Terrariums are a wonderful way to add some greenery to any area, and you can really make your terrarium stand out by using several types of bases! We frequently receive inquiries regarding how to exhibit air plants in terrariums, including what types of bases to use and whether they require soil. The bases and decorations you should pick to create a stunning air plant terrarium are discussed below.
You can use small pebbles, seashells, bark, marbles, preserved reindeer moss, beautiful sand, etc. for the base. Have fun with it! There are countless options for the colors and textures of the sand and rock used in terrariums.
There is no need to provide soil because air plants can survive without it. Most air plants, in fact, shouldn’t be planted in soil. Layering moss, sand, or rock is a simple way to add variety and texture to your terrarium.
Make sure the base you use is entirely dry. You don’t want your air plants to be resting against any moisture in their terrariums or containers.
You should also consider the type and size of the terrarium you are creating. This terrarium will be presented where? Will it hang or rest on a table? You can choose the substrate for your terrarium by responding to these questions. Since moss is lighter than sand and won’t shift as much if the terrarium sways, using it as a base layer may be preferable for hanging terrariums.
Small bits of bark or driftwood can give your terrarium a charmingly rustic appearance as a base or accent, but make sure the wood you pick is pest-free. We like to use orchid bark, which is available at Home Depot or Lowe’s. Use caution when utilizing logs or bark that you may find outside because they could contain insects or pests that could harm your plant.
Watering Terrariums and Plants:
- If you water your plants while they are in your terrarium, too much moisture may become trapped amid the moss, rock, etc., leading to the rot of your plants.
- Before putting the plants back in your terrarium, remove them, soak or mist them, and then make sure they are totally dry.
- No water or moisture should be present in your terrarium or next to the Tillandsia.
Alternatively, if you’d prefer a kit that includes everything you need, look no further—we also carry those!
Check out these DIY terrarium kits, which include everything you need to build one.
Does moss work well for air plants?
They require strong lighting, particularly in northern areas. Put them in the room with the most natural light. However, they don’t require direct sunlight. The nicest rooms are those with windows facing south or east. A little bit of direct sunshine is acceptable, but stay away from the hot West or long periods in the sun. Because they are more humid than other rooms, light-filled bathrooms and kitchens are ideal locations for air plants.
Once each week, give your air plant a 15- to 20-minute soak while it is upside down. Make sure to soak every leaf. Shake the water out of the leaves after a bath, then place them somewhere where there is adequate airflow to dry.
The plant won’t dry out if you sprinkle the leaves a few times a week in addition to soaking them if the humidity in your home is low. When excessively dry, leaves will wrinkle or roll up.
Bromeliad fertilizer can be diluted and used to feed air plants (17-8-22). To the soaking or misting water, add the fertilizer.
Don’t surround an air plant with sphagnum moss. The moss might lead to decay because it retains too much moisture.
You may grow air plants outside. If the humidity level is low, they can require more frequent watering. Just prevent them from spending all day in the sun. The ideal lighting is indirect.
Although they are frequently used in terrariums, tillandsias don’t do well in those that are entirely enclosed or have excessive humidity. They are frequently positioned on a shelf or hung on a wall after being affixed (by glue or wire) to wood, stone, or cork.
Sphagnum moss is required for air plants?
Tillandsia is the scientific name for air plants. In reality, there are more than 550 species of them, in addition to numerous hybrid varieties. In Mexico and throughout Central and South America, they typically grow spontaneously. There are 16 native species that are known to exist in Florida.
You can put air plants almost anyplace. You can choose where to grow them, from a kitchen window ledge to driftwood. Remember that they will require watering no matter where you place them. Also, keep in mind that any outside air plants can be brought indoors during the colder months since they don’t require temperatures to fall below 35 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is completely acceptable to use waterproof adhesive to mount your air plants. However, since you’ll need to water your air plants frequently, there’s a considerable probability that the glue will become wet, which is why it needs to be waterproof. Regular glue would be acceptable in this situation.
You should strongly avoid placing any sphagnum moss at the base of your air plants. If you surround them with moss, this could hold water, which would cause your plants to rot and die. They need to completely dry out in between waterings.
Your air plants should receive as much brilliant light as feasible when it comes to lighting. However, keep in mind that they don’t need to be in the sun’s direct path. When it comes to putting them close to windows, it’s typically advised that they be placed no more than 10 feet from windows that get a lot of light.
Additionally, incandescent light bulbs won’t be adequate for lighting. They must be kept under strong fluorescent lighting. Additionally, avoid using spot lights because they emit an excessive amount of heat.
Last but not least, water your air plants thoroughly if you want them to flourish beautifully. In fact, once you’re done watering, it should look as though they were simply watching a peaceful rainstorm. Their leaves should be completely submerged in water, top to bottom.
What kind of moss is ideal for air plants?
Searching for live Spanish moss strands to buy? [Not that powder from the hobby shop.] On our Wholesale Page, we sell them individually or in packs of six or more.
One particular species of air plant is Spanish moss. Tillandsia Usneoides is the official scientific name. The genus Tillandsia contains all of the air plants that we sell on our website. A more inclusive term that includes air plants is epiphytes, which are plants that get their nutrition from the air around them. Epipytes do not directly injure or parasitize their hosts. The sole sources of support for them are trees or other buildings.
They might unintentionally harm the tree host, though. This can occasionally be observed on trees that have dense Spanish moss growths. An overgrowth of moss on a tree may reduce the quantity of sunlight that reaches the host tree’s leaves. When Spanish moss is moist, it can also significantly increase the weight and surface area of a tree. The larger surface area may be a problem during hurricanes or other high-wind events. Over most other trees, Spanish moss tends to favor Southern Live Oaks and Bald Cypress. The main cause of this is the mineral leaching that takes place in these species. The moss uses the nutrients from this leaching process to fuel its growth.
Growing Spanish moss is not that difficult. The most typical method is via division, however seed can also be naturally multiplied in nature. Thousands of wispy seeds can leave a single clump in the spring after releasing small, unnoticeable blossoms and be carried by the wind to other host tree branches. However, it’s possible that you’ll get your Spanish moss in the form of a strand or division. As long as they are kept in a warm environment with sufficient air circulation and water available, they will grow contentedly. The ambient temperature should be at least sixty degrees. Preferable is some sun. The moss will get dry when exposed to direct heat, especially indoors. Like other air plant species, Spanish moss requires watering through misting or bathing in water.
Spanish moss can be brought outdoors in northern climates during the warm months. But if it’s put out too early in the Spring, birds might take it and use it as an unusual, snug nesting material.
Spanish moss has a wide range of applications. It can be utilized as insulation, packing material, mulch, and art supplies. It can be used as a filler for mattresses or furniture if it is grown commercially. Even the upholstery of automobiles was packed with moss throughout the first part of the 20th century. It is not advisable to use tree-picked moss for bedding or stuffing since it may be infested with pests like chiggers or red beetles. The plant will be killed if you microwave or boil the moss for a few minutes to get rid of the insects.
Any requirements for air plants?
Tillandsia, often known as air plants, are among the easiest plants to care for, but they still need attention and the right climate to thrive. Despite being referred to as “air plants” since they don’t need soil and get their nutrients from the air, they still require water, fertilizers, and light to survive. Technically speaking, air plants are epiphytes, which means that they naturally grow on other trees, hosts, or objects. They just use their host as a place to live and grow; they do not steal nutrients from it. To collect nutrients and moisture from the air, air plants have tiny trichome-like capillaries all over their leaves.
Because they don’t need soil (and the majority of Tillandsia shouldn’t be planted in soil), they can grow and thrive in a variety of environments, containers, and areas. Since air plants may be employed in a number of situations thanks to their adaptable development, Tillandsia have become more and more popular as interior decorations for homes and businesses.
Despite their reputation as being simple to produce, air plants nevertheless require care in order to thrive and maintain a healthy life. Tillandia can live for a number of years with proper care, and it may even produce “pups” for you to enjoy for several more years.
How to Care for Air Plants
Before spending the time and money to create this fantastic terrarium, you might want to get a quick lesson on how to take care of air plants. Fortunately, it’s really simple for you! Tillandsias, often known as air plants, require this in order to flourish.
- Although they may tolerate some direct sunlight, air plants prefer bright light. Low light levels might abruptly cause air plants to falter and perish. Make sure you attend to their lighting requirements since once they reach that stage, saving them becomes challenging.
- It’s simple to water air plants… Put all of your air plants in a big bowl or sink and soak them in water for 20 to 30 minutes once a week. Allow them to dry on a towel, upside-down. Give your air plants a gentle shake before setting them out to drain since they are prone to rot if water is allowed to gather in their leaves.
- Add a water soluble fertilizer to the water you soak them in every other time you water them during the growing season.
I’m done now! Now that you know how to construct an air plant terrarium, you can not only showcase your plants in a stunning fashion but also enhance the design of your home.
Air Plant Terrarium Supplies
- Open terrarium or glass container that provides for optimum airflow
- Sand or gravel for aquariums
- Sculptural rocks, stones, and wood
- Ideally, different types and sizes of air plants
Our initial air plant terrarium was created with simplicity in mind. This consists of of two stunning air plants, a few stones, and white sand. Observe how the one is blooming! There is a misconception that air plants perish once they bloom. They still have a lot to do, despite the fact that they will eventually die after flowering. Blooming is a sign that the plant is preparing to generate air plant pups, sometimes referred to as baby air plants, near its base. Therefore, never throw away an air plant that has bloomed because it is still very much alive.
Air Plant Terrarium Instructions
- Sand or gravel can be added as a base to the terrarium’s bottom.
- Include rocks, stones, wood, or other beautiful natural elements.
- To achieve the desired look, add air plants. For a more understated appearance, use one or two; for an urban jungle feel, use as many as you can!
- Done!
As you can see, there are numerous varieties of air plants. Others have more coarse leaves than others, some with fine leaves. various shapes, hues, and even watering requirements.
Additionally, we wanted to give this air plant terrarium a more natural look. We gathered materials for our DIY terrarium from our neighborhood beach, including a piece of driftwood and a stone coated in barnacles. We adore this terrarium, which contrasts three distinct air plants and a small amount of preserved moss beautifully.
With the plant parent revolution, air plants are popular, and this only goes to show that they can be just as stunning and fascinating as any philodendron or fern!
Where to Buy Air Plants
We are so satisfied with the air plants, preserved moss, and terrarium that were provided by Etsy seller “Spyloh” that as of right now, we won’t purchase our air plants from anybody else!
We hope you are prepared to construct your own terrarium for air plants. Make the ideal area for your plants to be shown! We believe you’ll also enjoy our posts on What are Air Plants and Clever & Cool Indoor Garden Ideas & Projects. or check out OhMeOhMy’s DIY Branch Chandelier Air Plant Display!
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