As a learning and development professional, I’m always searching for team building activities that aren’t just a “fun day off.” I want something that’s engaging, yes, but also meaningful. I want an activity that genuinely connects people, sparks a new conversation, and maybe, just maybe, teaches us something important about ourselves and our team.
I’ve run the “company picnics,” the “escape rooms,” and the “happy hours.” They’re all fine. But the one activity I keep coming back to, the one that has the most surprising, lasting impact, is the humble terrarium workshop.
I know what you’re thinking. “Arts and crafts? For my team of senior managers?”
Hear me out.
A terrarium workshop is not just about playing with plants and dirt. It’s a powerful, hands on, and deeply meditative tool for teaching mindfulness, wellness, and team connection. It’s a living, breathing metaphor for the very ecosystem you are trying to build in your organization.
This post is my complete blueprint. I’m not just going to show you the 7 simple steps to build a terrarium. I’m going to show you why this is the perfect L&D activity, what you’ll need to run it for a group, and (most importantly) how to facilitate it to connect the activity back to your most important leadership and team goals.
Part 1: The “Why”: The Leadership Metaphors in a Jar
Table of Contents
The magic of this workshop isn’t in the plant. It’s in the metaphor. When I facilitate this, I build the “why” in first, right from the introduction. Here are the three powerful themes you can lean on.
1. A Perfect Metaphor for Your Team Ecosystem
A terrarium is a micro ecosystem. It’s a community of different elements, each with a specific role, all living in a shared environment. Just like our teams.
For the terrarium to thrive, it needs balance. It needs a strong foundation (the gravel), a way to filter out negativity (the charcoal), the right nutrients to grow (the soil), and a diverse group of “inhabitants” (the plants) that support each other. If one layer fails, the whole system suffers.
Does this sound like your team? You bet it does. This metaphor is simple, visual, and incredibly sticky.
Also read: The Role of Microculture in Team Success
2. A Powerful Mindfulness and Wellness Tool
We are in a crisis of burnout. Our teams are over connected, over stimulated, and living in a digital world of pings, emails, and back to back video calls.
A terrarium workshop is a powerful antidote. It is a quiet, non digital, sensory activity. It forces you to slow down. To focus. To be present. The simple, tactile act of working with your hands, with soil and plants, is meditative. It’s a practical, accessible mindfulness exercise that helps reduce stress and re center the mind.
Also read: How Mandala Art Can Help Improve Employee Mental Health and Well Being
3. A Living Symbol of Nurturing and Growth
Unlike an escape room, which is over in an hour, a terrarium is a living thing. The team creates something tangible together that lasts.
It becomes a living symbol of the team’s commitment. It represents the “growth mindset” in a physical form. And it requires nurturing. It’s a beautiful, daily reminder that our team culture, like a plant, doesn’t just happen. It needs to be cared for, watered, and given the right conditions to grow.
Also read: How to Nurture Growth Mindset in Your Organisation
Part 2: Planning Your Workshop (The Logistics for Leaders)
Okay, you’re sold on the “why.” Now let’s get to the “how.” The original post was a great guide for one person, but running this for a team of 20? That requires a different kind of plan.
A) Open vs. Closed Terrariums
First, you need to decide on your “ecosystem.”
- Closed Terrariums: These are the classic “jar with a lid” ecosystems. You use tropical plants (like ferns, mosses, or the Friendship Plant) that love humidity. Once you build it and get the balance right, it becomes a self sustaining water cycle. They are fascinating, but can be a bit trickier (risk of mold or rot).
- Open Terrariums: These are container gardens with no lid. They are perfect for plants that prefer dry conditions, like succulents and cacti.
My L&D Pro Tip: For a first time team building event, I strongly recommend an open terrarium with succulents. They are more forgiving, less prone to immediate problems, and easier for beginners to manage.
B) The Ultimate Supply List (for Groups)
The original post had a good list of items, but for a group workshop, you need to think in layers. Here is your shopping list.
- The Vessel: Clear glass containers. Small fishbowls, glass vases, or even large glass jars.
- The Drainage Layer: Small pebbles, polished rocks, or gravel.
- The Filter Layer: Activated charcoal (this is critical, especially for closed terrariums, as it filters the water and prevents rot).
- The Soil Layer: The right potting mix. For succulents, you’ll want a “cactus/succulent” mix. For tropicals, a standard indoor potting soil.
- The Plants: The stars of the show! (More on this below).
- The “Fun” Stuff: Decorative moss, colored sand, small figurines, or polished stones.
- The Tools: Long spoons (for placing soil), small brushes (for sweeping off leaves), and tweezers (for placing small plants).
C) Logistics: In Person vs. Virtual
- In Person: This is easiest. You can buy all the supplies in bulk from a local garden center. Lay out a “terrarium bar” on a long table, with each layer in a large bowl with a scoop. Give each person their empty vessel and let them build.
- Virtual: This is now very common and just as effective. You have two choices:
- DIY Kits: Use a service that mails a complete “terrarium kit” to each team member’s home before the event.
- Reimburse: Send everyone a specific, simple supply list (like the one above) and a budget, and have them buy their own. This gives them more creative freedom.
Part 3: How to Make Your Terrarium (The 7-Step Guide)
This is the fun part! This is the core “how-to” I’ve adapted from the original post and perfected over many workshops.
Step 1: The Foundation (Gravel)
Start by placing a 1 to 2 inch layer of pebbles or gravel at the bottom of your vessel. This is the drainage layer. It creates a space for excess water to go so your plant’s roots don’t rot.
Step 2: The Filter (Charcoal)
Add a thin layer (about half an inch) of activated charcoal on top of the gravel. This is the filter for your tiny ecosystem. It helps absorb impurities, reduces odors, and prevents the buildup of bacteria and mold.
Step 3: The Soil (The “Nutrients”)
Add your soil. The original post recommends 2 to 2.5 inches, which is a great rule. You want a layer that’s deep enough for your plants’ roots to grow. A funnel can be helpful here if your container has a narrow opening.
Step 4: Planting Your “Hero” Plant
Time to plant! Start with your largest or most dramatic plant. This is your “hero” plant; it will be the focal point of your design. Use a spoon or your fingers to dig a small hole, gently remove the plant from its nursery pot, and place it in the soil.
Step 5: Adding “Supporting” Plants
Now, add your smaller “supporting” plants around the hero. Think about visual balance. Don’t crowd them; remember, they will grow! The original post suggested a great list, including Baby Tears, Friendship Plant, and Creeping Fig. For succulent terrariums, I love “hens and chicks” and small echeveria.
Step 6: The Finishing Touches (The “Personality”)
This is where your team’s creativity shines. Use decorative moss to cover the soil. Add a few polished stones, a layer of colored sand, or a tiny figurine. This is what makes each terrarium unique.
Step 7: Watering & Care
You’re almost done! The final step is a light watering. For an open succulent terrarium, be very careful not to overwater. A light misting or a few drops of water at the base of each plant is all you need. For a closed terrarium, give it a bit more water to kickstart the water cycle.
Also read: Why Play Works
Part 4: How to Facilitate the Session (The L&D Magic)
This is what separates you from a simple DIY blogger. This is what makes the event meaningful. Your job is not just to give instructions, but to ask powerful questions.
Setting the Stage
Start the workshop by explaining the “Why.” Introduce the metaphor of the terrarium as a team ecosystem. Set some ground rules: “This is not a competition. There is no ‘right’ way to do this. The goal is to be present, be creative, and connect with each other.”
Asking Guiding Questions (The Debrief)
The magic is in the debrief. You don’t just ask questions at the end. You ask them during the process, as people are building each layer.
- When they add gravel (Foundation):
- “This is the foundation. It holds everything up. What is the non-negotiable foundation of our team? What are the ‘rocks’ of our team culture?”
- When they add charcoal (Filter):
- “This layer filters out the bad stuff. As a team, how do we ‘filter’ out negativity, gossip, or bad communication? What is our ‘charcoal’?”
- When they add soil (Nutrients):
- “This is the soil. It provides the nutrients for growth. What ‘nutrients’ do we need to thrive as a team? Is it recognition? Is it better resources? Is it more honesty?”
- When they add plants (Diversity):
- “You’re all choosing different plants. What is the value of this diversity? How do we, as a team, make sure all our different ‘plants’ (skills, personalities) have the space and support they need to thrive?”
- When they decorate (Culture):
- “This is your team’s unique signature. What makes our team culture special? What is that one ‘decoration’ that only our team has?”
The Final Wrap-Up
At the end, have everyone hold up their terrarium. Ask them to share one word that describes their creation. Then, bring it all home.
“Look at this ecosystem you built in an hour. It’s balanced, it’s beautiful, and it’s full of potential. But the work isn’t done. Now, we have to nurture it. Just like our team.”
Also read: 4 Short Stories to Spark Conversations
Part 5: A Quick Guide to Plant Care (The “Nurturing” Metaphor)
Your team’s work isn’t over. They have to keep this thing alive!
- Best Plants (from the original post): Friendship Plant, Baby Tears, East Indian Holly Fern, African Violet, Golden Clubmoss, Croton, Peperomia, and Creeping Fig are all fantastic choices, mostly for closed, tropical terrariums.
- Maintenance: A closed terrarium is a mini water cycle. If it’s fogged up, it’s working! If it’s too fogged, open the lid for an hour for some fresh air. An open terrarium with succulents needs indirect sunlight and very little water (maybe once every 2-3 weeks).
- The Metaphor: Remind your team that this living thing needs consistent care. Just like our team culture. You can’t just build it and forget it. You have to check in, make adjustments, and nurture it.
Also read: Nurturing a Growth Mindset
Conclusion: More Than Just a Plant
A terrarium workshop is the perfect blend of fun, creativity, mindfulness, and meaningful, metaphor-driven learning. It’s a low-pressure, high-impact activity that gets your team out of their inbox and into a state of “flow.”
They will leave with a beautiful, living, breathing reminder of their team’s ecosystem. A reminder that sits on their desk and, in its own quiet way, asks, “What are you doing today to help your ecosystem thrive?”
A Takeaway for L&D and HR Professionals: Our job is to find tools that build genuine connection and spark new ways of thinking. We need activities that aren’t just “rah rah” but that have a real, lasting impact. A terrarium workshop, when facilitated with intention, is one of the most powerful and effective tools in my toolkit. It’s an activity that sticks.
If you’re looking for more ways to build meaningful connections and engage your teams, explore how our corporate training solutions and team-building journeys can help you create a thriving ecosystem.
