Position matters: moss layers in a terrarium

This is a long blog and I will finish its main part in a week. multiple photos will be shared here.

In this article, I want to talk about how to place plants in the right positions inside a moss terrarium. When plants are planted where they naturally thrive, they grow better and require much less maintenance.

Some people may ask: It’s such a small container—does layering really matter? Aren’t all positions basically the same?Not at all. Even though the terrariums I make are considered small, to moss they are actually quite large. Within this limited space, different heights create different humidity levels. These subtle differences may seem minor to us, but for moss, they are significant enough to affect growth.

1. Hypnum Moss, Creeping Fig, and Plagiomnium cuspidatum

I’ve shared this terrarium before and also posted updates over time. The photos shown here were taken recently.In this small tank, I planted Hypnum moss, creeping fig, and Plagiomnium cuspidatum (the pink plant you see is Fittonia). I used a piece of dragon stone placed at an angle as a structural support.

If you look closely at the images, you’ll notice that at the very top, creeping fig clearly dominates. Just slightly below that, Hypnum moss begins to appear mixed in. The thin, thread-like growth weaving through the creeping fig is Hypnum moss.

In the middle section, Hypnum moss, Plagiomnium cuspidatum, and creeping fig are all interwoven. Hypnum moss is actually quite abundant here, but because it has a much finer texture, it stands out less in photos compared to the other two.

Further down, this becomes the territory of Plagiomnium cuspidatum. At the very bottom, excess water naturally collects, and this area tends to stay wet. Plagiomnium cuspidatum firmly occupies this lowest layer, thriving in the consistently moist conditions.

To be updated soon...