How to Make DIY Living Terrarium Jewelry: The Ultimate Guide
-
Daniela
- Updated: Jun 2, 2026
- Gardening, Home Decor, Jewelry, Nature
Can you actually wear a living ecosystem? Most “moss jewelry” you see online uses dead, preserved moss tucked inside resin or glass. But if you know me, you know I wanted to try something different for my own terrarium jewelry. I wanted a real, living, breathing ecosystem, complete with a tiny bioactive cleaning crew.
In this ultimate guide, I’m going to show you exactly how to make a living terrarium necklace, terrarium earrings, and a terrarium ring using real moss and live springtails.
Table of Contents
Note: Some links in this post may contain affiliate links, which means at no cost to you, I may earn a commission.
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Supplies for Living Terrarium Jewelry
- All of the Fillable Glass Jewelry Blanks: Here’s the full collection on Etsy
- Fillable Glass Earrings (Etsy)
- Fillable Glass Necklace (Etsy)
- Fillable Glass Ring (Etsy)
- Magnetic Nail Art Stand Holder (Amazon)
- Glue – I used Beacon 3-in-1 Glue (Amazon)
- Dechlorinated Water Drops (Aquarium Water Conditioner) (Amazon)
- Moss (in case you don’t have your own you can find some on Etsy)
- Live Springtails
- Q-Tips
Step-by-Step Video Tutorial
If you want to watch my chaotic attempts at springtail wrangling and see exactly how these pieces look under a magnifying glass, check out the full video tutorial below.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Harvesting and Preparing Wild Moss
To start, you need the perfect moss. While I keep tubs of sustainably collected moss on hand, my patio needed cleaning anyway, so I scraped up the wild moss growing in the cracks.
Before using it, carefully pick out any weeds or debris growing out of it.
If you don’t have moss available, no problem! I’ve also gotten some myself on Etsy.
Step 2: Crafting Living Terrarium Earrings
The earrings are the smallest pieces in the set, which means they have the highest technical difficulty.
1. Assemble the hardware: I got these teardrop glass blanks on Etsy. They come with three metal parts that you have to assemble yourself. Use jewelry pliers to open the jump ring, slide on the top cap, and attach the earring piece.
2. Mount the glass: To make it easier to hold the glass base, use a nail holder stand (this is the one I have). Press a piece of the tacky mounting putty onto the holder, press the glass teardrop into it, and snap it onto the magnetic base. This keeps the tiny container steady so it doesn’t slip out of your hands.
3. Layer the ecosystem: Because the container is so small, you are limited on your moss options. Select some of the shortest types. Use fine tip tweezers to pack a tiny layer of dirt into the bottom. Separate your moss into tiny pieces, working with a single strand at a time. I used two different moss varieties to get some different textures.
4. Clean and water: To clean up the dirt mess on the inside of the glass, stretch some cotton out from a Q-tip, dip it in water, and swirl it around the inside walls. Add a single drop of dechlorinated water for extra moisture (I use my aquarium conditioner drops to dechlorinate the water).
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Step 3: Making a Living Terrarium Necklace Pendant
The round glass pendant gives you more space to play with, meaning you can use taller moss varieties and bigger chunks.
1. Secure and prep the base: Secure the pendant on your magnetic stand using the putty. It makes it so much easier, especially if you have clumsy hands like mine. Start with a base layer of dirt, but add a little water right away to help level things out so it isn’t too dry.
2. Arrange the moss: Place your moss chunks one at a time and push them firmly down against the dirt using your tweezers. I missed moss day during my Tennessee Naturalist classes, so I do not know the exact scientific name for this type, but I call it “star moss.” It looks beautiful in this larger container, just be careful not to get too excited and overfill it like I did! Clean out the glass and add a bit more water once it is styled.
Step 4: Creating a Miniature Terrarium Ring
The terrarium ring is unique because the base is a flat piece of metal, and the glass dome has to fit over everything.
1. Select short moss: Your options are very limited here. I tried a few types before deciding on the shortest moss I had, which I think is called “carpet moss.” Make sure to remove a fair amount of the dirt from under it.
2. Center the ecosystem: The moss needs to fit perfectly into the center so the glass dome can fit all the way around it. Use a few small pieces of carpet moss and clump them right into the middle of the flat metal ring base, then add a bit of water.
How to Add Springtails to Tiny Terrarium Jewelry (Springtail Wrangling)
To make these true, self-sustaining ecosystems, you must add springtails before sealing them shut. These tiny buggers act as the cleanup crew, eating mold, decaying moss, and biofilm that naturally forms in high humidity.
Don’t worry about them being trapped, they thrive in basically a tupperware container, so moving them to a highly humid environment isn’t so different.
The Challenge of Miniature Bioactives
Tapping springtails straight from their culture container into a tiny jewelry opening is a massive challenge. When making the earrings, I managed to tap one or two in, but a crap ton ended up all over the table, turning it into a 10 minute game of springtail wrangling!
| Springtail Capture Method | How It Works | Technical Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
|
The Tap Method |
Tapping the culture box directly over the jewelry opening |
High (They are bouncy suckers and will end up all over your table, except for the wider opening of the necklace) |
|
The Damp Q-tip Trick |
Using a moist cotton swab to trick them onto the bud |
Medium (They like to hop off or hop away when you get too close) |
|
The Moss Catch |
Using a small piece of damp moss to trap them |
Low (You need to be gentle, but it also only works for the ring) |
|
The Tweezers Method |
Using precision fine tip tweezers to delicately pick them up |
Extreme (Requires an incredibly gentle touch so you do not crush them) |
Sealing the Jewelry
Once your springtails are safely inside your earrings, pendant, or ring, it is time to seal them up. I thought I had waterproof Loctite, but apparently that didn’t make our move to Nashville. Instead, I used my favorite Beacon 3-in-1 glue (Amazon).
Get your glass tops or dome lids ready with the glue. Focus the adhesive along the outside of the glass to create the seal, trying to keep the glue away from the springtails. Let it gas off some fumes for a brief moment before sealing it up completely so it does not harm the ecosystem, then wipe off any excess glue.
Once dry, pull them off their stands. The putty comes off easily by just squishing more putty against it.
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Here are all of the terrarium jewelry pieces up close! I think the ring might be my favorite! Which one is your favorite?
Wearable Terrarium Care and Maintenance
Now that your jewelry set is complete, the key is keeping it alive. I keep mine on my desk right in front of a window, but you have to balance the light carefully.
Greenhouse Effect Warning: You need to balance giving them enough sun so the moss doesn’t feel the need to stretch for light, but not too much direct sun, which will quickly cook the ecosystem like a greenhouse.
Because they are completely sealed, the moisture level will remain constant. The best way to monitor your wearable ecosystem is by reading the glass:
Light fogging: As long as you see some light condensation on the glass in the morning that clears up during the day, you know the humidity is there and the water cycle is working perfectly.
Constant heavy droplets: The ecosystem has too much water and needs to be opened to dry out slightly.
Bone dry glass: The ecosystem is running low on moisture and needs a precise drop of dechlorinated water added.
The best part about using craft glue instead of a permanent resin is that, in theory, you can always remove the seal in the future to make any care adjustments as necessary. As a bonus, the necklace pendant also makes a fantastic keychain or hanging decor piece if you do not want to wear it!
Living Terrarium Jewelry Frequently Asked Questions
How long does living terrarium jewelry last?
Because these are sealed, bioactive ecosystems, they can theoretically last indefinitely if they receive the right balance of light. The water cycle will continuously recycle itself inside the glass, and the springtails will keep the environment clean. If the moss ever looks like it is struggling, you can carefully unseal the glue, make adjustments, and reseal it.
Realistically, it’s difficult to gauge the rate amount of plant matter to water to springtails so it will likely be months to years.
Do you need to feed the springtails inside the jewelry?
No, you do not need to feed them. In my plastic holding container I do need to supplement their diet since there aren’t any plants, but in these miniature jewelry pieces, the springtails will survive entirely on the decaying bits of moss, natural soil nutrients, and any microscopic biofilm or mold that forms inside the humid glass.
What happens if the moss grows too big for the glass?
Since these pieces are kept in bright, indirect light rather than direct sunlight, the moss will grow at an incredibly slow rate. However, if a strand eventually stretches too much and presses against the glass, you can use a hobby knife to carefully cut the craft glue seal, pop the top off, trim the moss back with your tweezers, and glue it back together. Just make sure the moisture level remains (which means you may need to add another drop of water).
Is the glass jewelry fragile? Will it break when worn?
I was a little worried about how thin the glass might be when I first bought the blanks on Etsy, but they are surprisingly sturdy. They have a nice thickness to them that does not feel as though it will shatter from a normal daily bump. That being said, it’s still real glass, so I don’t recommend wearing your terrarium ring while doing things like heavy yard work or rock climbing!
More Crafts to Try
If you loved making this wearable ecosystem, you will definitely want to try these other fun, nature-inspired projects and unique handmade accessories:
- How to Make a DIY Terrarium: Ready to scale up your skills after working with miniature glass blanks? Check out my complete guide to creating a beautiful, full-sized indoor terrarium.
- The Ultimate Terrarium Kit Guide: If you want an easy way to gather all your moss, soil, and glass supplies for your next build, these are the absolute best all-in-one kits available.
- How to Press Flowers Step by Step: If you enjoy working with natural materials, learning how to properly press flowers is a fantastic way to create beautiful, long-lasting art and jewelry components.
- How to Make a Creative Edible Terrarium: Want a sweet project that you can actually eat? This is a super fun, delicious twist on a classic moss terrarium layout.
- DIY Starburst Wrapper Bracelet: If you want to jump into another unique, wearable jewelry tutorial, this classic candy wrapper bracelet is a highly nostalgic craft to try.
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Daniela
Daniela is a lifelong crafter who loves to share her passion for crafting. Through classes or learning on her own, she likes to say she'll do pretty much any craft aside from scrapbooking. Her current personal obsessions include garden crafts, felting, and spinning yarn.
