DIY

DIY Air Plant Terrarium to Brighten Your Office Desk

Stuck in the summer doldrums? It’s that time of year when the days stretch long (yes!) but the sweltering heat keeps us indoors during the mid-day hours. If you work full-time like me, you can’t go outside anyway. Thank goodness for a/c. If you’re looking for a quick pick-me-up to make your desk more inviting, try bringing a little low-maintenance life to it with a diy air plant terrarium for your desk.

diy air plant terrarium

DIY Air Plant Terrarium Materials

Glass Terrarium
Small River Rocks (or seashells!)
Air Plant
Twine

Air plant

DIY Air Plant Terrarium Directions

This air plant terrarium is so easy to assemble. Clean your glass terrarium of dirt and fingerprints. Add the small river rocks or seashells. Pop the air plant in the terrarium. That’s it! Use a bit of twine and a cute coat hanging hook to hang your air plant from the wall, or keep it close on your desk.

Glass Terrarium

DIY Terrarium

Air plant terrarium

Air plants make the most perfect office desk friends for several reasons. First, they don’t require much light. I work in an open-office space plan in corporate headquarters in a big built-out warehouse space. We have literally no natural light in our office space – just industrial fluorescent lights high in the ceiling. And that’s ok! The air plant will do just fine in this kind of light, although partial natural light is ideal.

Air plants are also super easy to care for. Houston has such high humidity that we barely have to water air plants at all. They’ll absorb water straight out of the air. If your air plant starts to look a little dry, just run it under water in the sink or drop it in a cup of water for two minutes.

Hope you like your new office friend!

make air plant terrarium

Hanging Air Plant Terrariums

You can also buy a pre-made air plant terrarium, which is basically the same thing. Check out a few of my favorite hanging air plant kits and glass terrarium shapes from around the web:

Want a succulent terrarium instead? They require a bit more care, but are so cute and worth it (if the lighting in your office is indirect natural light). Here’s an easy DIY succulent terrarium to spruce up your lonely desk.

I'm an artist and writer, with a lifestyle blog Likely By Sea.