How to Make a Moss Terrarium
How to Make a Moss Terrarium
A miniature green world in a jar – a step-by-step guide.
What you'll need for a moss terrarium
The basis is a clear glass container – a closed one for moisture-loving mosses, an open one for succulents. You'll also need drainage (expanded clay or pebbles), activated charcoal to prevent mold, good-quality substrate, mosses and small plants such as ferns or fittonias. Tweezers, decorative stones and a water spray bottle also come in handy.
Make a moss terrarium at a workshopHow to make a moss terrarium step by step
Pour a drainage layer into the bottom of the jar, add a thin layer of activated charcoal and then the substrate. Place the plants with tweezers from the largest to the smallest, fill the space around them with moss and finish with stones. Finally, gently mist everything with the spray bottle – and you're done. You can also go through the whole process in detail on our page moss terrarium making.
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How to care for a moss terrarium
A closed moss terrarium is almost self-sufficient – water evaporates, condenses on the glass and returns to the roots. Put it in a bright spot out of direct sunlight and only mist it when the glass stops fogging up. If it fogs up too much, air it out for a few hours. You'll find more tips on our page moss in a jar.
Order the experienceWhy make a moss terrarium at an ArtTerra workshop
- We have all the materials and containers ready for you.
- The instructor helps you choose plants and arrange the composition.
- You make two moss terrariums – a larger one and a smaller one.
- You'll learn everything about caring for them afterwards.
- A stylish setting and a welcome drink are included in the price.
Our hands-on experiences
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – HOW TO MAKE A MOSS TERRARIUM
A clear, untinted glass container so light can reach the plants. A closable one (with a lid or stopper) for moisture-loving mosses and ferns, an open one for succulents and cacti, which need dry conditions and air flow.
You hardly water a closed moss terrarium at all – the water circulates inside. Only mist it when the glass stops fogging up and the substrate feels dry to the touch, usually once every few weeks. You can tell it's too wet when the glass stays permanently fogged – then air it out for a few hours.
Most often because of overwatering, too little light or a missing layer of activated charcoal. Use drainage (expanded clay), a thin layer of activated charcoal, don't overwater and remove dead leaves. Remove a small patch of mold with a little brush and leave the container open for a day.
In a bright spot out of direct sunlight – behind glass, a closed container overheats quickly. A north- or east-facing window, or a spot a little way from the window, is ideal. Avoid radiators and drafts.
If you don't want to hunt down the glass, substrate, charcoal, mosses and plants separately, at the ArtTerra workshop you have everything ready, the instructor advises on composition and care, and two hours later you leave with two finished moss terrariums. The workshop is suitable from age 15 and can be given as a gift voucher.
Don't feel like hunting down materials? Come to a workshop
At the ArtTerra workshop you create your own forest in a jar under the guidance of experienced instructors – with no hunting for materials and the confidence that your plants will thrive in the glass. You take home two finished moss terrariums.
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