How to Make String Gardens or Kokedama

Head over to Dennis' 7 Dees for a brief tutorial on constructing kokedama.  I am really hankering to try this out but - I can't really fathom keeping them out doors and they seem like potential gnat magnets if you keep them indoors.  Have you cared for kokedama and do you have any tips?

Removing Dead Plants from a Mature Terrarium

The internet is chock full of glossy photos of brand new terrariums in all their leafy glory.  But what about the old terrariums, with dying plants or problem spots?  Kudos to yellowbrickhome.com for sharing some tips and photos of removing some dead plants from a mature terrarium.  I highly recommend popping over to the post to see the ingenious use of household tools to fix up an ailing terrarium.

Edible Easter Faux Terrariums

Hop over to hgtv.com for a cute tutorial on making edible terraria for your Easter decorations.  I'm a sucker for anything with bunnies or chocolate so I am really digging this idea.  And don't forget that March is National Craft Month!  You've still got a few days to join in on the DIY spirit and get your craft on!

Ten Themes for Your Terrarium

If you've made a few plain terraria and are looking for a new theme or inspiration, check out 10 out-of-the-box ideas at Concrete Playground.  I'll give you one spoiler: yoda.

Moss Monday: Video Field Guide to Mosses

This video is a tad dry for the day-to-day moss fiend.  However, if you are interested in mosses growing in the Sequoia National Forest than it may be worth your time! Hat tip to Moss Plants and More for the lead.

How to Add a Plant to a Bottle

 I want to preface this tutorial with a cautionary tale: I seriously bit off more than I could chew with this particular fern division and I'm doubtful it will survive in the bottle terrarium.

When dividing your fern - pick a small chunk!  If the plant takes to your terrarium it can expand to the right size for the terrarium vessel.

1. Don't water your fern for a few days so the soil and root ball will be dry during the transplant.  More damp soil leads to more mess.

2. Sever a portion of the fern from the entire plant.  You can tease the roots apart and use a serrated knife when needed.

3. Use a piece of paper to wrap the rootball and gently compress it into a tube shape, this will allow an easier transition down the neck of the bottle.

4. Once the plant is in the bottle, use tools to adjust the placement in the soil.

Lives of Grass

"Lives of Grass" by Mathilde Roussel, Photos © Matthieu Raffard. 

You'll have to click through to Roussel's website to see the up close photos of the breathtaking "Lives of Grass" installation art.  I find the images arresting and I can't imagine what it would feel like to come upon these in a gallery or museum.  I also imagine the use of earth and live wheatgrass would give the sculptures a wonderful earthy fragrance in an otherwise sterile gallery.

Pro Terrarium Tips from ProFlowers

Photo from www.proflowers.com

Hat tip to ProFlowers blog for sharing a terrarium tutorial for those of us that love to organize small things.  Perhaps the whole concept of keeping a terrarium represents an expression of OCD love: micromanaging a whole ecosystem for fun! What I really want is that mini bicycle...

Moss Monday: Las Pozas

Photo from dif-place.blogspot.com

NatGeo had a neat photo essay of gardens at night, once of which depicts Edwards James' surreal garden in Xilitla, Mexico. James was a patron of Salvador Dali and an ardent collector of exotic plants and animals for his whimsical garden dubbed "Las Pozas."  I have a soft spot for eccentric plant collectors and this garden looks tops!  Read more at the Guardian.

Cascade of Moss

Photo from slugandsquirrel.blogspot.com

Succulent Terrarium How-to

Photo from thelittlebigblog.com

A succulent terrarium makes a great gift as the plants need little water to thrive.  Make sure the recipient is aware of their limited needs and see a great tutorial at thelittlebigblog.

Build-a-Faux Terrarium

Thanks to an anonymous reader who left a helpful link to willardandmay.com, purveyors of what appear to be the rolls royces of faux terrariums.  I love that some of the fake plant inserts appear to have roots - as the root system is one of my favorite visible parts of a real terrarium!

Zen Terrarium at HGTV

From hgtv.com

Moss Monday: Accidental Terrarium

Have you ever encountered an accidental terrarium while on a hike?  I saw one once but somehow didn't grab a photo.

Help, I Overwatered: Removing Water from a Terrarium

You've gone and overwatered your terrarium and all the signs are there: condensation on all the interior surfaces, drowned plants and possibly the appearance of algae scuz.  I have one trick for you to try.

Twist up a paper towel or two and dangle them into your terrarium until it just touches the surface of the soil.  Paper towels are mega absorbent and thanks to capillary action - water will travel up the surface and out of your terrarium.  Think of it as the opposite of using a water wick to water houseplants.

Leave the paper towel wick for a few hours and then toss the sopping thing out!

Mixing Soil for a Terrarium

I generally recommend a ratio of about two parts potting soil to one part sand for a terrarium.  I find this mix promotes drainage but still retains enough moisture to keep humidity-loving plants like ferns and moss happy.  Watch out for potting soil loaded with fertilizer (like the one in the photo).  You don't want terrarium plants kicking into hyper-grow mode and outgrowing your terrarium vessel.

Soil mix with water added

Only mix a little water into your soil mix prior to adding it to your terrarium.  Very wet soil will be difficult to add into a narrow-necked vessel and it is always easier to add more water to a terrarium than remove it later!

I'll be sharing an ultra-insider, expert tip to remedy an overwatered terrarium tomorrow so stay tuned!

Trio of Terrarium Candlesticks

Visit partylite.com for the full set of instructions for these adorable "candlestick" terraria.  These would look great placed down a table runner.

Building a Bromeliad Terrarium

Check out the wonderfully detailed vivariumguide.com for guidance on building a bromeliad terrarium.  I am not very familiar with bromeliads and did not realize there are epiphyte and terrestrial bromeliads.  Make sure you know which one you have before you build a terrarium around it!

Moss Monday: Sun Mosses at Mountain Moss

I often visit the Mountain Moss website to learn more about moss varieties and the environments in which they grow best.  Mountain Moss also sells trays of moss suitable for outdoor gardening.

Using Mesh as a Barrier for Terrarium Soil Layers

This idea is rather ingenious and I can't believe it hasn't dawned on me until recently.  Rather than using sphagnum moss as a filter barrier between soil and drainage layers, why not use a disc of fabric mesh?  Photo from the My Chicago Botanic Garden blog.