Creative Upcycling and Custom Terrariums
Give your empty jars and old fish bowls a second life. We turn everyday objects into living, breathing terrariums right here in our Bangalore studio.
This video shows how we turned an empty cake jar into a tiny green world. With a proper drainage base, rich soil, a peperomia cutting, and a few miniature accessories, we created a self-sustaining ecosystem that is both beautiful and sustainable.
A client asked us to repurpose their old fish bowl in memory of a beloved pet. We transformed it into this lively terrarium, creating a new story within a cherished object. This is a great example of how we can create a custom miniature garden for you.
About Creative Upcycling Projects
When we turn an empty cake jar or old fish bowl into a terrarium, the secret is all in the drainage. Most people just add soil, which eventually kills the plants, but we layer charcoal and gravel first to create a reservoir for excess water. This simple extra step makes your mini garden sustainable and saves you from the heartbreak of wilting plants a few weeks later.
Upcycling isn't just about reusing items, it's about giving them a new story. We see potential in things you might otherwise throw away—like that dusty fish bowl from your childhood or a glass jar from your last birthday cake.
At our Doddakannelli garden center, we treat these containers as blank canvases. We don't believe in strict rules, which is why we love mixing textures, moss, and succulents to create chaos-cohort combinations that actually work. Whether you want to recreate a memory of a pet or simply build a little green escape for your desk, we help you pick the right plants that can survive the specific conditions of your container.
If you have a container at home, bring it over. We will help you set up the drainage, choose the perfect soil mix, and select plants that fit the light conditions of your space. It is a hands-on process, and we want you to be part of it. Gardening is art, and your old glass jars are the perfect place to start experimenting without worrying about perfection. Hare-bhare raho, khush raho.
Urban Jungle
I'm Shipra, and I traded my nine-year corporate career for a life spent juggling plants and soil. Along with my husband and our dog, Bhau, I run Urban Jungle as a space where we help you reconnect with nature, even if it is just through a tiny jar on your window sill.
Looking to repurpose something specific?
Search for specific upcycling ideas or visit our workshop section for more inspiration.
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