Recently I attended another workshop at
Utsuwa Floral Design. This time the project was a hanging succulent terrarium - a project that I'd been hanging out for. Pardon the bad pun!
I already had a few of these mouth blown glass hanging terrariums at home with air plants (tillandsia) in them. I like the dainty look of the air plants in the delicate glass but I must admit that the succulent terrarium is now my favourite.
 |
| Succulent terrarium hanging in our lounge room window |
These little terrariums are relatively simple to put together. First we started with a little charcoal in the bottom of the terrarium. The succulent potting mix (mixed with perlite to keep it airy) is then added sloping up towards the back.
 |
| Hanging terrarium, succulents, soil, moss and pebbles. |
 |
| Soil added. |
Once I was happy that the soil was evenly sloped, it was time to add the first succulents. I add two smaller succulents at the back, packing the soil down to keep them secure. To reach the trickier spots I used the flat end of a chop stick poked through the holes at the top of the terrarium. The larger succulent was then added as the main focus at the front.
 |
| Small succulents added |
 |
| Tapping down the soil to make it secure and even |
 |
| Ready for moss and pebbles |
Once I was happy with the placement of the succulents it was time to cover the soil with moss and pebbles. I used sheet moss at the very back and around the front. The sheet moss can easily be torn into shape to fit the curves of the glass. To hold the moss at the front in place I secured it with small pins made from florist wire (24 gauge is fine). Pebbles were then added to cover the remaining exposed soil.
I then added a little loose moss to make it all look a little more natural. The loose moss also adds colour which it will retain, while the sheet moss will go brown over time.
 |
| Sheet moss added at the front and back |
 |
| Adding pebbles |
A few pieces of broken shell were added as an accent and my hanging terrarium was all done.
 |
| All done and ready to take home to hang |
 |
| Hanging up at home |
Next month's workshop at Utsuwa Floral Design will feature
Hanging Air Plants in (Sea Urchin) Shells. Not sure I'll be able to make it to the next workshop due to a super busy September schedule but if I do, you'll be able to read about it here on Little Hiccups.
do you have any issues keeping the succulents alive, since there is no real drainage at the bottom of the terrarium?
ReplyDeletejennifermartinphotography@gmail.com
My succulents are still growing pretty well. I try not to water them too much given the lack of drainage. I maybe give them a little squirt from a water squirter once every few weeks. In fact the only time I've had a problem was when I was away for a week and my husband decided to water it every day! I had to replace one of the succulents after that as it rotted but the other two were fine. I believe that the perlite mixed in with the potting mix and the charcoal at the bottom are the secret to the lack of drainage but I honestly can't remember!
DeleteLittle Hiccups, the perlite and charcoal do help. Another option that I do with succulents in containers without draining is to add a layer of pebbles/rocks as a base (depending on the size of the container) to aid drainage. It's also a good way to see if there's still water in the bottom. Plus, it looks great!
ReplyDeletethey are beautiful succulent terrarium, but there is a serious issue here... what to do when those tiny succulents grow up and there is not much space inside the hanging ball for them to expand?
ReplyDeleteand where did you buy the sheet moss? thank you :)
ReplyDeleteI already had a few of these mouth blown glass hanging terrariums at home with air plants (tillandsia) in them. I like the dainty look of the air ... eterrarium.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete