Interview with Holley Simmons, DIY Terrarium Extraordinaire

We're so excited to work with Holley Simmons, food writer but also an instructor for terrarium classes. This Sunday, November 8th is our first DIY terrarium class with Holley, using recycled JRINK bottles, so we wanted to pick her brains on this duo-creative path beforehand (+tips if you're not able to make class!).

So without further delay...

JRINK: How did you start creating terrariums and having classes?

HS: I'm a DIYer at heart, so when I went to purchase a terrarium a few years ago and saw how expensive it was I thought, "there's got to be a way I can do this myself!" So I did a ton of research, a lot of reading (and made a million trips to the garden store!) and over time taught myself how to keep these little ecosystems alive. I made quite a few mistakes along the way and killed countless plants, but it helped me understand what materials work best and what makes the plants thrive. I started teaching classes out of my home so people wouldn't have to make the same mistakes.

JRINK: What Tips do you have for Non-green Thumbed people trying to keep their terrariums alive?

HS: Don't over-water them! It's always better to err on too-little water. That way, you can always give them a big drink and you may just lose a leaf or two. But you can't take water out of the soil once it's in there.

JRINK: What's your go-to juice?

HS: I love JRINK Black Magic juice made with activated charcoal. Coincidentally, activated charcoal is one of the most important "ingredients" in a terrarium. It keeps the soil fresh and projects against bacteria and mold. Win win!