---
title: Terrarium basics | Glass Jar Garden
description: Terrarium keeping for beginners in a few lines: the jar, the layers, plants, moss and the cleanup crew.
url: https://glassjar.garden/guide/basics/
---

Guide

# Basics
Never made a terrarium? Start here.

- [The jar: A sealed jar waters itself: plants breathe water out, it beads on the glass and runs back down.](https://glassjar.garden/guide/basics/the-jar/)
- [Layers: Bottom to top: drainage, a barrier, soil, then a top dressing.](https://glassjar.garden/guide/basics/layers/)
- [Plants: Small, slow and alike in what they want.](https://glassjar.garden/guide/basics/plants/)
- [Moss: No roots: moss drinks from the air and the surface it sits on.](https://glassjar.garden/guide/basics/moss/)
- [Cleanup crew: Tiny animals that keep a jar from rotting.](https://glassjar.garden/guide/basics/cleanup-crew/)