I’m deeply dippy for all things terrarium. Why terrariums, you ask? They’re both adorable AND they’re the lazy man’s garden. Seriously—just try to kill one of these things. Short of chucking it out a window, it’s nigh impossible. Give it a bit of sun, and water, and it’ll live for years. And yes, it’s alive!

After purchasing a large quantity of Hypnum cupressiforme moss from a local florist, I was left with what to do after making several other terrariums. A TARDIS terrarium seemed natural, and the Weeping Angels just…happened.

Terrariums are easy-peasy. To build your own, find a container with a lid (this is actually a candy jar and is relatively large, but I’ve seen them in jars as small as that for baby food…). Rinse it out, and put a layer of river rock or pebbles at the bottom to help with drainage. On top of the river rock, sprinkle a layer of activated charcoal (more about that in a sec), then potting soil, and then your moss. I bought my moss from a florist, but you can use the moss you find in your back yard (you want to make sure to rid it of insect eggs and any other garbage. You don’t want your terrarium, or your home, to become infested). Decorate your terrarium after the moss is in—you could use a fairy, or a gnome, or something kitschy, but who needs kitsch when you’ve got the Doctor? In particular, I made my TARDIS and Weeping Angels out of Sculpey clay with floral wire through the bottom to keep them steady in the terrarium. Spritz with water, cover, put in an area that gets a little bit of sunlight, and voila! You’ve got yourself a terrarium.



How does it work? Terrariums work by creating their own ecosystem—the moss is living, taking in the water, and releasing carbon dioxide, which then condenses on the top and sides of the container and then drips back down into the moss, watering it and starting the process all over again. I tend to check for moisture levels every few weeks and give it a few spritzes, but you mainly have a lot of time to admire your handiwork without a lot of maintenance!

Also, I use activated charcoal to keep the ecosystem “fresh” in my terrarium. It is a sealed system, but sometimes, bad bugs get in and sour the system—and the stench is unbelievable. Activated charcoal helps to keep the terrarium fresh and prevent odors from developing.

Moss is very slow-growing, so don’t expect lots of big changes. However, slow growing moss makes for a perfect little vignette.