Moss Teapot Terrarium Ideas!

[Robert]

Just looking for some moss suggestions.

I was browsing through tumblr today and saw a great idea id love to try to make as a gift.

A quick ebay search showed i can get the same teapot for $10 shipped.

Id like to try find a moss that has coloured spores like the ones in the photo. Something to contrast. Also if you look closely there is riccia :)

[BlueBolts]

Thanks for sharing.....what a great idea. I'm sure Jeff or Bob will be able to answer your questions.....awesome.

[Wraithie]

That moss looks very healthy. I'm having trouble with one of my mosses growing really well and the other 2 looking sad, not sure what I should do with them

[Robert]

Have they got enough moisture or light? Too much can be fatal for mosses especially when grown emersed.

Ebay has some great looking Terrarium Packs which i might get but the red spored moss isnt available in australia. Fingers crossed i find an alternative.

[KillieOrCory]

Hey Robert,

I can get you a bunch of different mosses to try if you like. That looks awesome!

[KillieOrCory]

Here are a few photos I just took for you :encouragement:

[Shrimplyf]

I love terrariums!! i make them as a side hobby and sell them in shops. Here's a few of photos of mine:

P.s if you need any tips or help i'll gladly assist

[Shrimplyf]

With the moss thing...it's trial and error. From my experience some moss will survive in closed terrariums and some wont. It depends on the moss, i find more velvety looking moss don't do well...but those which have distinct mini fern like leaves do really well.

A trick is to collect the moss and put them in a sandwich bag and give them a spray..leave them in a low light area and check after two weeks. If they look healthy and green they will do well in a terrarium.

P.s overwatering is a main killer in terrariums. You want slight condensation but not too much that droplets form. With moss terrariums never leave them in direct sunlight! low lighting area is best

Hope that helped a little :)

[Squiggle]

Awesome stuff dude, that second one looks like a island paradise, just stunning! :victorious:

[Shrimplyf]

Thanks man! practice makes perfect!

[Wraithie]

This is my two terrariums when i first set them up, ill have to take a photo of them in daylight as they are now. Basically in the one on the right, the moss that grows in lines is happy and the other two look a bit brown.

From what you are saying they may be too damp, im paranoid about them drying out as they were feeling a bit crispy.

[Squiggle]

Nice work Wraithie, well done! :encouragement:

[Robert]

Thanks everyone. Ill definitely be sending some PM's once i receive the teapot which i ordered yesterday. The teapot wont be closed off completely. It has the open end (where the tea comes out) not sure if i should close it off or leave it open or even stuff a cotton ball in there so i get a medium. Also need ideas on what type of "Substrate" if any to use. Apparently Spag Moss?

[KiwiBigD]

Have done a few of these myself, especially when living back in NZ and the UK. One thing I generally found was mosses on the most count prefer lower temperatures. And if you're looking at ones down Canberra and Melbourne way you may need to keep a bit of a closer eye on them in summer and relocate to a cooler part of the house. Do love some of those mosses Serkan, that last one in particular, just beautiful.

[Wraithie]

I did a bit of hunting on the substrate subject, and you will see in shrimply and my setups that it is fairly similar.

-Gravel base (stops the substrate getting soggy by allowing a drainage area)

-Activated carbon (this is probably optional, i just happened to have heaps of it- apparently helps to prevent the soil getting 'sour')

-sphagnum moss (creates a layer to stop your soil getting into the gravel and going soggy)

-potting mix (probably worth going decent quality, 'sterile' or 'clean' is reccomended)

One thing that was highlighted was its important to have 'clean' substrates, so potting mix rather than garden soil, well washed gravel etc.

[Shrimplyf]

Yup Wrathie is spot on with the layers. I find activated charcoal helps alot it just make the terrarium 'fresher' stops mould and fungus growth in there. if you are making a moss only terrarium I find the best substrate to be sphagnum moss followed by a thin layer of peat moss soil!

p.s I find that moss are quite tolerant of dry environments just as long as it's not too dry. But it's better to be slightly dry than too wet. A mist or two when it looks crisp is all it needs. I also use rain water only.

[Robert]

Im just worried about having such a thick layer in such a small space (350ml)

[poeticwinter]

awesome :)