You can simplify this terrarium quite a bit and you could just simply put soil in a wine glass then add your plants. But if you want maximum appeal and maximum health and lifespan for you plants you should use a standard terrarium set up like that shown in the drawing.

Put a few pebbles in the glass then add a thin layer of activated charcoal, a thin layer of spaghnum moss, then your soil. On the very top of this diagram I have put moss. This is just for looks. I recommend that if you are doing a succulent or cactus terrarium you put a layer of sand. This is what Jenny did in her wine glass terrarium.

The pebbles will accumulate the water. The charcoal will purify the water and the Spaghnum moss will prevent the soil from slipping down into the water around the pebbles and retain some of the water in a healthy way. It will keep it crisper and neater looking. This will also keep the roots of the plant(s) healthier. With an open container terrarium like this all of these steps are optional but this is the optimal set up for health and longevity.

This picture shows the layer of sand at the top which is perfect for the type of plant.

And one of the best things about this is that you can use some creativity to add little touches. Colored quartz pebbles, ribbons, a small card, tiny miniatures, or you can paint right on the glass or the base of the glass like this.

For her terrariums Jenny used Gardener's Gold Organic Potting Soil

Miracle Gro Spaghnum Peat Moss

And Black Diamond Activated Charcoal

Here are some Amazon.com Resources:

Complete Book of Cacti & Succulents

Need some Cactus Plants? Amazon.com has them.

20 Gorgeous Succulents in 2" Plastic Pots

• No two are alike
• Your plants will be mailed in their 2 inch pots with soil.
• Fully rooted with many ready to be put into larger pots or arrangements
• Varieties will vary depending of availability and season
• Collection of 20 succulents each of a different species

Haworthia Collection 3 Plants - Easy to Grow/Hard to Kill

• The collection of 3 different Haworthias you will receive are growing in 2" pots
• They are similar to the ones pictured
• They are 3-4 inches tall.
• Haworthias are a genus of small succulent plants confined in the wild almost exclusively to the Republic of South Africa
• Haworthias rarely require a pot larger than 4-inches in diameter making them ideally suited for a bright windowsill

Zebra Haworthia Plant 3" pot

• Easy to grow
• Prefers bright, indirect light, or morning sun
• Water when dry
• Slow growing
• Immediate shipping in 3" pot

Pots in the Garden: Expert Design and Planting - Rogers points out that many people have a limited space in which to plant a garden and don't have a lot of time to pursue their hobby. He writes that one of the most space-saving and time-efficient ways to enjoy gardening is to include container plantings...Rogers discusses basic design elements, including color, line, form and mass, spece, and texture. Included are 240 splendid photgraphs." George Cohen, Booklist ( Booklist )

"Rogers points out that many people have a limited space in which to plant a garden and don't have a lot of time to pursue their hobby. He writes that one of the most space-saving and time-efficient ways to enjoy gardening is to include container plantings...Rogers discusses basic design elements, including color, line, form and mass, spece, and texture. Included are 240 splendid photgraphs."
-George Cohen, Booklist ( Booklist )

Instant Cactus/Succulent Collection - 10 Plants-1" pots