How to make a jarrarium 🌿
I've been wanting to make this post for a while, and now I have the time so here we go.
I've always wanted an aquarium, but I don't have the time or money for one. I decided to try making my own miniature pond in a jar and it went well, so I'm going to share what I did here:
Containers for harvesting plants and substrate
An air-tight container, such as a water bottle or another jar.
Once you have all of your materials, it's time to pack your bag and go find a body of water. I suggest using river water because I find it cleaner and easier to work with. I have a river near my house, so this was relatively easy for me.
First, you're going to want to gather some substrate.
As you can see in the photo shown above, I chose substrate straight from the banks of the river, where the ground was still submerged in water. It's important to gather soil rich with aquatic life. Any other soil will be home to invertebrates that cannot survive in water and will die in your jarrarium.
Secondly, if you encounter any vertebrates, such as small fish, leave it alone. They cannot survive in your jarrarium.
Next you'll want to gather your plants.
Here I have some moss, some leafy plants, and a little bit of grass. Look for plants in areas of the river that are still submerged in water, or where the banks are still relatively damp. This means that the river rises in this area and is a sign that the plants growing there can survive underwater.
In some places harvesting moss is illegal, so look up your local laws. Also familiarize yourself with endangered plants in your area to avoid accidentally harvesting any, and never disturb plants in a conservation area.
Dig your hands into the soil and gently remove the plant from beneath the root. Try not to disturb the plants around the one that you're taking. Shake off the excess soil and lay them in your container. Never take more than you need.
I have some rocks and gravel shown here too. This river doesn't have many rocks so I took these from my driveway 🤭
If you don't have rocks or gravel, that's okay. This will still work without it, but I find that even a few rocks provide drainage, which will help your plants thrive.
Once you have your plants and soil gathered, fill up your water bottle with river water and be on your way home. I took two bottles so I could have extra to keep in my fridge, for when I need to change the water.
Now you're home and ready to start your jarrarium. Here are the step-by-step instructions.
Add the rocks or gravel to the bottom of your jar.
Cover with soil. There should be enough substrate for your plants to grow in, but there should also be enough room in the jar for a decent amount of water. A little less than half the jar should be enough.
Carefully add your plants. Make sure that their roots are mostly in the soil and that they are standing upright. I added my more delicate plants first and then layered in the moss over their roots.
Pour your water into the jar. If you pour it slowly over the back a spoon, it won't disturb the soil as much.
Leave it undisturbed for a week. You can cover the jar if you'd like, but remember to take the lid off for a while every day, to give the ecosystem some air. It also needs to be exposed to direct sunlight as often as possible.
Here are some photos of my own personal jarrarium at different stages:
The disturbed soil will leave the water very murky. Leave it alone for about a week and you will see the water become clear and the plants begin to thrive.
Ways to make this project witchy:
You can add water-safe stones or specific aquatic plants with correspondences that match your intent.
You can also draw a sigil in the soil before adding it to the jar.
Personally, I decided that this jarrarium and the plants that it houses would be a physical representation of my goals and charged it during the following full moon.
Also upon gathering materials, I asked if it was okay for me to take what I needed and made an offering. A rock, some water that you haven't yet drank from, or something easily biodegradable is fine. I also picked up any litter that I found on my way home in exchange for what I took.
Quick note: If there are no bodies of water close to you, you are disabled and can't hike to find materials, or can't leave your house for any reason at all, you can still do this project! All of these materials, including plants and non chlorinated freshwater, are available online.
*Edit: If you notice algae forming in excess at the water's surface and on your plants, change the water immediately and clean the sides of the jar. Algae will take all of the oxygen and nutrients in the jarrarium, suffocating your plants and microorganisms. If your plants begin to die from the algae, start over.
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