Flymeawaycreations just hosted its first gardening workshop this past Saturday locally in Cedar Point, NC. The shop is expanding to host gardening workshops at least once a month to encourage others to learn all about different plants, while creating something fun. If you are not in the area, or missed the class that’s okay the shop will create a blog post giving you tips and steps on how to create the planter or terrarium that was created at the class.
Before I walk you through the steps on creating your very own Glass Air Plant Terrarium I wanted to share a little information about air plants!
Did you know that an air plant is a tropical American plant that grows on trees with long, narrow leaves that absorb water and nutrients from the atmosphere? There are roughly 500 different species of flowering perennial plants in the Tillandsia genus, a part of the Bromeliad family. These are plants that require no soil for their roots. Instead, they extract moisture from the air and can be found in tropical areas in trees. Not to mention countless hybrid varieties and no two air plant varieties are exactly the same!
How long do air plants last? It depends on how well you take care of the plant. It can live up to years if taken care properly, and some species can grow up to 3 feet long!
After walking through each step I will explain about taking care of your air plant as well. You can buy air plants at your local garden shop, Amazon, or Etsy. For this DIY project you will need these materials: Glass square vase (Terrarium), small rocks, sand, moss, seashells or pebbles, air plant. (cost for all materials $20-$25)
First step: Start with your glass terrarium and place sand inside to cover the bottom of your glass. You could add about 1 inch of sand. This material will give your terrarium a coastal look.
Second step: Add a layer of rocks to your terrarium placing them on top of the layer of sand. You can add about 1-2 inches of rocks. This material will help your plant stay in place and give weight to your glass terrarium.
Third step: Add moss by layering it in the middle of the glass and add seashells, pebbles along the side of the moss or on top of the moss. (This is where you can be creative by adding several shape shells and different color pebbles).
Fourth & last step: Add your air plant on top of your moss. By placing your air plant on top of the moss gives the plant roots anchorage when growing. ( you can see small roots on the bottom of your plant-these grow and attach to the moss of tree in the wild)
Now, that you have created this beautiful terrarium how do you take care of your plant?
We know air plants need sunlight, so place your terrarium in indirect sunlight: a sunny room, not directly in a window sill or doorway. By allowing your plant to have indirect sunlight will prevent it from drying out faster. Your air plant will definitely need water. You will need to water your plant every other week, by soaking it into collected rain water or bottle water for up to 10 minutes. (Keep an eye on the tip of your air plant, when you see the leaf tip curl or turn brown, this means your air plant needs water because it is dehydrated. After soaking your air plant turn the plant up-side down on a paper towel to let it dry. Shake any built up water between the leaves off, by doing this it prevents the bottom of your air plant rotting and turning brown. Lastly, keep your air plant in a well air vented area this will allow your air plant to get air circulation and nutrients for it to live.
After time, your air plant will bloom a small flower, but only once in its life time! Air plants (Tillandsia spp.) only flower once in their lives, but the flowers can last for several months, depending on the species. Throughout their lives they produce pups. If these are left in a clump the mother plant will die and its leaves can be pulled out leaving the pups. If the pups are removed when they are about a third to a half the size of the mother plant, the mother plant may live for several years and continue to produce pups.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about air plants, you can read the blog “taking care of air plants” by Flymeawaycreations. Also, you can follow the shop on Facebook and Instagram to see the next local workshop class!
www.instagram.com/flymeawaycreations
https://www.facebook.com/flymeawaycreations
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