Tillandsia plants, commonly known as air plants, are an excellent way to add life to your home. Air plants are easy to care for, primarily because they get most of their nutrients from the air and require no soil to thrive.
Aside from needing little upkeep, these evergreen flowering plants can brighten up any dull setting. If you’re a novice to these botanical curiosities and don’t know where to start, check out this guide on finding an easy-to-assemble air plant terrarium kit for beginners.
Air Plant Terrarium Kits for Beginners
There are plenty of DIY kits to choose from on the market. Some are easier to assemble than others. Because air plants are primarily purchased for their aesthetic value, I’m going to focus on the most aesthetically pleasing kits that include several different plants, along with a sheet of easy-to-follow instructions.
Are you worried about buying terraium plants online? You should probably read this.
Aura Creations are hands down one of my favorite suppliers. Their kits are generous, and their price tags are relatively affordable compared to their competitors. They come in cute packaging, so they make excellent gifts, too.
This kit has to make the top of my list because I’m a huge fan of both crystals and air plants, so this pretty much hits two birds with one stone for me.
The kit comes with one air plant, white sand, dark purple/purple moss, purple agate tumbled stone, a stunning 4.5” glass terrarium, and a hemp cord to hang your glass holder.
There are no instructions needed because the kit comes with a live Tillandsia plant, which is another reason why I always recommend it to beginners. It takes minutes to assemble, and the color variations can completely transform the way a space looks.
Because the sand is used primarily for support, you don’t need to be meticulous while pouring it into the glass terrarium. I patted it a few times and carefully placed the purple moss before adding the purple agate last.
It comes with a cord, so you can hang it if you please, but I liked how it looked on my oak desk with the rest of my collection. You only have to water them with a syringe once a week. Overwatering air plants can drown them, so I make sure to set schedules for each of my plants.
What I like about this kit
- Comes with a gorgeous purple agate stone
- Easy to assemble
- The purple moss is low-maintenance and is easy to water
- Modern design
What I don’t like about this kit
- Comes with one plant
- Glass has a plastic feel to it
While I absolutely prioritize quality in my purchases, quantity is always my weakness. That’s why Bliss Gardens is easily one of my all-time favorite brands. If you prefer bigger Tillandsia plants, this product is probably not for you.
Even though I don’t normally stress oversize, their miniature plant set compelled me to add more decorative stones to fill in the glass orb space. But aside from that one downside, their kits are versatile and always come with the sleekest terrariums.
The kit includes two Ionantha air plants, a black metal stand, black and silver rocks, a glass orb, and an instructions sheet. The glass is heavy and sturdy, and the black stand adds a nice sleek touch to the overall design.
These plants don’t require to be soaked and only need to be misted twice a week. If you live somewhere humid, mist it less often. With Ionantha, you can easily tell whether your plant is particularly dry. In that case, you can run the Ionantha under a gentle stream of water, but you can’t submerge it like you would other air plants.
What I like about this Kit
- Modern design
- Comes with more than one plant
- The black and silver rocks add an elegant touch
- High-quality glass
- Thrives on fluorescent lighting
What I don’t like about this kit
- The air plants are miniature in size
- The tips dry in low-humidity conditions
- The base easily gets soaked and has to be drained frequently
If you’re on a tight budget, you can’t go wrong with Jacquies Aesthetics. Their products are by far the most affordable I could find for the quality they provide. Their air plant globe kit is one of my favorites; however, it comes with higher maintenance plants.
The Tillandsia Capitata included in the set is a bit more demanding. You have to soak it once a week and mist it every other day. Submerging provides the plant with its needed nutrients, and the misting prevents it from drying out. If you have many air plants to care for, this kit would not be the ideal choice.
The plant is rather small, but all the decorative pieces that come with it take up space. The kit comes with one air plant, a string of twine, 2 seashells, 4 gemstones, and a glass terrarium globe.
The glass has a bit of a plastic feel to it, but it makes up for it with its nautical vibe. The care instructions are easy to follow but will likely require you to schedule soaking and misting.
What I like about this kit
- Beautiful nautical design
- Comes with stunning gemstones
- Extremely affordable price tag
- The 4″x4″ globe makes a gorgeous desk ornament
What I don’t like about this kit
- The globe has a plastic feel to it
- The air plant is high-maintenance
How to Shop for Your First Air Plant Terrarium Kit
You don’t exactly have to be a savvy gardener to look after an air plant. Tillandsia care isn’t rocket science, but it does require some time and dedication. A decorative flowering cactus may not need much to thrive, but it could certainly wither away if you water it too much or too little.
Luckily, beginners have a wide range of low-maintenance air plants to choose from; here are some tips to keep in mind while shopping for your first Tillandsia kit.
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Read the Instructions First
As previously mentioned, some air plants are more demanding than others. If you’re shopping online, you’ll most likely find the instructions included in the description of the product.
If you find that the air plant in question requires soaking, it’s best to look for an alternative that only needs misting. Whereas soaking is quite simple, some terrariums have thick bases that take up extra water, which needs to be drained frequently to prevent your plant from drowning.
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Start with Desk Ornaments
Tillandsia sizes vary according to species; some are small enough to fit in your palm, while others are as large as a small potted tree! If you’re shopping at a brick-and-mortar store, you might find yourself tempted to go big, but it’s best to stick to miniature sizes until you get the hang of Tillandsia care.
With time, and as you broaden your air-plant collection, you’ll be able to tell whether your plant needs soaking, misting, or rinsing just by taking a good look at it.
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Prioritize Aesthetic Value
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to Tillandsia shopping, you absolutely should! Tillandsia species are essentially decorative plants that resemble coral reefs when well-kept, so you should always go for the sets that look most appealing to you.
In Conclusion
These botanical beauties are very affordable, and the heftier price tags you see mostly depend on the size and shape of the terrarium that comes with the kit. Alternatively, you can always shop for the terrarium and the plants separately if you want to customize your own kit.
However, for beginners, I recommend starting with AURAMORE Air Plant Terrarium Kit. These air plant terrarium kits are ideal for beginners; they’re easy to assemble, they’re affordable, and they all come with easy-to-follow instructions.
If you opt for various plants with different demands, make sure to set up a schedule for misting and submerging them. Start with plants that only need misting like the Ionantha, and work your way towards more demanding Tillandsia plants.