When designing a Zen garden terrarium, much thought must go into it. Zen gardens must utilize structure/organizational features but also must maintain harmony with nature.
It is about balance and use of stones and sand, more than plants, to create a sense of peace in your work.
Step One: Think About Structure
First, take a look at the container you’re using for your terrarium.
Think about the shapes of the container and the stones you’re planning to use.
What kinds of patterns and relations are you setting up?
You might find it helpful to sketch your idea out on paper first.
You might find it helpful to find out the meanings of the stones in a Zen garden. This is not dependent upon; however, it has value when you’re working through creating your terrarium.
Consider:
- Tall stones = the trees
- Flat round stones = water
- Sand = maybe a pebble
Then, think about all the plants. Again, plants are probably not what you’re focusing on, but plants matter in a terrarium even if they’re not the focal point.
Consider low growing and spreading plants rather than plants that grow tall.
For example, you might be using moss instead of grass; or lichen-covered stones instead of regular stones.
Lastly, think about whether or how you might add a path or a bridge.
Remember everything will be scaled down in your terrarium, so if you add a path it should be thin but can curve around the garden or terrarium.
You can make it of sand or very small pebbles; it depends on the vibe you want to achieve.
Do It Later: As for a bridge, it’s very easy to make a solution out of some simple materials; we will cover that later.
Step Two: Add Your Base
You will need a general substrate for your garden.
This is usually some sort of fine gravel or sand.
Choose a color that suits your theme – dark colors tend to look more dramatic,while lighter colors have a softer and calm quality.
Next, we want to add a substrate specifically designed for terrariums.
This substrate will give a ground-like appearance and provide something for the plants you add to grow in.
This substrate may contain coconut coir, orchid bark, sphagnum moss, etc.
Step Three: Add the Cornerstones
Once you have your foundation in a place you like, decide which parts of the design are the largest elements—the corner stones of your design.
In this case, it will probably be literal stones, but it might also be a feature plant that you would like to include.
Put these elements in place first, and view your garden from different vantage points.
- Are they in a location you prefer?
- Are they creating the desired effect, or do you want to move them?
You don’t have to stick to the design—move them as you see fit!
Step Four: Add the Plants
Next, you’ll want to add the plants.
Even if you are only using moss for your Zen garden, go ahead and add it at this point so that the smaller stones will sit on top.
Remember: the point is to focus on the stones, so don’t add too much and don’t cover space that should be stones and sand.
Step Five: Build the Zen Areas
Once you’ve got the basics in place, it is time to focus on the Zen part of the garden.
You’re going to want to take your time with this piece to provide a really good meditative Zen spirit to this part of the garden.
Doing this in a small area can be hard to do. You may want to just mark out your Zen area with small stones, which may help.
As mentioned, clear up any moss that has crept into your Zen area, and make sure that the sand you fill it with is cleaned and perfected.
For most cases, you will want to work with the lightest sand or gravel possible, as this draws the eye in and make sure that’s where people focus their attention instead of the plants.
On top of that, using light colored sand or gravel will provide a freshly feeling and airy to the terrarium, so work them with tank size to create that spirituality.
You will want to make sure that the focus is on those parts and that they are perfect.
Improvise: if using sand, find a fine tool that can be used to rake and create texture in the sand.
Step Six: Add a Bridge
If you want to add a bridge, you can easily create one from lollipop sticks and a natural string, such as jute string.
You can take the lolly stick and cut it into planks for the bridge:
- Take a slender slice of lolly stick.
- You can glue each plank to this using hot glue – remember to leave a few milliliters between each plank.
- The slender piece of lolly stick will help hold the planks in place underneath the bridge.
- The more evenly you can space them apart, the better the garden will look.
- Cut a toothpick into round posts for the ends of the bridge, and tie them together using the string to make a rustic-looking bridge.
Then you can install this into your garden where there is a natural hollow.
If a bridge looks as though it truly provides a crossing of two points, that is best; do not just stick one in willy-nilly, though.
If a bridge is not part of your shape in the early design, leave it off.
Step Seven: Finish Off
Pause to survey your garden and tidy up the parts that may not please you.
Sense the gravity of the stones, and make sure you are not allowing the plants to obscure their natural beauty or reduce their meditative quality.
Conclusion
Now you have a Zen garden terrarium.
Keep in mind, this can have any shape or form that you would like. Just assess that the stones are indeed the element of focus.
You should feel calm and peaceful looking at it.