Don’t go to Kmart expecting a ready-made terrarium kit, its range comes and goes. What Kmart reliably has is inexpensive, clear glassware in the homewares aisle: cylinder vases, rounded vases and bowls that make excellent terrarium vessels for a fraction of a “terrarium”-branded price. Add plants and substrate from elsewhere and you have a complete build on a budget.
Glass vessels at Kmart (repurpose these)
Look in the vases and homewares section for tall, clear, wide-mouthed glass, the easier the opening, the easier to plant:
- Cylinder Glass Vase, a tall clear cylinder, one of the best open-terrarium shapes and a consistent bestseller.
- Rounded Glass Vase, a rounded vase or bowl, lovely for a low, wide planting.
- Stepped Glass Vase and the Green Tiered Glass Vase, taller stepped and tiered shapes for a bit more presence.
Stick to clear (not frosted or heavily coloured) glass so light reaches your plants, and pick the widest opening you can, it makes planting far easier.
Open or closed? Turn a Kmart vase into either
An open Kmart vase is ready to go for succulents, cacti and air plants. To make a humid, closed terrarium for moss and ferns, simply cap it, rest a saucer, a pane of glass, or an upturned glass bowl over the opening to trap moisture. Kmart’s bowls and plates double perfectly as lids. New to the difference? See open vs closed terrariums.
What Kmart doesn’t sell
Kmart is a vessel shop, not a plant shop. You’ll need to add:
- Plants, small terrarium plants and succulents, cheapest at Bunnings (Bottle Babies).
- Substrate & drainage, potting mix, gravel/LECA and charcoal, from Bunnings or Amazon (see our supplies guide).
- Live moss, from a specialist grower, see where to buy live moss in Australia.
Order the missing bits online (Amazon AU)
Want it delivered, or after a sealable geometric shape, a kit or the moss Kmart lacks? These ship fast within Australia:
Kmart vs Bunnings, IKEA & Amazon
Each store has a niche: Kmart is the cheapest for a simple glass vessel; Bunnings is best for plants, substrate and its own terrarium bottles; IKEA for tall vases and greenhouse cabinets; and Amazon AU for geometric shapes, kits, moss and a cleanup crew. Compare them all in where to buy terrariums in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
Does Kmart sell terrariums?
Not usually as a branded product, its terrarium-specific items come and go. But Kmart’s cheap clear glass vases and bowls make excellent terrarium vessels to repurpose.
How do I make a terrarium from a Kmart vase?
Add a drainage layer of gravel, then substrate, then plants. For an open vase use succulents or air plants; to make it closed for moss and ferns, cap it with a saucer, a glass pane or an upturned bowl.
What’s the best Kmart vase for a terrarium?
A tall, clear cylinder vase with a wide opening is ideal, easy to plant and it shows the layers off. Avoid frosted or heavily coloured glass, which blocks light.
Does Kmart sell terrarium plants or moss?
No. Kmart sells the glassware; buy small plants at Bunnings and live moss from a specialist grower or online.
Is Kmart the cheapest place to start a terrarium?
For the vessel, usually yes. A plain glass vase is far cheaper than a “terrarium”-branded jar, and Kmart bowls double as lids for a closed build.
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