Inside the Workshop with Prism Terrarium Maker

DesignSponge shares photos and an interview with glass artist Ashley Bram-Johnson, of ABJ Glass on Etsy.  You can sneak a fascinating peek into her sun-filled workroom where she makes adorable, prism-like terrariums.

Bag End Terrarium

Bilbo would never pine away for Bag End during his travels if he carried with him this miniature ensconced in glass and moss.  "Movie Miniatures: The Shire Lord of the Rings Hobbit Home Terrarium" from Etsy seller FaceoftheEarth.

Nesting Terraria in a Cave á Liqueur

Josh Leo at Eight Oaks Terrariums shared a link to his truly one-of-a-kind cave á liqueur terrarium.  We've seen terrariums in wine bottles, vodka bottles, tequila bottles - but a cave á liqueur?  What is a cave á liqueur?

From buzzonantiques.blogspot.com:

"A cave à liqueur is a liqueur caddy that has diminutive crystal liqueur decanters (typically 4) along with a set of small glasses (typically 8)."

Aha!  A tempting transparent liquor locker - which has been repurposed into a fantastic terrarium and a convenient obscure history lesson in one!  Kudos to Josh for continuing to push the boundaries of the terrarium art form.

Moss Monday: Desk Lamp Terrarium

Illuminate a bit of moss in a battery-operated lightbulb terrarium.  Spotted at iichi.com.

Wardian Case for Cheap

This 8"x 13" x 7" Wardian case type terrarium vessel can be yours for less than $40 through Target.  Just don't try to search for it using the words "wardian case."  Target is calling this baby a "Glass Cloche Terrarium."  I was under the impression that cloche meant bell.  Anyhoo - it is a steal and a great option for your terrarium-mad friend who might need a good container like this for putting plants in quarantine before putting them in terrariums.

Visions on A Shoe String

After operating this blog for several years, you'd think I've seen it all when it comes to terrariums, container planting or unusual small-scale planting schemes.  It's true that I've seen many of the same ideas get recycled in and out - but occasionally something so unusual comes along that it catches my breath.

stringgardens.com is that needle-in-a-haystack find that keeps me going with this blog and with off-the-wall gardening methods in general.  The site is a combination of French and Japanese so I'm having little luck determining where this operation is located.  But visit the site and scroll through some of the gorgeous applications of this gardening method - orchids, bonsai and even jasmine and small fruiting shrubs - all suspended and thriving and magical.

UPDATE: Thanks to commenter Cristina H. for sharing a link to a very detailed DIY with photos, which describes the construction of this Japanese planting method "kokedama:"

www.good.is/posts/build-your-own-string-garden-in-7-steps

This is a garden craft I am interested in trying!

Moss Monday: the Ill-fated Pairing of Succulent and Moss

I love this close-up shot of a terrarium interior from thelearnerobserver.  It emphasizes all that I love about terraria - the idea of imagining yourself as a tiny observer in your own miniature forest.

With that said: use moss alongside succulents with caution!  They are not suited for the same environment and if you are aiming to maintain the terrarium environment over time- you will only be able to keep one or the other alive.

Choosing the Best Plants for a Terrarium Ornament

I always receive some questions about making terrarium ornaments during the weeks that lead up to the holidays.  Terrarium ornaments make wonderful gifts, conversation pieces or even tree decorations.  However - it is a small vessel in which to build a terrarium environment.  How can you ensure your precious project won't be a dud in a matter of days?  

The best advice would really be dependent on:

•  the type of ornament vessel you are using (does it have a hole in it or is it sealed?)
• Do you intend for the plants in your terrarium ornament to last beyond a couple of weeks?

If you are using the typical empty ornament that unscrews at the top and then results in a sealed environment - your best bet is to use an air plant or a succulent with a very small amount of soil.  The succulent is not going to be happy in the ornament environment indefinitely.  Read more about using an air plant for a terrarium ornament in my earlier post. 

If you are looking for a terrarium ornament to last you beyond the holidays - consider springing for a hanging terrarium vessel like the one pictured above, available from CB2.  This larger vessel would allow you to add more soil and the proper drainage layers, and the air hole would allow a plant to grow and extend beyond the dimensions of the container over time.  You could even select a plant that would fully utilize the air hole, such as a string of pearls succulent (photo from Inner Gardens).

How to Grow Ferns From Spores

I've discussed the challenge and the thrill of growing ferns from spores on the blog before.   With nursery prices they way they are- who hasn't fantasized about propagating a whole slew of ferns from the powdery spores of your cherished full-grown fern?

I poked around a bit and found a How-to guide that makes it sound positively easy to propagate ferns from spores.  The special ingredient seems to be patience.

Check out Sue Olson's how-to guide at the Hardy Fern Foundation for the full process description.  Here is my "a-ha" moment quote:

"The spores are then ready to be sown. I use a clear plastic container with a sterilized earthworm compost mix, but there are many other options. The spores are dusted on the top of the mix and the lid put on the container, which is then placed under cool white fluorescent lights that are turned on for 14 hours a day. The spores must be out of direct sunlight."

Maybe I'll stick to splitting up fern rhizomes...

Geodesic Orchid Terrarium

This globe-like geodesic terrarium from Restoration Hardware has immediate appeal.  It would be perfectly suited for a larger terrarium plant or a plant that could benefit from some extra room to breathe.  

To review more resources about creating an orchid terrarium, see my post How to Make an Orchid Terrarium.

Geodesic Terrarium | Decorative Accents | Restoration Hardware

Succulents on the Brain

After browsing the web for some alternative dish garden plantings for succulent I alighted on ohjoy.blogs.com and this charming couple.  I love the whimsical expressions and cascading succulent head gear.  Unfortunately, the original post is several years old and the links are dead ends.

Have you encountered ceramic planters like this anywhere?

Moss Monday: Mold on Moss (Q & A)

Thanks to reader Kelly for her question on the post Prevention and Dealing with Pests, Fungus and Disease in Terrariums.

Question: My terrariums lately have grown a type of fungus and even tiny mushrooms. Will this kill my irish moss? Is there anything that can be done to "clean" the moss? Or is this harmless?

Answer: I do not think mushrooms could kill your moss but if the fungus is web-looking you may be facing trouble. You may try removing the fungus or mushrooms with tweezers or chopsticks to clean it out. Next time you build a terrarium you may want to wash the moss first and watch it for a few days before putting it in your terrarium.

To recap my general advice to prevent or at least minimize the chance of mold or pests appearing in a terrarium:


1.) Rinse all containers with a bleach/water mix before planting (with a day or two to dry out).

2.) Wash newly harvested moss and look for pests or unwanted plants in the chunks.

3.) Quarantine new plant specimens in a "holding tank" for a period of time so you can observe their behavior and adaptation to the terrarium environment.

Have you had problems with fungus or mold in your moss terraria?

Moss and Stone Gardens

Photo by Ken Gergle / mossandstonegardens.com

If you are looking for some inspiring moss arrangements, check out the blog of Raleigh-based Moss & Stone Gardens.  In the effort of maximizing moss health, Helen suggests only lidding a moss arrangement for short periods of time.  I echo this suggestion and you can learn why in the post Are moss terrariums ridiculously easy to care for?

Why You Should Use Distilled Water in Your Terrarium

Q: Does distilled water have significant advantages over boiled and cooled water?

A: Using distilled water in your terrarium reduces the accumulation of mineral build-up in your environment. If you choose to water your terrarium with tap water or boiled tap water, you may see a crust of mineral deposit form in your soil or on the walls of your terrarium vessel over time.  If you know your tap water is particularly hard or soft - I would recommend using distilled water in your terrarium as much as possible.