Diego Terrarium

Diego loves flora too. Just gather a few simple-to-find materials together and start your own family plant garden and decorate with some Diego figurines.

Come on Diego's rescues every day on Nick Jr.

Materials

• Clear glass or clear plastic container (cookie jar, mason jar, or large vegetable jar) that has a large opening so hands can reach inside and has a removable lid (plastic wrap can be used in place of a lid)
• Small rocks and stones
• Horticultural charcoal
• Dirt or potting soil
• Small plants
• Water
• Diego Terrarium Figurine Printables
• Shrink plastic (such as Shrinky Dinks)

Directions

1. Step 1

   Clean the container thoroughly using hot, soapy water.

2. Step 2

   Place 1 to 2 inches of small rocks or stones on the bottom of the container.

3. Step 3

   Add 1/2 to 1 inch of fine charcoal.

4. Step 4

   Cover the charcoal with 2 to 3 inches of potting soil. Don't pack the soil and leave some holes for roots. Add some elevation by making one side of the soil level higher than the other. This way your child can watch the plants' root systems grow underground.

5. Step 5

   Remove the plants from their pots and lightly break up the roots. Place each plant in a small hole and cover it with soil. For best viewing results, place the tall plants toward the back of the container.

6. Step 6

   Give the soil a light sprinkling with water, but don't soak it.

7. Step 7

   Create a fun scene inside with Diego figurines. To make the figurines, print the Diego Terrarium Figurine Printables on shrink plastic, such as Shrinky Dinks, and help kids cut out the figures. Follow the instructions on the shrink plastic package to shrink the image cut-outs in the oven (about 5 minutes). Remove from the oven and let cool.

8. Step 8

   Place the lid on top, or cover the opening tightly with plastic wrap.

9. Step 9

   Depending on the desired light level of your plants, set the terrarium in an appropriately lit window.

10. Step 10

    Add more water to the terrarium as it becomes dry. If there is constant water on the inside of the container, or mold growing, then water less frequently.