How to Create a Moss Terrarium for a Fraction of the Cost of These Trendy Sets
The terrariums are enjoying their greatest moment since Queen Victoria was in power. A popular way of exhibiting plants in the late 1800s, terrariums, which were called “vardian boxes” in the Victorian era, were elaborate pieces that could take up an entire table. These days, smaller, simpler iterations grace the windows of fashion stores, appear in gift guidebooks, and here in Brooklyn even inspired a terrarium-only store called Twigs.
A tiny green universe neatly enclosed in glass, easy to care for and often populated with adorable miniatures, it’s easy to see why terrariums, especially the easier-to-save moss species, are back in vogue. They are a great alternative to the dull desktop cactus at work that requires little light and maintenance. And if they are completely neglected, dried moss will look as beautiful as fresh.
While there are plenty of places to buy a ready-made terrarium, moss terrariums are fun and easy to make at home for a fraction of the surprisingly high cost that stores charge. So imagine it’s 1899 and have a craft evening with a few friends – no tapered corsets or tight ties required.
1. Find a home for your new mossy world
First you need a glass container. Any clear glass container in which you can place your hand will do. Good old regular Mason jugs look surprisingly elegant, like terrariums, as do the clear glass candlesticks from your local dollar store. But there is no need to spend money; you probably have the perfect container in your refrigerator right now. Jars of pickled cucumbers are great, and a small amount of dish soap will quickly get rid of the dill smell. An unusual jam that you bought by accident? Ideal for smaller enclosures.
2. Population of the Universe
Once you have your glass container ready, think about what theme you want for your terrarium. Just because it’s a mossy forest landscape doesn’t mean you have to follow the path of fairies or garden gnomes. The gentle hills covered with moss are ideal for a graveyard with tiny tombstones. Or bring him to life with mythical creatures like unicorns, do your best, Themyscira in honor of Wonder Woman, or kill time before Game of Thrones starts again by visualizing any of the Seven Kingdoms.
You can buy simple miniatures from any craft store or Etsy for relatively little money, but the fun part is making your own.
Oven baking clay , available from craft stores or online in every color imaginable, is perfect for bringing to life anything your imagination can imagine and also make your terrarium unique. Using baking clay is very simple. Since it comes pre-painted in whatever color you need, there is no need to paint it afterwards. Just sculpt what you want as if you are back in the Play-Doh childhood days. Then bake in the oven according to the instructions until it solidifies. After your artfully oven-baked clay iron throne – or, in my case, the clumsy gnome and mushroom – has completely cooled down, simply paint over with clear nail polish to cover the figurine and keep moisture out.
3. Topography
Now that you have a glass container, one-of-a-kind fauna and theme, you need flora. Bonus points if you live near the Louisiana swamps and can harvest your own local Spanish moss. For the rest of us, moss can be bought for a couple of dollars a bag at garden or craft stores.
You have two options: you can buy live moss and continue to grow it like any plant, or you can buy dried moss, which is often a cheerful color and looks very lively. If you have the husks of many dead table plants and don’t want to be bothered by watering your terrarium, dried moss is a great option.
If you are going to use live moss and plan to keep it that way by watering, you will need a drainage layer at the bottom of the glass container, which can be made from pebbles. This layer is created so that when overflowing, water can escape, so that the soil does not remain constantly wet, causing root rot.
Many terrarium kits include activated charcoal, which is placed over a drainage layer of pebbles to prevent soil odor. You can buy activated carbon at the pet store, in the aquarium section. Activated charcoal is useful in a closed terrarium, but for an open terrarium like the one we are making, which looks like a pot plant, this is not necessary, so just put a layer of soil on top of the pebbles.
Soil and pebbles are also used to create the relief of your world, so they are great for dried moss terrariums too, but you don’t have to worry about creating a drainage layer. Hills, mountains, plains, or deep cavernous sinkholes that consume the world can be sculpted with a little earth, a few pebbles, and imagination.
Once you’ve set up the topography of your terrarium, simply add moss wherever you want lush hills, wide plains, or overgrown forests. Now you’re ready for the very best: appear in miniatures to populate their new world. If using live moss, water it abundantly once a week or so, and keep it out of direct sunlight.
And here it is: a bespoke, completely original moss terrarium for about the same price as a sandwich.