Terrariums Reimagined

Mini Worlds Made in
Creative Containers

Kat Geiger

Ulysses Press

Copyright text and photographs © 2013 Kat Geiger. Copyright concept and design © 2013 Ulysses Press and its licensors. All Rights Reserved. Any unauthorized duplication in whole or in part or dissemination of this edition by any means (including but not limited to photocopying, electronic bulletin boards, and the Internet) will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Published by:

Ulysses Press

P.O. Box 3440

Berkeley, CA 94703

www.ulyssespress.com

ISBN: 978-1-61243-213-7

Library of Congress Catalog Number 2013938277

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Acquisitions Editor: Kelly Reed

Managing Editor: Claire Chun

Editor: Jessica Benner

Proofreader: Barbara Schultz

Design and layout: what!design @ whatweb.com

Cover photographs: © Kat Geiger

Distributed by Publishers Group West

IMPORTANT NOTE TO READERS: Trademarks of businesses and food brands mentioned in this book are used for informational purposes only. No sponsorship or endorsement by, or affiliation with, the trademark owners is claimed or suggested by the author or publisher.

Introduction

I was trapped. From a long line of gardeners, farmers, and horticulturists, I needed to get my hands in the dirt. But alas, I lived in a loft with zero outdoor space. Raised vegetable beds were not exactly an option, nor were silk plants (the most abhorrent of all plant species). With two large windows, plenty of indirect light, and far too much time on my hands, I began to search the Internet for answers. A brief search led me to terrariums: enclosed or mostly enclosed environments containing plants, mosses, and other landscape materials. So it began: my obsession with these tiny little worlds inside glass globes, bottles, and jars.

It took little time to realize that very few terrariums were created in unique containers. It seemed the majority of terrariums were created in open-top jars and fishbowls. With the designer in me crying out for mercy from this monotony, my quest to create terrariums in unique, space-saving containers began. With design and sustainability at the top of my priority list, recycled, handblown, and locally crafted vessels became my little black dresses: go-to containers for every terrarium. The one major element that makes a terrarium stand out from the average Joe (or Jane) houseplant is the vessel in which it is housed, so that vessel must be unique.

The vessel creates the boundaries for the landscape and turns an ordinary plant into a piece of art. This book explores several different types of vessels. From giant mouth-blown vessels to tequila bottles, there is a terrarium vessel appropriate for every personality and budget.

Thanks for this book are due in part to Dr. Nathaniel Ward, the inventor of the Wardian case, the original terrarium vessel. Although many people believe that terrariums can be traced all the way back to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Dr. Ward is responsible for the Victorian-era resurgence in the popularity of growing plants inside glass. He discovered that the plants he was unable to sustain in his outdoor garden thrived in the humid, protected environment of a glass container. This discovery was quite by accident while Dr. Ward was studying the life cycle of a particular type of insect and his habitat began growing ferns. As a result, creating tiny environments that maintained a steady temperature became a popular way to transport plants to and from the British colonies in the Victorian era.

Hundreds of years later, here we are still enjoying the same pastime as Queen Victoria. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Although we are no longer transporting plants to England from the colonies, there are many reasons people enjoy keeping a terrarium at home. So why, you ask, should you keep a terrarium? Here are just a few reasons:

01 Space is limited. City-dwellers are often looking for creative space solutions. Whereas a houseplant takes up a large amount of space, a terrarium takes up very little space and can even be hung from the wall or ceiling.

02 Low maintenance. Once established, a terrarium requires very little care, sometimes only monthly watering or less.

03 Plant protection. Keeping kitty out of the plants can be a tricky operation at best. When the plants are inside a glass container, however, they are not only protected from pets, but also from the heater and dry air.

04 Easy like Sunday mornin’. Even the blackest of thumbs can successfully grow an entire landscape within a terrarium. They are virtually indestructible.

05 Your friends will think you’re cool. It is true. Trust me. Terrariums have that “Whoa! How’d you do that?” appeal, much like a ship in a bottle.

CHAPTER ONE

Ingredients

Before planting your terrarium, you must become familiar with the main ingredients: the vessel, the plants, the soil or substrate, and the drainage material. Each of the three types of terrariums requires different types of the above-mentioned materials.

Regarding the terrarium container, the possibilities are endless. However, there are three important things to consider when selecting the perfect vessel. First: responsibility. There is a large range of glass products out there, many of which are made in countries not known for the fair treatment of their factory workers. This is why recycled or handblown vessels from a local glassblower are the best options for most terrariums. Many thrift stores have a wonderful selection of vases, apothecary jars, bottles, and kitchen or lighting products that double nicely as terrarium vessels. If all else fails, dig through your neighbor’s recycling bin on trash night (with their permission of course). Finding a local glassblower can prove a bit more difficult, but it pays off with a beautiful custom-shaped vessel. A quick Google search for glassblowing in your area can be fruitful.

Second, consider the shape of the vessel. There are a few factors to contemplate. Will you be creating a tropical terrarium or a desert terrarium? A mostly closed environment tends to work well for tropical vegetation. The size of the opening should be small when compared to the overall shape of the vessel. For example, when using a vessel that is 6 inches in diameter to make a tropical terrarium, the opening should be approximately 1 inch in diameter. This smaller opening traps more humidity inside the terrarium and creates an environment in which moss and other tropical plants thrive. Even a completely enclosed vessel (an apothecary jar, for example) makes an excellent container for moss and many types of tropical plants.

For a desert terrarium landscape, a more open container maintains the arid environment preferred by desert plants. Of course, using a more closed vessel is perfectly acceptable for this type of terrarium as long as the watering routine is changed accordingly. (More closed vessels tend to require far less water as there is not as much water loss to evaporation.) However, getting a cactus into a bottle with a small hole can prove challenging even for the most adventurous terrarium artist.

For a Tillandsia (or air plant) terrarium, it is important to use a vessel that retains some humidity but also provides good airflow. Select a vessel that has a larger opening than the tropical terrarium but is not completely open. For example, a vessel with a 6-inch diameter and a 2-inch opening would work well for Tillandsia.

Also consider the placement of your terrarium. If tabletop space is at a premium in your home, you may need a terrarium that hangs from the ceiling or on a wall. Recycled wall sconces, old lightbulbs, hanging glass bird feeders, and old glass globes from ceiling fixtures are great containers for these projects. Almost any glass can be carefully drilled under a very light stream of water with a special glass drill bit to create a hole for hanging. Special glass drill bits are available at major online hardware stores like McMaster-Carr and on Amazon.com.

Finally, consider the size of the vessel. Will your terrarium serve as a dining table centerpiece or a small desktop decoration? Choosing the right size vessel can be a challenge. Keep in mind that the larger the glass, the larger the price tag and the more plants required to fill it. If you want to use larger plants, then a larger vessel is appropriate for you. If you just want to use moss, perhaps a smaller vessel will work well. When deciding on the size of your vessel, keep in mind the rule of threes: your terrarium will be more visually appealing and the design gods will be pleased with you if your landscape floor (that is the drainage material, soil, and moss) rises to a maximum of one third the height of the overall vessel.

Plants and mosses are the heart and soul of the terrarium. Consider first whether you will be creating a tropical landscape, assembling a desert landscape, or using air plants in your terrarium. Select plants that prefer the same amount of light, water, and soil. In other words, cacti and tropical plants don’t mix. If moss is happy, the succulents are drowning. You get the picture.

Live mosses mix well with tropical plants, as both love high humidity. Moss does not actually have roots, but structures that look like roots called anchors. These anchors help the moss remain fixed to the substrate while its green parts take in moisture through the air. This is why maintaining a high level of humidity is critical to the survival of a tropical terrarium.

If you are harvesting moss to place in your terrarium, notice the natural habitat of the moss you harvested. Did you find it growing on a piece of bark, a rock, or soil? Place the moss you use in your terrarium onto the same type of substrate it prefers naturally. That said, moss that grows on soil tends to survive well in a terrarium, whereas moss that grows on rocks or tree bark tends to be less successful in a terrarium. Specifically, mosses commonly known as cushion moss and mood moss do well in terrariums. However, many other types of soil-preferring mosses also thrive in terrariums and experimenting with moss found in your local area can be successful. If harvesting your own moss isn’t for you, there are many sources for live mosses on the Internet or through your local florist.

As for tropical plants, a large variety of them are available for terrarium use. Many tropical plants native to the rainforest floor are accustomed to receiving very few nutrients and little light. Nutrients in the rainforest are typically absorbed by the canopy and, by the time water reaches the rainforest floor, it is depleted of nutrients. Size, light, and moisture requirements are important to consider when determining which tropical plants are a good fit for your terrarium. Although most tropical plants tolerate trimming well, some just prefer to be large while others naturally remain small. Plants like the polka dot plant, mini Fittonia, Cryptanthus, Peperomia prostrata, creeping fig, and Wandering Jew all propagate quickly in the tropical terrarium. Mushrooms also thrive in this environment.

Cacti and succulents can thrive in the desert terrarium. Paying special attention to the light and moisture requirements for this type of plant is critical for their long-term survival. A grafted cactus looks lovely in a desert terrarium, adding a pop of bright color, and although its water requirements are similar to that of other succulents, its light requirements tend to be a bit higher. Echeveria, or hens and chicks, is a truly winning group of plants for an arid terrarium as it propagates easily and requires very little maintenance. Echeveria reproduces from leaf cuttings: removing a leaf from the side of a plant and allowing it to sit for two weeks in indirect light will produce a new plant with tiny roots at the base of the leaf. This plant can then be added to the terrarium.

Cacti that have spines can be a real challenge when planting a terrarium, as they must fit through a smallish opening without causing you serious injury. Gloves are a wise investment if you plan to plant this type of terrarium. The base of a grafted cactus has virtually no thorns. Although you may put sweat and tears into your terrarium, grafted cacti ensure that no blood is involved.

Tillandsia, or air plants, are naturally epiphytic plants from the bromeliad family that live on the branches of trees in Central and South America, as well as southern North America. These plants prefer a humid environment and, although they do live on the branches of other trees, they are not parasitic. Air plants have no roots and absorb nutrients and moisture through structures on their leaves called trichomes by catching decaying leaves and water that land on them. Lichen-covered twigs and branches are a good roost for the air plants in your terrarium. Tillandsia should never be placed on soil or other substrate that may remain moist, as this will rot the bottom of the plant. Many air plants, if cared for properly, will reproduce by growing “pups”—miniature versions of the larger plant. Pups form on the sides of the plant between the leaves and, once well developed, can be separated from the larger plant at the base. Most species of Tillandsia also bloom quite colorfully when cared for properly. Tillandsia can be mounted to wood or rocks using wire or a special glue made specifically for mounting air plants. This glue is available online or at your local nursery or home improvement store.

Before getting started, consider which soil or substrate is appropriate for your selection of plants. There is no one-size-fits-all soil option for all types of terrariums. Although many tropical plants prefer a peat moss–based soil mix, most plants and soil-preferring mosses thrive in an all-purpose potting mix easily purchased at your local hardware store. These all-purpose mixes typically contain at least three elements: organic material and microorganisms to feed the plant, peat to help absorb moisture and air, and an inorganic porous element like pebbles or perlite that allows the moisture in the soil to drain.

Good drainage is especially important in the desert terrarium. A mix of potting soil designed specifically for cacti allows water to rapidly drain from the soil but still contains some organic ingredients to feed the plant. Premixed cactus soil is available at your local home improvement or hardware store.

Because Tillandsia absorb moisture through the air, a substrate of gravel or pebbles only is ideal for keeping the plants from rotting. Gravel or pebbles from a pet supply store or nursery works well for the base of an air plant terrarium.

Under the soil layer sits a layer of drainage material. As terrariums have no holes in the bottom, this layer is vital to the long-term survival of the plants. The drainage layer essentially prevents root rot, allowing water to pass through the soil instead of collecting around the roots. Materials for the drainage layer must not absorb water and tend to be inorganic. Polished pebbles, gravel, pumice, charcoal, and perlite are all great for the drainage layer. Don’t use vermiculite in this capacity, as it absorbs water and would further saturate the terrarium. Perlite is particularly suited to glass containers, as it is a softer and less likely to crack the glass.

Many terrarium artists recommend a layer of activated charcoal between the drainage layer and the soil to create a natural filter for terrarium air and assist in drainage. This is particularly important in closed or mostly closed terrariums, as there is no natural air exchange. When charcoal is not included in these types of terrariums, the risk of mold growth and plant death increases. Frequently used as a filtering agent in aquarium filters, this type of charcoal can be purchased at pet stores and aquarium supply stores.

Other tools required for terrarium planting and maintenance include thin wooden dowels or chopsticks for creating holes in the soil to plant roots, a pair of thin, elongated scissors or clipping shears, a pair of long tweezers that reach to the floor of the terrarium, a large misting bottle for watering, and a medicine dropper. These supplies are all available on the Internet, at your local nursery, or at your local superstore.

CHAPTER TWO

Tillandsia Terrariums

Basic Tillandsia Terrarium Planting Instructions

01 Create a drainage layer of approximately 1 inch at the bottom of the vessel using gravel. Place the gravel in the bottle by creating a funnel with your hands. The pebbles will allow water to sift through and pool at the bottom, maintaining humidity within the vessel and creating a barrier between the plant and the accumulated water.

02 Gently push the Tillandsia plant through the opening of the bulb, bending the leaves upward if necessary. Allow the Tillandsia to sit on top of the pebbles, away from any pooled water, which will rot the plant. (Tillandsia is an epiphytic plant with no true roots. It obtains moisture through its leaves by absorbing humidity through the air.)

03 Place preserved reindeer moss or lichen-covered twigs where desired for added color.

04 Use a medicine dropper to place one teaspoon of water on the pebbles (not directly on the plant). The water should pool slightly at the bottom of the vessel. When you notice that the water has completely evaporated, repeat this step. It may be necessary to water anywhere from biweekly to monthly. This terrarium should be kept in bright indirect light.

Living Ornament

This unassuming globe began life as a craft project waiting to happen. With a completely removable metal top, this vessel is easy to fill with a tropical moss or Tillandsia terrain. At 3-1/2 inches in diameter, the ornament provides ample space for creativity and plants to flourish! For the terrarium, Tillandsia ionantha’s burst of red color creates a nice contrast with the dark green needles of a holiday tree. A tree is, after all, a Tillandsia’s natural habitat. This enclosed glass ornament also makes an ideal vessel for a tropical environment. See the basic instructions for tropical terrariums on page 51 to make a tropical ornament.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • empty glass or shatter-proof holiday ornament

    • small pebbles

    • small Tillandsia plant

    • lichen-covered branches

    • reindeer moss

    • chopsticks

    • medicine dropper

Follow the basic Tillandsia terrarium instructions at the beginning of this chapter for this project, or use the instructions for tropical landscape planting on page 51. Take special care not to overwater the ornament, as it is almost entirely enclosed and does not allow much water to escape. Misting too frequently will rot the plant. Water this globe once monthly—or even less frequently—by dropping two drops of water onto the pebbles with a medicine dropper (never directly onto the plant).

SOURCING: Shatter-proof and glass ornaments are available at craft stores. Perlite, soil, decorative pebbles, and sometimes Tillandsia can all be found at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse. Tillandsia can also be found on Etsy or other online stores. Lichen-covered twigs and branches and reindeer moss can be found online at moss vendors or outdoors in your backyard! Chopsticks are readily purchased at a supermarket and medicine droppers at a pharmacy.

Leche Verde

Some organic milk farmers sell their product in thick glass bottles perfect for a small terrarium (or a trip down the rabbit hole, as they look quite similar to the bottles labeled “Drink Me” from Alice in Wonderland). With an opening approximately 2 inches wide, milk bottles are an ideal environment for either tropical plants or Tillandsia, as they hold significant amounts of moisture, but allow for adequate airflow. This terrarium was planted with Tillandsia ionantha, lichen-covered twigs, and reindeer moss.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • small glass milk or cream bottle

    • decorative river pebbles

    • reindeer moss

    • Tillandsia plants

    • chopsticks

    • medicine dropper

Follow the basic Tillandsia terrarium planting instructions for this project.

SOURCING: Small milk or cream bottles can be found in local organic grocery stores. Decorative pebbles and Tillandsia ionantha are available at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse. Reindeer moss can be found online at moss vendors or outdoors in your backyard! Chopsticks are for sale at the grocery store or superstore, and medicine droppers at the pharmacy.

Green Tea Terrarium

This adorable vessel brings a whole new meaning to the words “green tea.” Purchased at a consignment store, this glass herbal teapot now houses beautiful air plants and mosses. The top of the teapot can be removed to increase airflow or closed to retain more moisture, depending on the type of planting. For this project, Tillandsia ionantha was selected for its beautiful blooms, along with reindeer moss.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • empty glass tea pot

    • polished river pebbles

    • Tillandsia plants

    • reindeer moss

    • chopsticks

    • medicine dropper

Follow the basic Tillandsia planting instructions for this project.

SOURCING: Glass herbal teapots are hard to come by at thrift stores, but they can always be found online at major retailers or by conducting a quick Internet search. Decorative pebbles and Tillandsia ionantha are available at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse. Reindeer moss can be sourced online at moss vendors or foraged outdoors. Purchase chopsticks at your local supermarket, and medicine droppers at the pharmacy.

Desktop Serenity

Rescued from a horribly 1980s brass light fixture, this lighting globe provides the perfect environment for a Tillandsia landscape. With the original attached end of the lighting globe repurposed as the terrarium opening, plenty of fresh air circulates through the terrarium, keeping the Tillandsia healthy.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • lighting globe 6 inches in diameter or larger

    • furniture bumpers

    • gravel or small decorative pebbles

    • Tillandsia plants

    • decorative items of your choice

    • chopsticks

    • medicine dropper

01 Attach three of the furniture bumpers to the bottom of the glass vessel in a triangle pattern approximately 1 to 2 inches across. This will prevent the terrarium from rolling.

02 Follow the basic Tillandsia terrarium instructions for this project. Take special care not to overwater this globe, as the shallow base of river pebbles does not allow much water to drain away from the plants. Dropping a small amount of water inside (never directly onto the plants) with a medicine dropper once monthly (or even less frequently) will suffice.

SOURCING: The lighting globe can be found at a salvage store or your local home improvement warehouse. Purchase large plastic furniture bumpers from your local superstore or hardware store. (These bumpers are typically used to lift a glass surface off of a wooden dresser or tabletop.) Decorative pebbles and Tillandsia are available at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse, or directly from Tillandsia growers online. Chopsticks are available at the grocery store or superstore, and medicine droppers can be purchased at a pharmacy.

CHAPTER THREE

Desert Terrariums

Basic Desert Terrarium Planting Instructions

01 Pour perlite or the drainage material of your choice into the terrarium vessel until the bottom is covered to a depth of approximately 1 inch.

02 Gently remove the cactus or succulent from the pot by squeezing the pot around all edges. Grasping the smooth bottom part of the plant, pull it from the pot, leaving soil and root intact. Place the cactus with the remaining soil and root on top of the perlite. If necessary, gently lean the cactus against the side of the container (you can adjust the position of the cactus later).

03 Add cactus-friendly potting soil to the terrarium until it covers the perlite by approximately 1 inch and surrounds the bottom of the cactus root on all sides. It is not necessary to for the soil to extend to the top of the cactus root as the majority of the soil from the pot should have remained intact around the roots.

04 Add your choice of colored sand or gravel until the soil and the top of the cactus root are covered. At this point, adjust the position of your plant so it is standing upright. Place decorative objects such as stones, sea glass, or agates on top of the sand.

05 Lightly water your cactus terrarium with approximately 2 teaspoons of water from a medicine dropper. Repeat this step approximately once monthly or when the soil seems dry. Place the terrarium in bright indirect light and enjoy.

Wall Wilderness

This terrarium is perfect for a home where space is at a premium and looks lovely when grouped with other wall-hanging terrariums of varying sizes. Created by a local glassblower, this mouth-blown glass bubble has a flat back and a large opening to allow room for succulent plants to go inside. A hole drilled in the upper back side allows for wall hanging. A grafted cactus was selected for this planting for its ease of handling.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • 1/4-inch diamond drill bit designed for drilling glass

    • handheld drill

    • glass vessel that can be easily drilled and hung on a wall

    • safety glasses

    • gravel or perlite

    • cactus-friendly potting soil

    • succulent plants or cacti

    • decorative river pebbles or sand

    • reindeer moss

    • chopsticks

    • medicine dropper

01 Drill your glass. You will need two people for this part of the project: one to carefully hold the glass vessel under a very small stream of water (the kitchen sink works well), and one to drill the glass. After putting on your safety glasses, carefully place the drill bit on the back of the glass where you want your hole for hanging. Slowly begin drilling the glass, applying slight pressure, while at the same time pouring a small stream of water onto the spot. You should begin to feel the bit “bite” the glass as a divot is created. Continue drilling, ensuring that your stream of water is wetting the area where the hole is being created, until you are completely through the glass and your hole is 1/4 inch in diameter. Rinse the remaining glass dust out of your vessel and out of your sink.

02 Follow the basic desert terrarium planting instructions for this project, hang on a sturdy nail, and enjoy!

SOURCING: Mouth-blown glass can be sourced from a local glassblower or occasionally found at the thrift store. Drill bits for drilling glass can be purchased at online hardware stores. Handheld drills are available at your local home improvement warehouse. Safety glasses are available at any hardware store. Perlite, cactus-friendly soil, decorative pebbles and sand, succulents or cacti, and reindeer moss can all be found at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse. Buy chopsticks at the grocery store or superstore, and medicine droppers at your local pharmacy.

Desert Dreamland

Repurposed from an old light fixture, this glass globe was transformed into a suspended environment for cacti. With an opening 3 inches in diameter, this vessel allows adequate moisture to escape, creating the perfect housing for plants that prefer an arid environment.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • salvaged, clear lighting globe

    • garden twine

    • safety glasses

    • hand drill

    • 1/4-inch drill bit for glass

    • gravel or perlite

    • cactus-friendly potting soil

    • succulent plants or cacti

    • decorative river pebbles or sand

    • reindeer moss

    • chopsticks

    • medicine dropper

01 Drill your glass. You will need two people for this part of the project: one to carefully hold the glass vessel under a very small stream of water (the kitchen sink works well), and one to drill the glass. After putting on your safety glasses, carefully place the drill bit to the glass where you wish to drill your hole for hanging (in this case, the top of the globe). Slowly begin drilling your glass, applying slight pressure with the bit, while also pouring a small, steady stream of water onto the spot you’re drilling. You should begin to feel the bit “bite” the glass as a divot is created. Continue drilling under the stream of water until you are completely through the glass and your hole is 1/4 inch in diameter. Rinse all remaining glass dust out of your vessel and out of your sink.

02 Thread approximately 3 feet (or your desired length, depending on how low you want your terrarium to hang) of twine through the hole you created. Triple-tie a thick knot on the end of the twine inside the vessel, allowing the remaining twine to suspend the vessel from the ceiling.

03 Follow the basic desert terrarium planting instructions, hang from a sturdy hook in the ceiling, and enjoy!

SOURCING: Lighting globes are available at home improvement stores and often at thrift stores. Drill bits for drilling glass can be purchased at online hardware stores. Handheld drills are available at your local home improvement warehouse. Safety glasses are available at any hardware store. Perlite or gravel, cactus- friendly soil, decorative pebbles or sand, succulent plants or cacti, and garden twine can all be found at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse. Reindeer moss can all be found online at moss vendors or foraged outdoors. Chopsticks are available at your local grocery store or superstore and medicine droppers at the pharmacy.

Desert Delight

An easy-to-plant terrarium, excellent for homes where space is tight, this suspended candleholder becomes a home for succulent plants. Designed to allow heat to escape with ventilation holes on top, this ex-luminary allows plenty of airflow for succulents. Although these candleholders are frequently available at design and furniture stores, they can often be found as castoffs at salvage or consignment stores. Echeveria was selected for this project for its flower-like appearance.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • glass globe candleholder with included glass hook on top (no smaller than 4 inches in diameter)

    • gravel or perlite

    • cactus-friendly potting soil

    • Echeveria (succulent plants) or cacti

    • decorative gravel or river pebbles

    • reindeer moss

    • chopsticks

    • medicine dropper

Follow the basic desert terrarium planting instructions for this project.

SOURCING: Many hanging glass candleholders can be found at home décor stores or thrift shops. Perlite, soil, decorative gravel, and Echeveria are available at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse. Reindeer moss can be found online at moss vendors or outdoors in your backyard. Buy chopsticks at the grocery store or superstore, and medicine droppers for watering at a pharmacy.

The Cactus Cube

Since cacti prefer a dry atmosphere, creating an environment suitable for them is easy to do with repurposed open-top containers, which don’t trap moisture. Grafted cacti were selected for this project for their pop of bright color and easy handling.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • open-topped vessel

    • gravel or perlite

    • cactus potting soil

    • sand or gravel

    • grafted cacti or succulent plants of your choice

    • decorative materials

Follow the basic desert terrarium planting instructions for this project.

SOURCING: Grafted cacti, soil, perlite, and sand can all be found at your local home improvement warehouse. Open-top, cube-shaped candleholders and other decorative objects such as these are available at your local salvage, thrift, or consignment store.

CHAPTER FOUR

Tropical Terrariums

Basic Tropical Terrarium Planting Instructions

A word of warning before beginning your tropical planting adventure: during this process you will get your hands dirty, you will talk to yourself, you may at times become angry and curse, but you will have loads of fun and feel accomplished in the end!

01 Create a perlite or gravel drainage layer of approximately 1 inch at the bottom of the vessel. Place the perlite in the vessel by creating a funnel with your hands. (Using an actual funnel typically does not work well, as it tends to clog with larger-sized pieces of perlite.)

02 (optional) For a closed or mostly closed vessel terrarium, place a thin layer of activated charcoal over the drainage layer, again by creating a funnel with your hands or feeding it through the opening of the terrarium piece by piece. The charcoal should just barely cover the drainage material.

03 Funnel potting soil into the vessel in the same manner, using your hands as a funnel until the drainage material or charcoal is covered by approximately 1 inch. Since you are planting a tropical terrarium, use an all-purpose potting soil.

04 Separate your moss into sections approximately 2 inches in diameter. Feed the moss into the opening of the container. You might have to feed it green top first in very small openings. For larger openings, you should be able to fit it though with the green top facing upwards. Scrunching the moss to fit it through the hole is okay and will not damage it. Once the moss is inside, use a chopstick to coax it into the appropriate position, ensuring that it’s right side up and the anchors are touching the soil. Leave some soil visible in the terrarium, as you will place decorative pebbles in these areas.

05 Remove the plants from their containers by squeezing the container with one hand and carefully grasping the top leafy section of the entire plant with the other hand. Remove the plant from the pot with soil and root intact.

Now you have to separate a small section of the plant from the larger plant. Locate a small independent stalk of growth that will fit into your vessel. Grasp the stalk of the plant where it meets the soil and carefully pull the roots of this stalk from the main plant (you will hear some snapping sounds as you disconnect these roots from other roots of the plant). Keep some soil with your newly separated plant. Feed the plant into the vessel, roots first, folding the leaves upward so they don’t break. Once your plant is sitting on top of the moss, use a chopstick to carefully plant the roots in between the moss pillows, making a small hole in the soil below. Repeat this step for as many plants as you wish to plant in your terrarium.

06 Place decorative pebbles on top of the remaining visible soil or where desired. Place reindeer moss on top of the mood moss where desired.

07 Heavily mist your newly planted terrarium with fifteen to seventeen sprays of water from a spray bottle. Place in indirect light (a north-facing window is ideal) and enjoy!

Yo-Ho-Ho and a Bottle of Rum

What better way to repurpose a rum bottle than by creating a tropical island shipwreck? Salvaged from a local pub, this rum bottle was planted with Hawaiian snow bush, creeping fig, and cushion moss. Decorative elements were used to create a pirate’s lair.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • empty rum bottle

    • gravel or perlite, all-purpose potting soil

    • cushion moss

    • small tropical plants

    • decorative river pebbles

    • reindeer moss

    • decorative items of your choice

    • chopsticks

    • misting bottle

Follow the basic tropical terrarium planting instructions for this project. Add decorative elements where you see fit.

SOURCING: Empty rum bottles can often be found in your neighbor’s recycling, in the recycling bin of a local pub, or at a liquor store. Perlite, soil, decorative pebbles, and small tropical plants are available at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse. Buy cushion moss and reindeer moss at online moss vendors or forage them outdoors. Decorative elements from toy stores can be used as embellishments for your terrarium. Chopsticks and misting bottles can be purchased at a grocery store or superstore.

Whiskey Wonderland

A castaway from a local pub, this recycled whiskey vessel received a whole new life as a desktop terrarium. Due to the small (approximately 1 inch) opening, very little moisture is lost through the top of this container and tropical plants and mosses will thrive. Polka dot plant and mood moss were used for this project.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • empty whiskey bottle

    • gravel or perlite

    • all-purpose potting soil

    • mood moss

    • small tropical plants

    • decorative river pebbles

    • reindeer moss

    • chopsticks

    • misting bottle

Follow the basic tropical terrarium planting instructions for this project.

SOURCING: Whiskey bottles are easily salvaged from the recycling bin at a bar or pub. Perlite, soil, decorative pebbles, and small tropical plants are available at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse. Buy mood moss and reindeer moss from online moss vendors or find them outdoors in your backyard. Chopsticks and misting bottles can be purchased at your local grocery store or superstore.

Vase Verde

Thinking of throwing out that old vase that came with your flower delivery? Think again. Vases make excellent terrariums! Someone else’s castaway, this vase was purchased at a thrift store and planted with tropical plants including Hawaiian snow bush, Wandering Jew, China Doll plant, cushion moss, and reindeer moss. Because of the small opening at the top of this particular vase, most moisture remains inside the vessel.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • empty vase with a small opening on the top

    • gravel or perlite

    • potting soil

    • cushion moss

    • tropical plants (appropriately sized for the vessel)

    • decorative river pebbles

    • reindeer moss

    • chopsticks

    • misting bottle

Follow the basic tropical terrarium planting instructions for this project.

SOURCING: Vases are frequently found at thrift stores or can be repurposed from a flower delivery. Perlite, soil, decorative pebbles, and tropical plants are all available at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse. Buy cushion moss and reindeer moss from online moss vendors or forage them in your own yard. Chopsticks and misting bottles can be purchased at a grocery store or superstore.

Tequila Terrain

Rescued from the Dumpster behind a popular bar, this repurposed tequila bottle is now home to beautiful tropical plants and mosses. Cushion moss was used for this project as it tends stay relatively compact. And since this vessel is a particularly short, Peperomia prostrata was selected for its flat growth habit. After a few months, this plant will form a matted ground cover, as it tends to root in various places along the top of the moss.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • empty tequila bottle

    • gravel or perlite

    • all-purpose potting soil

    • cushion moss

    • low-growing tropical plant

    • decorative river pebbles

    • reindeer moss

    • chopsticks

    • misting bottle

Follow the basic tropical terrarium planting instructions for this project.

SOURCING: Tequila bottles are available for purchase at your local liquor store (full of tequila), or can be found (empty) in your neighbor’s recycling bin (with their permission, of course). Find perlite, soil, decorative pebbles, and Peperomia prostrata at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse. There are also multiple growers of Peperomia prostrata that can be sought out with a quick online search. Find cushion moss and reindeer moss at online moss vendors or in your own backyard. Chopsticks and misting bottles can be found at your local grocery store or superstore.

Suspended Serenity

One of the best times to collect empty bottles is just after you or a friend has thrown a large party. This sparkling lemonade bottle was salvaged from such an event and recreated into a hanging tropical environment. I find that these bottles look loveliest when hung in groupings of three to five terrariums. Because this terrarium is sealed, very little, if any, moisture escapes and tropical plants, mosses, and even semiaquatic plants will thrive. It is important to use activated charcoal between the drainage layer and the soil to keep the air and soil inside the vessel fresh and free of mold.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • empty clear glass bottle with a metal screw top

    • an ice pick or awl

    • 3 feet or more of garden twine

    • gravel or perlite

    • activated charcoal

    • all-purpose potting soil

    • mood moss

    • tropical or semiaquatic plants

    • decorative river pebbles

    • reindeer moss

    • chopsticks

    • misting bottle

01 After thoroughly cleaning the bottle, place it (with the metal screw top in place) on a sturdy surface. Ensure that all body parts are out of harm’s way and, holding the bottle securely, poke a hole through the metal top of the bottle with an awl or an ice pick. Once the top has been pierced, remove it from the bottle and thread the garden twine through the newly created hole. Tie a thick triple knot on the end of the twine that will be inside the bottle when sealed. This will allow your bottle to be suspended in the air securely.

02 Follow the basic tropical terrarium planting instructions for this project.

         This terrarium requires virtually no maintenance. After an initial fifteen to twenty heavy mists of water, the terrarium will most likely not need to be watered again for a month or more.

SOURCING: Sparkling lemonade bottles are available at your grocer or in your neighbor’s recycling bin. Buy perlite, soil, decorative pebbles, and tropical plants at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse. Mood moss and reindeer are available from online moss vendors or in your own backyard. Semiaquatic plants and activated charcoal can be found at your local aquarium supply store. The twine and awl can both be purchased from a hardware store or home improvement warehouse. Chopsticks and misting bottles can be found at your local grocery store or superstore.

Mouth-Blown Terrarium

Supporting the local economy is the responsibility of every artist. Supporting one another as artists and creators fosters the growth of art in your hometown. A talented local glassblower created this mouth-blown piece of art. Each mouth-blown terrarium is unique, organically shaped, and impossible to duplicate. With a small opening relative to the size of the vessel, very little moisture is lost through the top of this container and tropical plants and mosses will thrive here. For this project, polka dot plant and Wandering Jew are paired with mood moss.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • mouth-blown glass vessel

    • gravel or perlite

    • all-purpose potting soil

    • mood moss

    • tropical plants

    • decorative river pebbles

    • reindeer moss

    • chopsticks

    • misting bottle

Follow the basic tropical terrarium planting instructions for this project.

SOURCING: Purchase a mouth-blown glass vessel from a glassblower in your area. Perlite, soil, decorative pebbles, and tropical plants can all be found at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse. Find mood moss and reindeer moss online at moss vendors or forage them outdoors. Chopsticks and misting bottles can be found at your local grocery store or superstore.

Cider Setting

Composed of a single-serving cider bottle, this terrarium makes a perfect desktop decoration or hostess gift. With a small opening on top, very little moisture escapes from this vessel, allowing tropical plants to thrive. A small polka dot plant is grouped with cushion moss in this vessel. Because of the small size of the bottle, it is important not to overplant.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • empty single-serving glass soda or cider bottle

    • gravel or perlite

    • cushion moss

    • potting soil

    • tropical plants

    • decorative river pebbles

    • reindeer moss

    • chopsticks

    • misting bottle

Follow the basic tropical terrarium planting instructions for this project.

SOURCING: Find perlite, soil, decorative pebbles, and tropical plants at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse. Order cushion moss and reindeer moss online at moss vendors or collect them outdoors. Single-serving cider or soda bottles, chopsticks, and misting bottles can be found at your local grocery store or superstore.

Wall Wonderland

This recycled lemonade bottle received a whole new life thanks to the work of a skilled glassblower. After being remolded into a pear-shaped vessel with a flat back, it was drilled with a diamond drill bit under a small stream of water to create the 1/4-inch hole for hanging. Due to the small (approximately 1 inch) opening, very little moisture is lost through the top of this container, making it ideal for tropical plants and mosses.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • empty lemonade bottle

    • safety glasses

    • hand drill

    • 1/4-inch drill bit for glass

    • gravel or perlite

    • all-purpose potting soil

    • mood moss

    • polka dot plant

    • Wandering Jew

    • decorative river pebbles

    • reindeer moss

    • chopsticks

    • misting bottle

01 Drill your glass. You will need two people for this part of the project: one to carefully hold the glass vessel under a very small stream of water (the kitchen sink works well), and one to drill the glass.

After putting on your safety glasses, carefully place the diamond drill bit on the glass where you want your hole for hanging. Slowly begin drilling your glass, applying slight pressure with the bit, and at the same time pouring a small stream of water at the drill site. You will feel the bit “bite” the glass as a divot is created. Continue drilling until you are completely through the glass and your hole is 1/4 inch in diameter. Rinse the glass dust out of your vessel and out of your sink.

02 Follow the basic tropical terrarium planting instructions.

SOURCING: Sparkling lemonade bottles are easily found at most major supermarkets. Drill bits for drilling glass are available online and in hardware stores. Handheld drills can be purchased at your local home improvement warehouse. Purchase perlite, soil, decorative pebbles, polka dot plant, and Wandering Jew at your local nursery. Mood moss and reindeer moss are available at online moss vendors or outdoors in your own backyard. Chopsticks and misting bottles can be found at your local grocery store or superstore.

Gnome Home

Creating a terrarium can lead you to many places you never expected to go: rummaging through your neighbor’s recycling searching for that perfect bottle, asking the manager of a bar if you can look through his recycling, or digging in the dirt on the side of the road searching for that perfect patch of moss. This tiny club soda bottle was discovered on recycling night in a quiet neighborhood. For the less adventurous soul, similar club soda bottles can be purchased at your local supermarket or liquor store. Perfect for tropical plants and mosses, this bottle has a small opening that will retain moisture in the terrarium.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • small club soda bottle

    • gravel or perlite

    • all-purpose potting soil

    • mood moss

    • polka dot plant

    • decorative river pebbles

    • reindeer moss

    • chopsticks

    • misting bottle

Follow the basic tropical terrarium planting instructions for this project.

SOURCING: Glass club soda bottles can be found in the recycling bins of many cafes or in your neighbor’s recycling. Buy perlite, soil, decorative pebbles, and polka dot plant, at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse. Find mood moss and reindeer moss online or outdoors in your backyard. Chopsticks and misting bottles can be purchased at your local grocery store or superstore.

CHAPTER FIVE

Children’s Terrariums

Not just for the single hipster, terrariums can be fun for the entire family. When considering a family-friendly project, vessel selection is again of the utmost importance. A wide-mouthed container is ideal, providing easy access for little hands. Another factor to consider is the durability of the container. If your little one is on the younger side, you may want to select a shatter-proof container.

Jar Jungle

This terrarium is the ideal family project: planting through the wide opening of the jar is easy and it provides a valuable lesson for children on repurposing. After providing many a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, this Mason jar found a new life as a tropical environment for mosses and plants. Since this vessel is mostly sealed, very little (if any) moisture escapes through the top and tropical plants thrive here. Even using semiaquatic plants will work well in this high-humidity environment. Use activated charcoal between the drainage and soil layers to keep the air and soil fresh and filtered.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • empty Mason jar

    • gravel or perlite

    • activated charcoal

    • mood moss

    • all-purpose potting soil

    • tropical or semiaquatic plants

    • decorative river pebbles

    • reindeer moss

    • chopsticks

    • misting bottle

Follow the basic tropical terrarium planting instructions for this project (found on page 51).

SOURCING: Perlite, soil, decorative pebbles, and tropical plants can all be found at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse. Buy semiaquatic plants and activated charcoal at an aquarium supply store. Mood moss and reindeer moss are available at online moss vendors or by foraging them outdoors. Find Mason jars, chopsticks, and misting bottles at your local grocery store or superstore.

Arid Arium

With easy accessibility through the top of the vessel, the Arid Arium is the perfect family project. Originally a saltwater aquarium, this 20-gallon tank is perfect for planting prickly plants! Airflow is abundant in this vessel, making it an ideal environment for cacti and succulents. Since the youngest members of the family will be involved with this project, use grafted cacti for their bright, kid-friendly colors and easy handling. The bottoms of these cacti have virtually no thorns.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • open-topped aquarium

    • gravel or perlite

    • cactus-friendly potting soil

    • sand or gravel

    • grafted cacti or your choice of succulent plant

    • decorative materials

    • chopsticks

01 Follow the basic desert terrarium planting instructions for this project (found on page 34).

02 Maintain your Arid Arium by placing it in bright indirect light and watering it with approximately 2 cups of water once monthly or when the soil is dry.

SOURCING: Find grafted cacti, cactus-friendly potting soil, perlite, and sand at your local home improvement warehouse. Old aquariums and other similar decorative objects frequently pop up at salvage yards, thrift stores, and consignment shops. Buy chopsticks at the supermarket and medicine droppers at a pharmacy.

Soda Pop Paradise

Creating terrariums will have you thinking twice before carting bottles to your recycling bin. Even the simplest and most common containers can be repurposed. This family-friendly project was constructed using a 20-ounce soda bottle. Even the youngest members of the family can be involved in the creation of terrarium with a durable plastic bottle. The small (approximately 1 inch) opening allows very little moisture to escape from this container, making it perfect for lush tropical plants and mosses. This project pairs creeping fig with polka dot plant and cushion moss.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • clean 20-ounce plastic soda bottle

    • gravel or perlite

    • all-purpose potting soil

    • mood moss

    • creeping fig

    • polka dot plant or your choice of tropical plant

    • decorative river pebbles

    • reindeer moss

    • chopsticks

    • misting bottle

Follow the basic tropical terrarium planting instructions for this project (found on page 51).

SOURCING: Plastic soda bottles can be purchased at most grocery stores or found in the recycling bin. Buy perlite, soil, decorative pebbles, and tropical plants at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse. Find mood moss and reindeer moss online or in the backyard. Chopsticks and misting bottles can be purchased at a grocery store or superstore.

CHAPTER SIX

Out-of-the-Ordinary Terrariums

The most creative of all the projects in this book, these unusual terrariums are sure to wow even the most skeptical terrarium critic. These specialty vessels and plantings stand out among all other terrariums and take a large amount of patience and skill. As you embark on a journey where few dare to tread, remember that you are making a beautiful piece of living art that, with proper care, will last indefinitely.

Light of My Life

This recycled lightbulb no longer graces a Hollywood dressing room mirror, but all is not lost! It is now a beautiful terrarium. Great care was taken to safely remove the metal contact, insulating material, and glass mount from the bulb to allow access for planting. Three clear rubber bumpers in a triangle pattern at the base of the globe allow it to stand on a surface without rolling away. A Tillandsia plant and small polished river pebbles were used this terrarium.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • old clear lightbulb

    • thick pair of leather gloves

    • safety glasses

    • needle-nose pliers

    • small flathead screwdriver

    • clear furniture bumpers

    • Tillandsia plant

    • river pebbles

    • reindeer moss

    • chopsticks

    • medicine dropper

01 Put on your safety glasses and begin the deconstruction of your lightbulb by grasping the glass globe with a gloved hand and using the needle-nose pliers to firmly grab hold of the metal contact or electrical foot at the tip of the bulb. Once you have grasped this piece securely with the pliers, carefully twist and pull it off. You may feel breakage when you do this. You will notice now that there is thick black ceramic insulation between the globe and the opening.

02 Again holding the glass globe firmly, grasp the black ceramic material on the end with the pliers and twist until it snaps. This takes some time and effort, so you may have to repeat this motion several times before all the ceramic is removed. Now you should be able to access the glass mount and filament.

03 Use your flathead screwdriver to break the interior glass mount by pushing it firmly to one side. Again, you may have to use some force do this. Once the glass mount is broken, remove any remaining wires with the pliers. Now the lightbulb is empty!

04 Place three or four rubber furniture bumpers on the bottom of the bulb (so the round globe can sit nicely on a flat surface) in a triangular or rectangular pattern.

05 Follow the basic Tillandsia terrarium planting instructions (found on page 23).

SOURCING: Used lightbulbs of this type can often be found by asking a local hotel for their discarded lightbulbs. Find furniture bumpers, needle-nose pliers, flathead screwdrivers, safety glasses, and gloves at the hardware store. Tillandsia can sometimes be purchased at your local nursery or florist, and there are several online Tillandsia sellers as well. Reindeer moss is available online or in your backyard. Chopsticks are available at the supermarket and medicine droppers are available at the pharmacy.

Giant Mouth-Blown Terrarium

For the experienced terrarium artist, giant terrariums are a time consuming but beautifully rewarding challenge. This giant vessel was skillfully blown by an experienced glassblower and took the strength of two blowers to complete because of its massive weight. With a diameter of 32 inches, this vessel is impressive in girth.

Glass vessels like this one can be created by experienced glassblowers, but if you want something similar in size without the price tag, buy a glass carboy (a vessel used to contain beer during the brewing process) from a beer or winemaking supply store.

The small opening at the top of this vessel ensures that very little moisture is lost and that tropical plants and mosses will thrive. Polka dot plant, purple passion plant, tropical Lamiaceae, Cryptanthus, and mood moss were used for this project.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • large handblown vessel or glass carboy

    • gravel or perlite

    • potting soil

    • mood moss

    • tropical plants

    • decorative river pebbles

    • reindeer moss

    • thin wooden dowel or long stick from the yard for planting

    • misting bottle for maintenance

Follow the basic tropical terrarium planting instructions for this project (found on page 51). Where chopsticks are necessary in most terrariums, they are too short for this project. You will need a large, sturdy stick or wooden dowel.

SOURCING: Purchase giant mouth-blown glass vessels through an artisan glassblower. Alternatively, glass carboys are available at brewing stores and online beer supply stores. Find perlite, soil, decorative pebbles, and tropical plants at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse. Buy mood moss and reindeer moss online or forage them outdoors. Misting bottles for maintenance can be found at your local grocery store or superstore, and sturdy, long sticks for planting can be harvested from your backyard. If not, find wooden dowels at the hardware store.

The Edible Mushroom Case

There is no terrarium more practical or useful than the edible mushroom case. A perfect addition to any kitchen, this large Wardian case was selected for its easy accessibility (the entire top is hinged) and its size, as it must fit a large mushroom log. Framed with fir wood, it is naturally resistant to rot and pests.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • large Wardian case or other accessible vessel that can be closed to maintain humidity

    • edible mushroom log

    • reindeer moss

    • misting bottle

    • Optional ingredients: lichen-covered branches, Tillandsia ionantha (air plants), copper-free floral wire, and wire cutters. If the bottom of your case isn’t sealed, you will also need plastic sheeting and a staple gun to waterproof the base

01 Submerge the mushroom log in water and let it soak for twelve hours prior to planting. These logs often come in bags; soaking the log inside the bag is fine.

02 Clean your case. Since this case is going to house edible plants, give it a thorough cleaning with vinegar and water before planting.

03 If your case is not sealed between the walls and the floor, use a waterproof landscape fabric (like plastic sheeting) to cover the bottom, creating a lip on the edges of the walls. Use a staple gun to attach the fabric to the lowest wooden framing along the bottom of the walls. This ensures that water will not seep into the joint between the floor and the walls.

04 Place the soaked mushroom log on the newly waterproof floor of the case in the desired area.

05 Liberally place reindeer moss around the remainder of the case floor. This helps to maintain the high level of humidity necessary to grow the mushrooms.

06 For aesthetic purposes, place lichen-covered branches along with the air plants to complete the look. Secure the Tillandsia to the branches using copper-free floral wire (copper is toxic to Tillandsia and other bromeliads).

07 Mist the mushroom log directly with about fifteen squirts from the spray bottle each day. Mist the reindeer moss with ten to twelve squirts of water maintain humidity in the case. Keep the case out of direct light. Mushrooms should begin to develop within two weeks and can be harvested when the caps are between 1 and 1-1/2 inches in diameter (for oyster mushrooms). You can often harvest multiple crops of mushrooms from one log.

SOURCING: This Wardian case was salvaged from a thrift store, but similar cases are available online, from your local nursery, at major home goods warehouses, and at furniture stores. Edible mushroom logs are available at your local home improvement warehouse, specialty culinary shops, or Back to the Roots web-based shop. Tillandsia ionantha (air plants) can be found at your local nursery or directly from Tillandsia growers online. Lichen-covered branches and reindeer moss can be ordered online or foraged outdoors. Misting bottles are available at the grocery store or superstore.

Lush Landscape

Sometimes you just need a challenge. Planting a wine bottle on its side fits the bill. Masochistic? Maybe. But in the end, this bottle is beautiful and definitely begs the question “How’d you do that?!” After a thorough cleaning with a bottlebrush and dish soap, this bottle was dried overnight and turned on its side. Its small (approximately 1 inch) opening retains moisture, making it ideal for tropical plants and mosses.

FOR THIS PROJECT YOU WILL NEED:

    • large, empty wine bottle with a diameter of approximately 4 inches or more

    • plastic furniture bumpers

    • gravel or perlite

    • all-purpose potting soil

    • cushion moss

    • low-growing tropical plant

    • decorative river pebbles

    • reindeer moss, chopsticks

    • misting bottle

Follow the basic tropical terrarium planting instructions for this project (found on page 51). While following these instructions, keep these special instructions in mind:

01 Remember to select plants that are flat or very short, as there is very little height in this particular type of terrarium.

02 Place three or four rubber furniture bumpers on the bottom of the bottle (to help the round bottle sit nicely on a flat surface) in a triangular or rectangular pattern.

03 Keep the bottle upright as you funnel in the drainage material. Then, as you turn your bottle on its side, use your chopstick to evenly spread the material across the bottom of the vessel.

04 Next, as you very slightly angle your vessel upright, funnel in the soil, creating a pile of soil at the opening and being careful not to disturb the drainage material. Slowly and carefully flick the top of the pile of soil toward the back of the vessel, again, being careful not to disturb the drainage material below. Repeat this step until the drainage material is covered by 1 inch of soil.

05 As you feed each small moss pillow through the opening of the bottle, cover the soil from back to front. Move moss pillows toward the back of the terrarium by lifting each one with your chopsticks. Leaving some empty places on the soil is perfectly acceptable; you can cover them later with pebbles or reindeer moss.

SOURCING: Empty wine bottles can be found in the recycling of many restaurants or liquor stores. Find perlite, soil, decorative pebbles, and compact tropical plants at your local nursery or home improvement warehouse. Order cushion moss and reindeer moss online or forage it outdoors in your own backyard. Chopsticks and misting bottles can be purchased a grocery stores or superstores.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Maintaining Your Terrarium

You did it! You planted your very own terrarium. Pat yourself on the back.

Now that you’re done, there are just a few critical things to know about your newly planted terrarium ... and a few things that are just fun nerdy facts. First, the critical stuff:

01 Light Requirements:

To understand light requirements, you must understand that a terrarium works a bit like the inside of a car sitting in the sun: the air inside the car becomes much hotter than the air outside the car. The sun’s radiant energy penetrates the glass and has little way of escaping, thereby increasing the temperature on the inside of the vessel. Essentially, it’s a model of the greenhouse effect. This is why it is so important to keep your terrarium out of direct light. When placed in direct light, you create a miniature oven and you will soon discover that your plants have been steamed.

The best placement for a terrarium is near a window, but not directly in the window (unless that window receives no direct sunlight whatsoever) or in bright, indirect light. When purchasing your plants from the nursery, pay close attention to the light requirements listed on the side of the pot or tag. A plant that requires full sun is not an ideal candidate for a terrarium.

02 Water Requirements:

One of the easiest ways to kill a terrarium is by over- or underwatering. Remember that, unlike potted plants, terrariums have no natural drainage holes on the bottom of the vessel. They typically lose moisture much more slowly than potted plants and require less frequent watering. When purchasing your plants, pay close attention to the listed water requirements . It is critical to the health of the terrarium to group plants with similar water requirements. Never pour water into your terrarium as this will rot the moss, drown the plant, and cause mold.

For a tropical terrarium, use a misting bottle and squirt fifteen to seventeen heavy mists or enough to ensure that the soil and the moss are always slightly damp to the touch. Repeat this more often at first and, as your tropical terrarium becomes established, less frequent watering will be necessary.

For most Tillandsia terrariums, only a medicine dropper is necessary for maintenance. Never apply water directly to the plant (unless otherwise indicated in the instructions for your selected project), as this will cause it to rot. A small pool of water in the pebbles beneath the plant (not touching the plant itself) ensures a high level of humidity within the vessel.

For desert terrariums, very little water is necessary for maintenance. Use a medicine dropper to water the base of each succulent plant or cactus with about two teaspoons of water monthly.

If your local climate or home tends to be particularly dry or humid, you’ll have to adjust your watering routine accordingly. Keep your terrarium out of the way of heating or air conditioning vents to maintain steady temperature and humidity inside the vessel.

A Final Word

Terrariums are living, dynamic pieces of art that have been a part of culture for centuries. There is an element of innocence in having your hands in the earth. Working with soil and raising each plant gives us insight into the fragility of life and the great effort necessary to protect and maintain it. The tedious, repetitive nature of building these little enclosed ecosystems allows for time and space to ponder the larger ecosystem and the effect our choices have on it.

The unique shape of glass used in each piece serves a twofold purpose. While protecting the plants from the outside environment, the glass also serves as a mirror. As you look into your terrarium and see your own reflection, remember that you are the caretaker not only of this tiny sphere, but also of our larger one.

Resources

Moss

Teresa’s Plants and More Store:

teresasplants.com

Managed and owned by the lovely and accommodating Teresa Kessler.

Moss’s Unlimited: mossesunlimited.com

Managed and owned by Renee Hibshman, also very accommodating and an excellent resource for lichen-and moss-covered branches.

Plants

Black Jungle Terrarium Supply: blackjungleterrariumsupply.com

T&C Terrariums: fantasticfrogs.com

Rain Forest Flora: rainforestflora.com

A very friendly staff and several massive greenhouses full of Tillandsia. I highly recommend a visit if you are in Southern California.

Back to the Roots: backtotheroots.com

Helpful staff and an excellent source of edible mushroom logs.

Mouth-Blown Glass

Burnt Knuckle Glass: burntknuckle.com

A group of artisan glassblowers headed by the wonderful and very helpful Ryan Adams.

The Crucible: thecrucible.org

An art and education facility that includes glassblowers.

Hanging Glass

CB2: cb2.com

A modern interior furnishings store that frequently carries various types of inexpensive hanging glass vases and candleholders.

West Elm: westelm.com

Another modern interior furnishings store that carries hanging glass vases.

Wardian Cases

Ikea: ikea.com

This inexpensive home furnishing giant carries a lovely little Wardian case perfect for an edible mushroom terrarium.

Acknowledgments

My deepest gratitude is due to the following individuals: Emil Geiger for tolerating a house full of moss, plants, and dirt and for being a whiz on the computer and camera. Dakota and Toby Geiger for being a source of constant inspiration. My parents for teaching me to love plants. Rebecca McKibben for being a constant support in every way. Tenney Vaughn for being a mean green terrarium machine. Cynthia Bragdon of Urban Indigo for taking a chance on a new, independent terrarium artist. Ryan Adams, Chris Adams, Jason Lennon, Jack Hedrick, and Tyler Kimball for their mad glassblowing skills. And finally, God for being awesome and making plants so I can put them in glass vessels.

About the Author

Kat Geiger is an artist, gardener, and self-proclaimed design junkie who has been creating terrariums since 2001 for her family, shops, and large companies, including Levi Strauss and Nvidia. Most recently her work has been featured in Paxton Gate (San Francisco, CA), Urban Indigo (Oakland, CA), A Priori (Berkeley, CA), and several other San Francisco Bay Area stores. Her work has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, SF Gate, the Oakland Tribune, the San Jose Mercury News, Apartment Therapy, sfgirlbybay.com, and many more online publications. She lives in Reno, Nevada, with her husband, Emil, and children, Toby and Dakota.