In this step-by-step air plant guide I will teach you how to care for your air plants. Also, I will show you step-by-step how to make 2 different DIY air plant terrariums with a coastal look using seashells, urchins, & driftwood.
If you’re looking for a fun and easy DIY project, creating your own air plant terrarium is a great place to start. With just a few simple materials and a little creativity, you can make an air plant terrarium for your home or office.
The ones that I am going to show you have a coastal theme with a variety of shells, driftwood, and sand.
Today I’ll walk you through the steps to create your own air plant terrarium, from choosing the right container to selecting the perfect plants and accessories.
These cute little plants don’t require soil and can survive with just a bit of misting or soaking every week or so. Plus, they come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, making them perfect for creating beautiful terrariums.
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Air plants, also known as Tillandsia, are native to the Americas and can be found from the southern United States to Argentina.
They are what is known as epiphytes, which means they do not need soil to survive but instead grow on other plants or objects. The air plant absorbs nutrients and moisture through its leaves.
There are hundreds of species of air plants each with its own unique shape, size, and color.
Air plants are relatively easy to care for and require minimal maintenance. Here are a few tips to keep them healthy:
Air plants are so fun and look so interesting. It’s an easy way to add a little greenery to a space, even if it’s the corner of your office desk! Plants just make you feel better.
It will depend on the time of year and natural humidity as to how often you will need to mist your air plants. When the air is dry you may have to mist every other day and in the humid days of Summer, it may be every 3 days.
I also recommend giving your air plants a bath once a week (maybe every 2 weeks if you are in a humid climate). Just pop them in a bowl of water for about 30 minutes.
It is very important that after you remove the air plants from the water they are allowed to dry out completely. Just use paper towels to absorb the excess moisture. This will help prevent rotting and fungus on the plants.
Terrariums are a fun and easy way to bring a little nature indoors. Using air plants also known as tillandsias is a great option for these mini indoor gardens since they don’t require soil and are low maintenance. With just a few basic supplies, you can make a beautiful air plant terrarium to display in your home.
Supplies Needed
To make your air plant terrarium you will need
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A glass container or jar. Make sure it has an opening for ventilation.
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Small rocks, sand, moss, etc. for the base. Avoid soil.
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1-3 air plants. Choose smaller varieties that will fit your container. Popular options include ionantha, stricta, and caput-medusae.
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Decorations like driftwood, shells, crystals, etc. (optional)
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Silicone adhesive if you want to attach plants to decor (optional)
Assembly
Follow these simple steps:
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Add a 2-3 inch base layer of decorative material like sand, small rocks, preserved reindeer moss, aquarium gravel, etc. This will provide drainage and allow air circulation.
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Arrange any decorations like driftwood, shells, crystals, etc. Make sure to leave room for plants.
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Place air plants in the container. You can sit them on the base layer or use silicone to attach to decorations. Allow space between plants and walls.
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Consider adding final accent pieces like more moss, pebbles, or trinkets. Get creative but don’t overcrowd.
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Place the finished terrarium in bright, indirect light. Near an east or west facing window is ideal.
Care
Caring for your air plant terrarium is low maintenance:
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Air plants are epiphytes and don’t require soil. Avoid getting the base material wet.
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Mist or soak air plants 1-2 times per week depending on humidity. Take them out to water and let dry before returning to avoid residue.
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Occasionally rinse out the container to prevent salt buildup if tap water is used.
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Monitor for new pups growing from the mother plant. Remove and replant once they reach 1/3 the size.
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Repot in a larger container if plants outgrow space after 1-2 years.
Making an air plant terrarium is an enjoyable way to add natural beauty to any space. With a bit of creativity and minimal care, these vivacious greenery arrangements can last for years! Customize your own unique mini garden with different plant varieties, materials, and decor.
Hanging Air Plant Jellyfish Terrarium
Now, this DIY terrarium is so fun! Wait until you see how it comes out.
For this terrarium, I am using a tall glass cylinder vase. This one is 6 inches wide by 9 inches. Just find one with a wide enough opening to be able to add plants to it.
To start I poured a layer of sand into the vase as the base.
Next, I scattered a few larger shells around the sand.
The opening in this seashell will be the home for this interesting air plant (Tillandsia Caput Medusae)
Then I really filled it up with smaller shells, a beach rock, driftwood, and a grassy-looking air plant.
Now for the super fun part…to make a “jellyfish” out of an air plant and urchin shell! To hang it in the terrarium I am using a piece of driftwood that is wide enough to hang across the top of the glass cylinder vase.
Drill a small hole through the driftwood and run a piece of jute string or even clear fishing line through the hole; tie a knot large enough to secure the string onto the wood so it won’t slip through.
If you don’t have a drill you can simply wrap jute string around the driftwood or a small stick.
The urchin had a hole in the top of it already wide enough to run the jute string through.
First I figured out how low I wanted the urchin to hang in the vase ( I held up the driftwood to the edge of the vase while using my other hand to hold the urchin) then I trimmed down the jute string and tied a few knots in the end so the string wouldn’t slip out of the urchin shell.
I tried a few of the air plants to see which one fit snugly into the bottom of the urchin. One fit perfectly and stayed put.
Another option would be to use a couple of drops of glue on the bottom of the air plant and secure it to the top of the inside of the urchin shell.
The final touch was to lay the driftwood across the opening of the vase to let the “jellyfish” hang down into the terrarium…I told you this was a cute project!!
Choosing the Right Terrarium
When selecting a terrarium for your air plants, there are a few things to consider. First, you want to choose a container that is clear and allows plenty of light to reach your plants. This will help ensure that your air plants thrive.
Additionally, you want to choose a container that is the right size for your plants. Air plants come in a variety of sizes, so be sure to choose a container that will accommodate the size of your plants.
For this project I am using smaller air plants, I actually ordered them from Amazon (this is the set that I ordered). They are all super healthy and were all in good shape when I opened the box.
You can make any size terrarium that you like depending on space and where you want to display it afterward. So even if you choose a smaller container you can still follow this guide and just adjust your supplies. Today I will show you 2 terrariums: a low dish and a taller glass cylinder vase.
How to Make Air Plant Terrariums
FAQ
What are the layers of the air plant terrarium?
There are three layers involved in this terrarium method: the base, the moss, and the decorative. As with all terrariums, the bottom layer is for drainage. This layer prevents organic material from rotting, and consists of inorganic material: sand, stones, seashells, marbles, etc.
What plants should not be in a terrarium?
Succulents and cacti do not make good terrarium plants. Save those for your open terrarium or dish garden.Jul 5, 2023
Can air plants live in a glass jar?
Air plants love a constant atmosphere so a glass bottle is an ideal place to keep them.
How to grow air plants in terrariums?
To grow air plants in terrariums, first, you need to understand their needs. Then, choose the appropriate-sized air plants and prepare the terrarium with a base material and decorations. Put the air plant inside and find a proper place for the terrarium. Start caring for the plant and watch it grow.
How do you create a terrarium?
To create a terrarium, start with a clean, dry container. You can use a terrarium or glass case purchased at a store, or an old 10-gallon fish tank, a large glass jar, or a large glass bowl with a beveled glass lid. Any closed or semi-closed transparent container can be turned into a terrarium, so feel free to be creative.
How can I decorate a terrarium?
To decorate a terrarium, you can use aquarium gravel or polished pebbles to bring some color. Also consider using decorative moss or crushed, recycled glass to make your terrarium unique. Air plants don’t need soil, so avoid using it to prevent the plants from rotting. Instead, try layering different bases to give your terrarium more style.