Use these fairy container garden instructions to walk you through how make fairy garden. We have the best fairy garden accessories, fairy garden house and even how to make a cheap fairy garden with your kids — fun fairy garden container ideas perfect for indoor fairy garden ideas or planning an outdoor fairy garden!
Easy Fairy Container Garden Instructions
What do you put in a fairy garden?
Your fairy garden for kids can include any of these fairy garden accessories:
- Plants and flowers
- Stones for a path
- Miniature furniture
- Signs
- Fences
- Gates
- Bridges
- Fairy ponds
- Birdbath
- Mini lights
- Wishing well
- Bird house
- Toadstools
- Glow stones
Or, anything else you want to put in your fairy container garden!
What is a fairy garden?
A fairy garden is a miniature garden with flowers, plants, and fairy garden accessories like miniature furniture. It is used to attract fairies and a place for a fairy to hang out.
A few years ago, my five year old and I made such a fun project that she still talks about today (YEARS later!): build a fairy garden!
My kid is always up for a new project (of any kind), so after seeing a few people post about fairy gardens I decided we were going to do a fairy garden, too.
I mean, what’s more fun than trying to figure out what tiny little fairies would like in a garden and making things to scale for them, right?
And, it gives you an opportunity to discuss the importance of plants and what they do for our environment, animals, and food cycles.
How To Make A Fairy Garden
When making your fairy garden, the trick is to think like a fairy.
(Seriously.)
Tall flowers can be “trees” and tiny rocks can be paths.
We even used colorful buttons as a path and found some cute inexpensive fairy-sized furniture for our garden.
This was a great one-on-one time project and we have four awesome planters for our deck.
(Yes, we made FOUR DIY fairy gardens. Don’t judge.)
Let your fairy garden ideas for kids imagination run wild!
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What’s the purpose of a fairy garden?
Fairy gardens are fun, creative, and imaginative play for kids because you’re building something that gives the illusion of small creatures living there. When you build a fairy garden with kids, be sure to read about fairies and then make your fairy garden!
My daughter played with her fairy container gardens all summer when we made them, rearranging fairy furniture and adding rocks or other cool things she found.
Also, don’t make the mistakes of thinking that fairy container gardens are only for girls or young ones!
Both boys and girls of all ages and stages can have fun with this kids’ craft!
Where can I buy fairy garden pieces?
- Craft stores
- Garden centers
- Landscaping companies
- Home stores
- Thrift stores
- Toy stores
- Garage sales / yard sales
- Flea markets
- Dollar stores
- General merchandise stores (Target, Walmart, etc.)
- Floral / flower stores
- Etsy
- Online
What kind of plants do you put in a fairy garden?
You can put whatever kind of plants you want in your fairy garden! We love to pick things that look colorful, fragrant, and whimsical. You’ll also want to look for miniature plants.
Try these plants (and many others!) for your fairy garden:
- Moss
- Scotch Moss
- Spikemoss
- Ivy
- Basil
- Succulents (Cactus)
- Alpine Geranium
- Blue Moneywort
- Blue Star Creeper
- Dianthus G ‘Tiny Rubies’
- Hosta ‘Blond Elf’
- Mini Sedum
- Mini Baby’s Breath
- Miniature Hens & Chicks
- Miniature Thyme
- Yellow Whitlow Grass
How do you make a fairy garden?
Once you have your plants, flowers, dirt and DIY fairy garden accessories, you can start building your fairy container garden (or even build outdoor fairy gardens!). Plan where you are going to place your plants, flowers, and accessories. Then, start planting and placing your accessories!
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How much does a fairy garden cost?
You can make cheap fairy gardens or expensive fairy gardens. Some people reuse and recycle items they have around their house and only spend money on the plants and only spend $10-20. Others spend up to $100 on their fairy gardens. DIY fairy gardens can be as cheap or costly as you want! It depends on how dedicated you are to your garden.
How do you water a fairy garden?
Just like any garden, you should take care in watering your fairy garden. If you are using moss, gently pick up a corner of the moss and test the soil for dryness. Lightly water the fairy garden when the soil is dry, being careful not to disturb your fairy garden supplies / accessories.
Children’s Fairy Garden Ideas: Fairy Garden Supplies
The fairy garden supplies you need is limited only by your imagination!
So, be sure to sit down and talk to your kids about what they want their fairy garden to look like before you shop.
Also, you can buy seed packets and grow your garden from seeds or buy plants and flowers from your landscaping store.
(We go with the plants and flowers that are already growing so it doesn’t take so long for your garden to sprout!)
Here are some things to consider when shopping for fairy garden supplies:
- Fairy garden containers or fairy garden terrariums
- Fairy garden plants and flowers and “grass” (moss)
- Fairy garden furniture
- Fairy garden accessories
- Fairy lights
- Colorful rocks
There are no “rules” for fairy gardening!
You just need to use your imagination on what you think your fairy would like!
Fairy Garden Kit
If trying to build a fairy garden from “scratch” seems intimidating, you can grab a fairy garden kit!
(Yes, it’s really a thing!)
These are kits that usually come with a container and seeds and items for your garden.
You can find fairy garden kits that are geared toward younger ages (and are also play “houses”) or you can choose more of a terrarium fairy garden.
Some of the kits come with fake fairy garden plants, but we really recommend adding real plants, too.
(Taking care of plants is a great learning and life skill for kids!)
Here are our picks for best fairy garden kits:
Also, if your kids like figurine play, you may want to add some fairy figurines to encourage imaginative play.
(I really like this pack and also this pack of fairies!)
Fairy Container Garden Instructions Step by Step
How To Make an Indoor Fairy Garden or DIY Container Fairy Garden
We’re “wing it” kind of people, but if you’re a planner it might make you feel better to sketch out your garden before creating and planting. (Or, even place your fairy garden plants and fairy garden accessories around your container before planting or placing permanently.)
You’ll want to wait until you have all your fairy garden supplies so you’ll know what you need to include in your design.
You’ll need:
- Planter, bowl, or container
- Potting Soil
- Plants and flowers of different sizes and types
- Pebbles, rocks, buttons or any other small items for your path
- Miniature fairy garden furniture
- Fairy dust (white glitter) (next time we’re going to try this cool glow in the dark glitter)
Directions:
1. Fill your planter about half-way up with potting soil.
2. Starting at the back, place your taller plants and flowers. (My daughter got marigolds because she calls them “fairygolds” from a show she saw.)
3. Fill in the sides and corners with the rest of the flowers, leaving room for your path.
4. Create your path (start with a smaller point at front of planter and get wider as you to to the back).
5. Finish up with your small garden furniture and decorations. Look around the house for fun things to add–thimbles can be bathtubs for the fairies and more! Get creative.
6. Sprinkle your fairy garden with some of the fairy dust (white glitter) to let the fairies know that it’s a magical place to visit!
How To Make an Artificial Fairy Garden
If you don’t want a fairy garden with real plants or flowers, you can use plastic plants and flowers for an artificial fairy garden. Plant them the same way you would real flowers and plants and then decorate with fairy garden accessories.
Recommended Fairy Garden Accessories For Your Container Fairy Garden
Try these fun fairy garden supplies:
Children’s Fairy Books
You knew this part was coming from me, right?
Don’t forget to pair up your DIY fairy garden project with some great fairy books to read.
Check out this children’s fairy book series
ONE LAST THING ABOUT FAIRIES . . .
Creating this fairy garden encouraged a lot of imaginative creative play for my daughter (MONTHS of it!).
It piqued her interest so much that she wanted to read more about fairies and learn more about them.
She even decided to install a “Fairy Door” in our homeschool classroom, which has continued more imaginative play, reading, and learning—even a few years later since we made that first fairy garden!
So, don’t overlook the benefits that go beyond just creating a fun gardening project with your kids!
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Now that you have the fairy container garden instructions, get started and have fun!
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