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Tom Dixon’s Guide to Building the Perfect Terrarium

By Avery Stone on February 08, 2018

The British designer provides an easy, step-by-step guide using double-headed vases from his new PLANT family.

This season, when the outdoor status quo is snow and ice, adding some greenery indoors is a simple and stylish way to warm up any room in your home.

With his new PLANT family, British designer Tom Dixon has made it easier than ever to exercise your green thumb in the winter. This line of double-headed glass vases is designed specifically to house micro-ecosystems (in addition to floral arrangements), and the result is an aesthetic gift to any countertop, table, or indoor life in general. Available in small ($165) and large ($310) sizes, each vase is hand-blown in Poland and varies slightly in size and shape.

Below, Dixon offers a visual guide to building your own terrarium using the PLANT vase.

Courtesy Tom Dixon

1. Clean the inside of the vessel to ensure there's no residue that could harm the plant.

Courtesy Tom Dixon

2. Fill the bottom of the vessel with a 1 ½ inch layer of small rocks to collect the water drainage.

Courtesy Tom Dixon

3. Add a layer of potting soil made for succulents. It should be deep enough for the plants to root to, so roughly 2 ½ inches.

Courtesy Tom Dixon

4. Remove the largest plant from its container and dust excess soil off the roots. You may want to trim the roots, so they aren't too long.

Courtesy Tom Dixon

5. Using a long-stemmed implement, make a hole in the soil for the roots and nestle the plant inside. Then part the soil down firmly to hold the plant in place.