Neither of these is a plant shop, but if you want a cheap desk terrarium or a bargain glass vessel to DIY, Officeworks and Daiso are two of the most underrated stops in Australia.
Desk terrariums from Officeworks
Officeworks is handy for the small, self-contained end of the hobby:
- Creativity for Kids Grow Your Own Terrarium Kit a genuine beginner/kids' kit with a jar, potting mix, seeds, decorating stones, sand and figurines. A fun, low-stakes first project, though it grows grasses from seed rather than housing established terrarium plants.
- Small glass sample and storage jars the little lidded jars in the storage aisle make perfect micro or moss terrariums for a desk.
- Artificial plants if you want greenery at the office with zero watering.
Cheap glassware from Daiso
Daiso is a sleeper hit for DIY terrarium vessels. The Japanese variety store carries glass jars, bowls, canisters and vases at very low prices, mostly found in-store rather than online. A lidded glass canister makes an instant closed terrarium; an open bowl becomes a dish garden or succulent planting.
What to look for on a Daiso run:
- Kitchen storage aisle clear glass canisters and jars with lids (ideal for closed builds).
- Homewares plain glass vases and bowls for open terrariums.
- Extras mini tools, decorative pebbles and sand, spray bottles and figurines to finish the scene.
Stick to clear (not frosted or coloured) glass so light reaches your plants, and pick a lidded vessel if you're planting moisture-lovers. You can browse the Daiso Australia store to find your nearest location.
What you still need
Neither store sells live terrarium plants, proper substrate, a drainage layer or a cleanup crew. For live plants, head to Bunnings; for live moss, see our Australia guide; and for substrate, activated charcoal, tools and springtails, the picks below are an easy online starting point. Then plan the whole thing with our free terrarium builder.
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