What are terrariums?
Terrariums are containers filled with living plants, moss and substrate. To me though they are much more. I consider terrariums to be living art, scale model recreations of unique environments and ecosystems usually inaccessible now thriving in a jar at home.
Like all ecosystems terrariums come in a variety of shapes and sizes. From open containers of sandy deserts and mountains, to humid forest floors or high up canopies.
My terrariums vary in volume from 5L containers to 5ml bottles and all minimic a tropical rainforest environment as this allows for the largest variety of mosses, plants and microfauna to thrive.
SMALL BUT MIGHTY
Micro terrarium Jewelry
In this workshop we push the limits on just how small a terrarium can be. I provide the equipment and guidance for everyone to create a few pieces of living jewelry such as earrings, necklaces and good luck charms.
Thanks to the effect of surface tension at such a small scale the water sticks everything in place so your art holds it's look through the day.
mid size terrariums
In this workshop we build terrariums in several different styles, everyone will be guided through a scale model tropical oasis, forest and open plains.
These terrariums are 150ml in volume and all participants are welcome to follow along with the tutorials or come up with their own creative environment once we get to adding the moss, plants and hardscape.
Recycled Terrariums
In this workshop we create terrariums inside glassware that would have been thrown away or recycled. In the spirit of learning about ecosystems and closed loop environments this workshop has a focus on sustainability and our environment.
The available glassware may vary but will include glass bottles, coffee jars, dessert dishes, yogurt pots and more. Everyone attending will also be encouraged to bring their own containers too.
Workshop Facilitator
• Ben irish •
Hello I run workshops teaching terrarium building.
I grew up surrounded by plants, forests, and farms and then I moved to London to study graphic design at Kingston University. There I discovered London gardens are rare and even if you pay your landlord's mortgage you can only grow grass. So I started to build terrariums in jars, small ecosystems with their own moss, water cycle, plants and microfauna. I find the process very relaxing and the outcome incredibly rewarding. I wanted to share that feeling so I gifted terrariums to friends and eventually began holding workshops teaching others how to build and care for their own terrariums.
To book a terrarium workshop or for more information please email me at benirish.design@gmail.com or message me on instagram @benjamin_irish_
A shallow terrarium hosting a variety of moss with a pink Fittonia and creeping Soleirolia
A honey jar reused to hold volcanic rock, subwassertang and haircap moss
A variety of moss, coloured Fittonia and Ivy all growing inside a reused glass jar
An oasis built into a jar containing haircap and thyme moss as well a lime Fittonia and Soleirolia
A variety of moss living with several colourful Fittonia and a creeping fig
Several colourful Fittonia, fork, thyme and haircap moss inside a unique glass bottle