The Bedside Garden + DIY

Hello and Happy Wednesday! I hope this glittery camel graphic cheers you on as you power through your week.

Aside from my hump-backed friend though, I've found a new hobby: gardening. When I say gardening, I don't mean spending a peaceful afternoon outside with floppy hat and miniature tools (as fabulous as that may sound). My "garden" lives right on my bedside table.

Because an actual pet wasn't an option, I've been exercising my green thumb. In a dorm my resources were fairly limited, so I had to keep it small and preferably simple. Here are a couple of pretty, low-maintenance options to spruce up any space!

It all started with these guys (Christian and Lacroix). Long story short, I was looking for a funny gift for my boyfriend's birthday, and I stumbled across these. As a kid, I was fascinated by Venus Flytraps, so I naturally had to have these. And paint a small portrait of them, obviously.

Whether or not you're into carnivorous plants--potentially useful pest control--an upcycled tea tin is the perfect place for a small plant. Another cute alternative to this could be any variety of herbs! Plus, who doesn't want an excuse to pick out an adorable new tin of tea?

My next target became this little collection of cacti and a succulent. They're colorful, small, and incredibly low maintenance, AKA the perfect new pets for the busy bee.

Initially, I kept them in this cake stand. However, it turned out that the contents were too heavy, and the glass broke: cue temporary distress. After a quick trip to TJ Maxx and an absurd amount of sweeping, voila! A new, much more stable little plant home was created.

The smaller opening made replanting a bit more difficult, but it was manageable. Here are a few tips for creating your own terrarium:

• Add a layer of small stones at the bottom of your container if it doesn't drain like a conventional pot. This will drain the excess water away from the roots. (But be careful to not get carried away, they get heavy and can take up a lot of room.)

• Next, cover the stones with a thin layer of potting soil to place the plants on top of.

• If you're planting in an enclosure with a small opening like this, place the plants in back to front. Pack dirt around each individual plant before moving on to the next.

• Garnish if you'd like! The stones I had left from the bottom of the container I placed around the top to add more color contrast.  

• And of course, when you choose to combine different plants in the container, make sure they have compatible needs in terms of light and water.

Though these plants may not wag their tails for me at the door--and they are certainly not cuddly--they bring a fresh breath of air into my space. Next on my list is a little bonsai tree from a local nursery. Any other suggestions? Comment below and let me know ☺

---Madison