There is something about small gardens that I find magical. Small gardens, terrariums in particular, have a way of sweeping me off to a day-dreamy place where walnut-shells are used for beds and I become pocket-sized.
Making these wee little wonderlands is exceedingly easy. So when I found myself with a surplus of jars, vases, and old candle containers, I immediately set out to create Tillandsia terrariums to give to others, and keep for myself.
By using Tillandsia, (air plants as they are commonly known) you can create a very low-maintenance garden with a high reward. Tillandsia do not require any soil to grow, as they get all of their nutrients from the air. With an occasional spray of water, you can keep these Tillandsia terrariums in dorm rooms, on office desks, and at home with very little worry about them.
The materials needed for this project are the following:
Assorted Tillandsia (air plants)
Clean jars, vases and other clear glass vessels
Potting soil
Decorative Rocks
Spoon
Dried moss
Soapy water & Paper towels
Start out by cleaning all of the glass jars well. Remove any labels, glue or fingerprints with warm, soapy water. Next, add several spoon-fulls of potting soil into the clean jars. While Tillandsia do not need the soil to grow, I tend to think that these tiny plants (part of the bromeliad family) resemble trees (in a Dr. Seuss kind of way), and look quite happy when “planted” in the soil. Additionally, anchoring a plant is always a good idea. Whether you are hot-gluing your Tillandsia to a stick, or simply nestling it in a foundation of moss, a secured plant is a happy plant.
Next, take enough decorative moss to cover the potting soil completely and tear a small hole in it to allow for the air plant. Push the moss into the jar with a spoon and press down firmly. Add the Tillandsia by gently pressing it into the space you created within the moss. This will keep the plant steady, and happy.
For a more modern look, skip the decorative moss and place the Tillandsia into the potting soil and cover with decorative rocks.
This is wonderful! I am always trying to do cute plant stuff, and I always kill it. Tiny moss gardens, succulents, you name it. I even have a Tillandsia, but I work in a basement so it’s died of sunlight deprivation. I will give this a try, and keep it at home instead.
I love these, but have killed two and I am normally great with plants!
Thanks a.b.!! Yea- a basement is a LITTLE dark
Sarah- I blame your kitty!!
These are adorable! I feel the same exact way about little gardens. Two of my local greenhouses have elaborate miniature gardens – one with a cottage and the other with a full blown castle and river!
I’d love to try a couple of these and bring them into my day job. Might bring a bit of joy to the otherwise dreary day.
Oooooh the mini gardens with little houses get me EVERY time. Why do I wish I were three inches tall?! It’s inexplicable.
Good luck with your own terrariums! I know they will be the perfect escape on a slow work-day
xo
radmegan
i’m totally smitten with this! i LOVE tillandsia and some how never ever thought to use them in a terrarium. brilliant!
This is so cool! I can’t wait to make one. You always have the best cute plant ideas. I too wish I was 3 inches tall. Or if the talking trees from the Lord of the Rings existed that would be just as good 😀
Note that tillandsia do not like soil it does not grow in soil, it is an Air Plant. You will kill your plant by leaving and watering it in this setting that you demonstrated. This arrangement is nice to look at but it is not practical. You fail to mention that you will need to take the tillandsia out to water and dry thouroughly before sticking it back into its shangrila setting.
Thank you Natalie! They do not need very much water at all, so use it sparingly
Alexandra- Thank you, I appreciate the comment! Lord of the Rings trees would be awesome! Let me know if you figure out how to breed those! 😉
Anonymous- Thanks so much for your comment. Like I said in my post, these plants don’t need soil… they get their nutrients from the air. By placing them in the moss, and lightly misting them, they should be just fine. Of course I wouldn’t recommend watering them to the point where they are soggy. That would kill them, as you pointed out.
xoxo
radmegan
Where can I buy Tillandsia? I’d rather not order it online so I’m looking for a store that carries it…do you happen to know of a chain store that would have them? or any stores near Eugene OR…?
Very good information. Lucky me I recently found your
website by accident (stumbleupon). I have saved as a favorite
for later!
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