How to Make an Indoor Desert Aquarium Garden

Create an indoor desert garden using an old aquarium or other glass bowl.
Great way for a child to learn to care for pets and plants.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Small fish aquarium or large glass container
• Gravel
• Charcoal
• Fine sand
• Cacti plants
• Preferred pet(optional)

1. * Make sure the aquarium is clean and dry. Then pour in a 1" layer of gravel. Spread it evenly across the bottom.
   * Then pour and spread a slightly thin layer of charcoal.
   * Cover the charcoal with a 1" deep layer of coarse sand. spread it as evenly as you can.
   * Pour in a 1' deep layer of fine sand. Spread it over the coarse sand.

2. Put in the plants you have chosen. 5 or 6 plants should be sufficient. Be sure to put taller plants near the back. You can find the cacti plants at any gardening center and most grocery stores carry these in the floral department. They usually have the little "air plants" in a seashell , also. These look really nice in this aquarium.
   Use colorful gravel to make your aquarium unique.

3. Adding a stone or piece of old weathered wood will make a nice addition and will also be used by any pet you may put in your garden. A horned toad or small lizard is best. Or use an artificial pet , they look really nice, too.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't crowd in too many things. If you put in a real pet -it will need room to move around.
• Watering should be done sparingly or according to the directions for the plants or animals you have purchased.
• Pets will usually drink from the plants, but a light spray mist of water about once a week should be all you'll need.
• If you put in a live pet- don't forget to cover the aquarium.