Have you ever laid outside in the green grass and really looked at the small patch of grass in front of you? I used to do this as a kid and felt like I could get lost on an adventure into that miniature jungle. Sort of like a scene out of “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”. It was magical to look into all that goes on in that miniature world in my own backyard.
As an adult, I don’t always have time to lay in the grass and let my mind wander, so I bring that miniature world inside in the form of a terrarium filled with moss from our woods. With a magnifying glass, I can peer inside that tiny world and spot miniature plants that came along with the moss I picked, and all the little creatures that happen to be in the soil or nestled in the moss. I call them “bonus plants and creatures”. Having this small piece of nature inside is a great way to connect with the outside world on a small scale.
I’ve recently been making moss terrariums – also calledmossariums. It’s such a relaxing project and the results are beautiful. Here’s how to create your own mossarium. Have fun!
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What You Will Need:
- Glass Container with Lid (see the “Choosing a Glass Container” paragraph below for suggestions)
- Moss, such as cushion moss, mood moss, or sheet moss (see the “Moss Varieties and Where to Find Moss” paragraph below for tips)
- Pumice Stone
- Activated Charcoal
- Sphagnum Moss
- Coco Coir Substrate
- Long Handled Tools (tweezers, scissor, and trowel)
- Paint Brush (optional, but handy)
- Small Water Spray Bottle
- Decorative Rocks, such as Dragon Stone, Lava Rock, or Slate (optional)
- Small Tree Branch or Driftwood (optional)
- Trinkets, such as small figurines, gems, and crystals (optional)
- Live Springtails (optional, but very helpful)
- Magnifying Glass (optional, but fun for seeing your mini world up close)
What You Do:
- Gather your moss – there are many forms to choose from.
It is illegal in the United States to take moss from public land without a permit from the US Forest Service. You can pick moss from private property, assuming you have the landowner’s permission to do so. You can also purchase live moss online – see tips below for sources. - Prepare your glass container by thoroughly cleaning it with soap and water. Triple rinse to ensure no soap residue remains.
- Add a thin layer of pumice stone to the bottom of your container. This will help with water drainage for your terrarium. This layer should only be about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep – just enough to cover the bottom of your container in an even layer.
- Add a thin layer of sphagnum moss on top of the pumice stone. This moss will help to maintain the moisture in your terrarium. This layer should be about 1/2 inch deep.
TIP: Make sure to rehydrate the sphagnum moss before placing it in your terrarium. You’ll want this moss to be moist, but not dripping wet. Wring it out in your hands to remove excess moisture before placing into your terrarium. - Add a thin layer of activated charcoal on top of the sphagnum moss. The charcoal helps to remove impurities from the air and water inside your terrarium. It also helps prevent mold and mildew growth, and it absorbs odors within the terrarium. This layer should be about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep – just enough to form an even layer.
- Add a thin layer of soil or coco coir substrate on top of the charcoal. This layer only needs to be around 1/2 inch deep. Moss doesn’t have roots like other plants, so this substrate is added just to hold the moss in place. See the “Additional Tips” paragraph at the bottom of this article for some clever ideas on how to use this substrate.
TIP: If using dehydrated coco coir substrate, make sure to rehydrate it before adding it to your terrarium. It should be moist, but not overly soggy.
TIP:If your moss has a layer of soil attached to it, you can skip this layer, or you can remove the soil from the moss and then add the moss to the coco coir substrate. When I forage moss out of our woods, I like taking about an inch layer of soil with the moss – it usually has beneficial insects in it, as well as small seedlings of other forest plants. - If you’re using springtails, add several tablespoons of springtail culture on top of your substrate. The springtails act as janitors in a terrarium. They eat the decay and keep the terrarium clean and healthy.
TIP: Springtails are very small insects – only about 1/4 inch long at maturity. They do not have wings, so you don’t have to worry about them flying out of the terrarium when you open the lid. As their name implies, springtails jump instead of fly. But don’t worry – they don’t jump high. Springtails mostly hide, so it is typically very hard to spot them in a terrarium. They will have all the food and water they need to thrive and reproduce, so they are no extra work for you. - Before you add moss, you may want to add rocks, pebbles, twigs, branches, or driftwood to your terrarium to create a natural-looking landscape. There are so many possibilities – each as unique as you are!
TIP:Placing these items in your terrarium before adding moss allows you to create a more natural landscape versus putting these elements on top of the moss. - Add your moss to the top of the soil substrate. Position the moss in interesting ways to create a mini landscape in glass. Be creative!
TIP:You do not need to completely cover your substrate with moss if you don’t want to. You might want some areas of the terrarium covered in small pebbles instead of moss – the amount of moss you add is completely up to you and your design. - If you’d like, add small trinkets to the moss. For example, nestle a crystal in a bed of moss, or place a meaningful figurine in the mossy landscape.
- If necessary, use a paint brush to clean off the inside walls of your glass container to remove any dirt or debris.
- Use a small spray bottle to spray a light mist of water onto the moss in your terrarium. This helps the terrarium to stay hydrated right from the start.
- Place the lid on your terrarium, then place the terrarium where you want to enjoy it in your home. Congratulations on your new mini-world creation!
TIP:Use a magnifying glass to get a close-up view of your mini-world. You might spot new plants growing, or you might even spot a springtail or two.
Choosing a Glass Container
Choosing a container to build your terrarium / mossarium is fun! The container you choose can be as unique as you are. Choose something to reflect your personality or to fit with your home decor.
Here are some important tips and ideas for your container:
- Clear Glass – The container you choose should be made of clear glass and must have a lid. Glass that has no etched or embossed patterns will give you a much clearer view into the mini world you are creating.
- Container Lid – To keep the heat, humidity, and moisture in your moss terrarium, your container will need a lid. Many glass containers come with lids, but if you have a container without a lid, you could use a cork tile to make your own cork lid. Or, if you have a 3D printer, you could print a lid to fit.
- Container Size – While terrariums, in general, can be virtually any size you want, moss terrariums (mossariums) are generally on the smaller size. A container that is around 6 inches in diameter and about 8 inches tall is a great size to start with. By keeping the container small, it will retain moisture and humidity better at the start, giving you a much higher success rate with your terrarium. This size container is also easy to display in a variety of places in your home, and it isn’t too heavy to move when you want to place it in a different location.
- Container Shape– This is the fun part! Any shape can work for a moss terrarium. You could use a container that is low and wide (like a large petri dish), or tall and narrow (like a cylinder vase). Even whimsical apothecary jars can work for a moss terrarium.
Moss Varieties and Where to Find Moss
There areso many varieties of moss in the world. The color variations, textures, and growth shapes make moss so interesting. When you’re just getting started with a moss terrarium, it can seem overwhelming with so many choices available. My tip is to start with moss that is native to where you live. If it lives in your environment, chances are it will be easy to grow indoors in a terrarium. You can search your state’s Department of Natural Resources website for native mosses and where to find them. Remember – picking moss from public land is illegal, so make sure you have permission from the property owner if you are going to forage for moss on your own. Moss is a natural resource important to the health of forests and land – please pick moss responsibly and don’t take more than you need.
Live moss is also available through many reputable growers online. A quick internet search will lead you to many sources for moss. Here are some of my favorite places to purchase from:
- Etsy – If you search for “live moss for terrariums” on Etsy, you will see thousands of listings to choose from. Here are some of the top sellers to start with – ForestFloorForaging, PlantPassion777, and ReignofTerraStudios.
- Amazon – Believe it or not, but you can find live moss on Amazon. Here are just a couple of sellers to check out – Tin Roof Treasure and DBD Pet.
TIP: Make sure to search for “live moss” – preserved or dried moss will not work in a growing terrarium. - Local Pet Stores– You may be able to find live moss at local pet stores, especially pet stores that sell reptiles.
TIP: As mentioned above, make sure you look for “live moss”, not preserved or dried moss. - Local Garden Centers– Some nurseries and garden centers have live moss available. You might even be able to find exotic varieties to choose from. It’s definitely worth checking out!
Additional Tips
- Light Requirements– A moss terrarium needs bright, indirect light to thrive. Try to find a location in your home that mimics the light where moss grows outdoors. Avoid placing your mossarium in direct sunlight as this can heat the terrarium too much and can cause the moss to die. If you don’t have a room with bright, indirect sunlight, you should consider using plant grow lights with your mossarium for 6-8 hours a day.
- Watering Needs– Your mossarium will need consistent moisture to thrive. The lid on your container will help to keep the humidity and moisture inside the terrarium, but you may need to add a little bit of water periodically – especially if your mossarium gets a lot of sunlight. A small spray bottle works very well for adding moisture – just remove the lid, spray the moss lightly, and replace the lid. You may have to do this once every month or so. Removing the lid also provides a bit of fresh air to your mossarium – we all like a bit of fresh air once in a while, right?!
- Forming the Substrate– You can get very creative when forming the substrate in a terrarium! For example, build the substrate up the backside of your container to form a wall. You can then add rock ledges to this “wall” and add moss to this area. Make the substrate a gentle slope to mimic the topography you’d find in nature. Here’s a link to a short video on Pinterest that might inspire you – https://pin.it/1w89HIrNK
One Step Further
- Make it a Craft Day – Invite your friends and turn this activity into a craft day. Serve a simple snack and beverage, and enjoy each other’s friendship as you create terrariums together.
- Give as a Gift– Instead of giving a bouquet of flowers as a gift, make a mossarium and gift that instead! Not only is it unique, it will last longer than cut flowers.
- Add More Plants– You can always add more plants to your mossarium! For example, I like to find unique moss online – such as tree moss – and then add to my terrariums. One little piece can add so much beauty to the moss landscape.
I hope you found this article helpful. Have fun creating your mossarium!
If you decide to make a mossarium, please leave a comment and let me know how it went. I’d love to hear about it!
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