Since I have Tillandsias (air plants) and Spanish moss growing and continually multiplying in my garden, I decided to use them to make hanging terrarium-style Christmas ornaments this year. These living ornaments make great holiday gifts and look equally beautiful hanging from a Christmas tree, outdoors on tree branches or in a window.
What you need to begin your project are glass ornaments that are specially made for displaying items and plants, such as small Tillandsias and succulents. There are many different sizes and shapes you can find online that are suitable to use for these hanging terrarium ornaments. Then use moss and decorative items to complement the plants, choosing colors, shapes and textures to suit a particular style or décor. Here’s what you will need:
1 4.5 to 6 inch glass hanging plant terrariums 2 Moss (reindeer, Spanish, or green)
3 Stones and or seashells
4 Curling willow branches
5 Ribbon, twine or raffia for hanging
6 Tillandsias, or succulent plants
Tillandsias come in a multitude of shapes and colors and most will produce colorful flowers. They need more water than succulent plants, so before you create your ornament, soak the Tillandsias in water to cover for about half and hour and then shake them gently and dry on a paper towel. Make sure the plants are dry to the touch before you insert them in the ornament. When the holiday season is over, you can move your plants out of the glass ornaments and place them outdoors in your garden or keep them in their terrarium.
If you choose to keep your Tillandsias in the ornaments after the holiday, make sure they get watered at least once a week. The Tillandsias I have growing on tree limbs and tree trunks in my garden get sprayed down with a hose at least once a week, or more when we have hot dry Santa Ana weather. If you keep your air plants in the terrarium, you will need to remove them and soak or spray them with water before placing them back in the ornament. If your air plant is flowering, try to keep the flower dry so that it will last longer. Typically, a Tillandsia flower will last about 3 weeks.
Even though they grow without soil, Tillandsias need nutrients and I spray mine about once or every other month with a fertilizer called “Epiphyte’s Delight” that I use half strength and mix in a spray bottle. Any water soluble fertilizer without urea will also work.
For a terrarium-style ornament using succulents, you need to make sure the roots of the plant have a medium to grow in, such as small gravel or sand. Occasionally, a few drops of water from an eyedropper will help the succulents stay watered after their planting medium dries out. Both the Tillandsia and succulent terrariums prefer to be in bright, but not direct sunlight, so an area that is exposed to morning or late afternoon sun works better then where it will receive intense mid-day sunlight. Enjoy the holidays!
