Star Wars Terrariums: A Galaxy Under Glass

Adrian Weinberg, master aquarium/terrarium designer at Exotic Aquatic in Melbourne, left real estate to pursue his passion. His wife Maia encouraged him: "Do something that makes you happy."

With Star Wars: The Force Awakens premiering, Weinberg created two themed terrariums—and instructions for your own.

1. Inspired by Dagobah. Luke crashes here, meets Yoda. "Quintessential swamp planet: dark, misty, milky water, vines everywhere, unfathomable time," says Weinberg.

Creation = experimentation. "Trying and trying... eventually it gets all 'Jedi,' you empty your mind, and surprise yourself."

~3 ft wide/high. Base: Victorian (Australia) plants. Bottom: charcoal chunks (drainage, filtration). Layers: sphagnum & peat moss. Walls: gold vine wood. Mist, crashed spaceship, Yoda perched in trees.

2. A Very Hungry Planet. Titled Hunger—a carnivorous terrarium. Ewoks appear, but landscape isn't Endor; could be another hostile world.

All plants carnivorous: bladderworts (Utricularia), sundews (Drosera), Venus flytraps (Dionaea muscipula). "Plants that eat meat, fuzzy bears on two feet—obvious combo," he jokes.

DIY Terrarium: Tiny Endor

You don't need expertise. Weinberg's steps:

Tools & Materials

• Exo-Terra terrarium or similar
• Daylight plant globe
• Horticultural charcoal
• Sphagnum moss
• Peat moss
• Seiryu rocks
• Gold vine wood (preference-based)

1. Install globe. Place charcoal at bottom, ~⅓ desired base depth.

2. Soak sphagnum & peat moss separately until waterlogged. For peat, add water gradually, stir by hand to firm mud.

3. Layer sphagnum (squeeze excess), fill next ⅓. Pat down. Repeat with peat (reserve some).

4. Arrange rocks, wood, vines, roots creatively. Add plants—larger at back, smaller front. Drape reserved peat over rocks/wood for depth. Ask nursery for terrarium-suitable plants (hold moisture, drain well).

5. Add Star Wars figurines or Legos.

Tell us, Padawans: Would you try a terrarium? Celebrate the movie another way? Share in comments!