pour a 1cm (3/8") layer of gravel in the bottom.
Cut the fly screen to fit on top of the gravel without being visible.
and position it on top of the gravel.
Pour a layer of charcoal over the fly screen. If your charcoal is chunky like mine is, remove the larger pieces.
Next, fill the bottom with potting mix.
....and tamp it down. I've filled to within 2cm (3/4") of the top.
Gently remove the plants from their pots.....
....and then make a hole in the soil large enough to place each plant in position.
Fill with soil up to the crown of each plant.
Pour another layer of gravel on top of the soil.
Position your figurines amongst the greenery. Mist the plants with water and then place the lid back on the sphere, taking care that the leaves don't get caught.
And that's it! Now you can justify purchasing that giant foil wrapped bonbon filled with everyone's favourite Swiss Chocolate!
This is such a simple and fun project that you can do with children. Let them get involved by personalising it with their own theme such as dinosaurs or fairies to help make it their own.
'Til next time.....
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