VOL.93/2026.04

A Tiny World of Nature Inside a Glass Jar: Terrariums

2025.12.01

How to Make a Good Terrarium
- Written by Kim Yoon-Gu, illustrated by Apisto, published by Media SAM

Bring nature into your hands,
and grow a little ecosystem inside a jar!

The word “terrarium” comes from the Latin words “terra” (earth) and “arium” (container or space), meaning “a space that holds the earth.” The terrarium is known to have originated in 19th-century London. At that time, severe air pollution caused by industrialization made it difficult to grow plants indoors, but when a fern spore was accidentally discovered thriving inside a sealed glass jar, it led to the development of the modern terrarium we know today. As urbanization progressed around the world, interest in plants that help reduce fine dust increased, and terrariums - an easy way to grow plants indoors - came to symbolize “nature within the city.” They have since gained popularity as ecological learning materials for children and as interior or hobby items for adults. Beyond plants alone, there are also various types, such as vivariums, which house insects and reptiles together, and paludariums, which create semi-aquatic environments that blend land and water.
The book featured in this month’s issue, How to Make a Good Terrarium, introduces everything from the history and principles of terrariums to various types such as glass-jar terrariums, cube terrariums, and paludariums, along with proper maintenance methods. The author, a terrarium artist who runs the YouTube channel “GuGarden (구의정원),” shares the joy of communicating with nature by cultivating personal miniature gardens with his own hands. In this book, he generously offers knowledge on essential materials for making terrariums, methods for arranging plants, ways to eliminate pests and mold, and, further, tips for keeping plants healthy and thriving. One of the book’s strengths is that it provides explanations accompanied by detailed illustrations, helping anyone to easily understand and follow along. Experience the infinite vitality of greenery within a small glass jar, through How to Make a Good Terrarium! It will serve as a helpful guide not only for plant enthusiasts, but also for those interested in creating vivariums or paludariums.