DIY Pumpkin Terrarium: Spooky and Simple Halloween Decor

Create a spooky pumpkin terrarium with ease for Halloween decor! This beginner-friendly project uses a faux pumpkin, fairy garden accessories, and succulents to craft a unique and eerie decoration. Learn how to make it step-by-step.

Skills Required: Beginner. You may be cutting out the front of a faux pumpkin if you can’t find a diorama version, and the rest is just simple cutting, taping, and placing items.

So I went to Michaels recently and stopped when I saw their big bin of pumpkins. Of course they had the standard pumpkins and even some different colors (teal, black, etc.). But what really caught my eye? Their 13″ diorama pumpkins.

I’m obsessed with fairy gardens and the precut opening gave me the potential to turn it into a pumpkin terrarium! What I also love is that it was really easy to grab some of the cute little Halloween fairy garden supplies because there is a whole section.

My point is, if you want to make this project (and who doesn’t?) for your Halloween decor, you can throw one together in just a few minutes using this tutorial.

Faux pumpkin, sand, rocks, paper, Halloween accents, scissors

DIY Halloween Terrarium

Gather These Supplies

Hollowed fake pumpkin (large)
Small terrarium/fairy garden rocks
Charcoal or wood chips
Battery powered tea lights
Halloween-themed fairy garden/terrarium accessories
Fake succulents
Scissors
Black construction paper or cardstock
Clear fishing or jewelry line
Tape

NOTE: If you can’t find a pumpkin with a hole cut out in front like this one – it’s okay. You’ll be able to carve a hole in the front of your fake pumpkin easy. Use the tutorial here.

Place a Base Layer

Fill the bottom of the pumpkin with small rocks, even separating it into two sections with different colored rocks.

putting sand and stone inside the pumpkin

Use charcoal or wood chips to separate sections and/or line the outside edge to add depth and give the appearance of a pathway.

Add Tea Lights and Accessories

Carefully bury the tea lights into the rocks in various locations, turning them on beforehand.

TIP: if using tea lights, they will remain ON at all times so as not to disturb the terrarium decor. You may want to consider getting those kind with remotes.

Place Halloween-themed accessories like pumpkins, gravestones, skulls, etc. around the inside of the pumpkin, pressing into the rocks lightly to hold themselves up.

Add Succulents

Cut the stems off of fake succulents (2 – 3 for a large pumpkin) and place in open areas to appear like plants in a graveyard. Move other accessories as needed to make the scene appear cohesive.

cutting off the stem of a faux succulent and adding it to the pumpkin

Make and Attach the Bats

Cut small bat shapes out of black construction paper or cardstock either using a template or by drawing the shape. Cut 2-3 for a large pumpkin, about 2 inches wide.

Cutting out bat shapes from black paper using scissors

Cut a piece of fishing line about 4 inches long and tape to the back of a bat shape. Tape the other end to the top inside of the pumpkin and repeat with the other bats, varying the lengths slightly to achieve the appearance of bats flying in the night.