Planting on rock
The islands are made of a porous lava stone which makes them perfect for holding the air and moisture that plant roots love.
To start you will need:
The floating island frame terrarium kit.
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A small plant or cutting.
A clump of moss.
Roots to rock
Position your plant on the lava stone and cover the roots with some moss. Then wrap some *thread around the stone, moss and plant to hold everything in place while the roots grow into the lava stone.
*You can also use elastic bands or even super glue, just don't glue the roots directly.
Time to thrive
Depending on the plant, it should take around *4-8 weeks for the roots to grow into the lava stone, securing everything in place.
Until it takes root, make sure you don't let the island dry out.
Every few days give them a spray of water and periodically (about every two weeks) soak the whole island in water for 5-10mins.
After the plant has successfully rooted, you can remove any thread or elastic bands and water less frequently.
prep your plants
Submerge the lava stone and moss in bowl of water and let it soak for 15mins.
If your plant is in soil run the roots under water and brush off most of the soil. Be careful to not cause excessive damage to the roots.
If you are using a plant cutting you can either plant it straight away or propagate it until roots develop, giving it the best chance of thriving.
Plant Selection
It's up to you what plants you use for your floating islands, but there are some thing to consider that will help your plants thrive. It's best to pick something small that will not press up against the lid of the case.
You can always search online for care tips about the plant you're using. Ideally, the plant you pick should like humidity and indirect sunlight.
Where is your terrarium?
When choosing where to place your terrarium, consider how much light your preferred location gets.
Some plants love lots of direct light, like succulents; but most houseplants prefer indirect/filtered light, like begonias. Some houseplants even prefer shade, like selaginella.
Does your plant like Humidity?
The terrarium, with the lid on, will maintain a fairly high level of moisture in the air, similar to a rainforest. Most* houseplants will love this but it's always a good idea to check online if your plant will thrive or struggle in this kind of environment.
*If you want to use succulents or sedum consider keeping the lid off once it has rooted to give it lots of air circulation and reduce the humidity.
Do i need moss?
You should use moss to protect and support your plants' roots. Moss is great at holding water for your plants' roots and protecting them from bright light. It also helps the roots secure themselves to the lava stone.
You can order moss online from sustainable suppliers or go to your local floristry shop.
You can also find your own moss*. Moss grows almost everywhere and if you keep an eye out it's easy to find, even in cities. Look for brick walls, cracks in the pavement or other shady, damp spots in your local area. Just make sure to only take a small clump of moss so it can grow back.
*DO NOT take moss from protected wildlife areas or private property. It is very slow growing and an essential part of many ecosystems. If in doubt, leave it.
Recommended small plants:
Any type of epiphyte (plants that grow on other plants)
Any type of lithophyte (plants that grow on rocks)
Orchids
Bromeliads
Ferns
Begonias
Vines, like String of hearts or String of Turtles
Selaginella