How to Build the Chalice Kit (No Plant Edition): A Step-by-Step Terrarium Guide

That's especially true here, because the No Plant Edition of our Chalice Kit hands you the one thing most beginners get wrong: control. You're not stuck with whatever plant showed up in the box. You're building around a plant you actually chose, in a hand-blown glass chalice that looks more like a piece of art than a science experiment. This guide walks you through the entire build, layer by layer, so there's no guesswork from unboxing to a finished terrarium on your table.

Why We Made a No Plant Version

A lot of people already have a succulent or air plant sitting around that they love but don't know what to do with. Others want to pick their plant in person, or gift the kit to someone who'd rather choose their own. So we built a version of the Chalice Kit that includes everything except the plant itself: the vessel, the soil, the tools, the styling pieces, and the guide. You bring the plant. We handle the rest.

The soil in this kit is formulated for succulents, so that's the easiest match if you want a genuinely low-maintenance plant. But air plants and small, low-light greenery work well too, which means this kit adapts to whatever's already sitting on your windowsill.

What's Inside

Here's everything you're working with: a hand-blown glass chalice terrarium, succulent soil with fertilizer, white pebbles, mint moss, blue moss, natural gem chips, rainbow fluorite, a random decorative figurine, terrarium tools, a spray bottle, and a printed build and care guide. Every piece is portioned out so you're not eyeballing amounts or wondering if you've used too much of any one thing.

What You'll Need Before You Start

Just one thing beyond the kit: your plant of choice. Everything else, including the vessel, ships in the box. Set aside about 15 to 20 minutes and a clear surface, and you're ready to go.

The Build, Step by Step

1. Add the drainage layer. Pour the white pebbles into the base of the chalice, about ½ inch deep. This is the layer that keeps water away from the roots, and it's the one people skip most often when they're building without a guide.

2. Add the soil. Layer the succulent soil over the pebbles, mounding it slightly toward the back of the vessel for a more dimensional look once everything else is layered in.

3. Place your plant. Since this kit ships without one, this is where you make it yours. The soil is formulated for succulents, but air plants and small greenery work beautifully too. Nestle the roots into the soil and press gently to secure it in place.

4. Layer in the moss. Use the included terrarium tools to tuck the mint and blue moss around the base of your plant, covering any exposed soil. This is the step where the build starts to look finished instead of just planted.

5. Add the gem chips and fluorite. Scatter the natural gem chips and rainbow fluorite wherever you want color and shine. Cluster them together for a bolder statement, or spread them evenly for something more subtle. This part is entirely up to your eye.

6. Set your figurine. Place your random decorative figurine to finish the scene. It's a small detail, but it's the one that gives every chalice its own personality.

7. Mist and finish. Give your build a light mist with the included spray bottle, then find it a bright spot with indirect light.

Keeping It Alive After the Build

Care here is genuinely simple. Mist lightly with the included spray bottle every one to two weeks, and only when the soil feels dry to the touch. Bright, indirect light suits most plants that pair well with this kit, so avoid direct afternoon sun magnified through the glass. Keep the chalice open-top rather than sealed, since airflow is what prevents mold, not extra attention. And if you've gone the succulent route, remember that most are slow growers. Less tending is usually more.

Mistakes Worth Skipping

A few habits trip up almost every first-time builder: skipping the drainage layer, overwatering because it feels like more care, setting the terrarium in harsh direct sun, and sealing the vessel completely with no airflow at all. Skip those four mistakes and your build has a real head start.

Build It Your Way

The whole point of the No Plant Edition is choice. You get the same hand-blown chalice, the same styling materials, and the same guided build as the original Chalice Kit, but the final decision on what actually grows inside it is yours. Whether you're using a succulent you already have, an air plant you picked up on a whim, or something you're gifting to someone who wants that choice for themselves, this kit meets you where you are.

Ready to build yours? Shop the Chalice Kit (No Plant Edition) and follow along with the full printed guide included in every box.

Available on Amazon.

Visit our tutorial page for the Chalice Kit (No Plant Edition).