DIY: Grow A Desktop Garden!

Now here is a bright idea to liven up a small work or living space: make a mini terrarium in a light bulb! Hollow out the light source, pick out the low-maintenance plants, and deck out with toy animal decors! Check out these tiny tabletop terrarium tips and have your own patch of greenery in no time.

Green-thumbed Lomographers, look no further! Here are some great “gardening” ideas for those who want some simple shrubbery in plain sight.

These little planters are perfect for those who live in small homes with not much yard space or office workers who want to spruce up their cramped cubicles.

The Hipster Home enlightens us on how to create a Tiny Terrarium in a Light Bulb and here’s what you’ll need:

Materials

• Light bulb (good idea: reuse one that’s been burned out!)
• Needle-nose pliers
• Scissors
• Long tweezers or chopsticks
• Flathead screwdriver
• Glasses/goggles and gloves (for safety)

Step 1

Empty out the light bulb of all its electrical bits and pieces.

Step 2

1. Pour in a tablespoon or two of sand.
2. Add layers of preserved moss, reindeer moss, and the like.
3. Position your plant (tillandsia) with a chopstick.
4. Add rocks, stones, or plastic animals for fun!

Some green reminders from The Hipster Home:

DO:

1. Do use sand or small pebbles; these are good because water drains through them easily. (Wet soil will get moldy in a confined area. You don’t want this.)
2. Do use Tillandsia, also known as air plants; these are a great choice for your tiny terrarium because they take all the nutrients they need from the air and a small amount of water. No roots means no wet soil which means no mold. You can buy tillandsia at garden stores or online.
3. Do choose preserved moss instead of live moss. Preserved moss isn’t living, but it will hold moisture; this moisture raises the humidity level in the terrarium, which makes the tillandsia happy. You can find sheet moss, reindeer moss, and other preserved mosses at garden and floral stores.
4. Do keep your terrarium in partial sunlight.
5. Do give your terrarium some water. The tillandsia is alive and will need a small amount of water to stay that way. Water it by either removing it and soaking it in water once a week or, using a spray bottle, give it a small spritz of water every week or two. Pour out any excess water.
6. Do feel free to use little rocks, pieces of glass, or any other bits of things to help give your terrarium character.

DON’T:

1. Don’t use soil. Again, you don’t want a soupy, moldy terrarium. That would be gross.
2. Don’t use live moss. Moss is really picky and isn’t likely to survive well in this environment.
3. Don’t keep your terrarium in the dark.
4. Don’t keep your terrarium in full sunlight, either.

Inspiration