Closed Loop: Bioactive Terrarium Workshop Baltimore

Build a living world small enough to hold in your hands.
Learn how plants, moisture, substrate, and tiny decomposers work together
About this Event

Closed Loop: Bioactive Terrarium Workshop Baltimore

Welcome to Closed Loop, a small-group botanical workshop where you will build a living tabletop ecosystem and learn what helps it remain healthy after you bring it home.

This is more than a decorative plant project.
Participants will learn how the different layers of a terrarium work together—from drainage and substrate to humidity, plant selection, moss, decomposition, and moisture balance.

Each guest will build one complete terrarium step by step with guidance from Moss & Glass Botanical Studio.

What You’ll Build

Your terrarium may include:

Glass terrarium vessel

Drainage layer

Horticultural charcoal

Bioactive substrate

Tropical plants

Live moss

Natural stone and wood accents

Springtail culture for eligible bioactive builds

Finishing materials

A plant-only alternative will be available for participants who prefer not to include springtails.

What You’ll Learn

How closed and semi-closed terrariums function

How to select compatible plants

How moisture moves through a miniature ecosystem

How to avoid common overwatering problems

How moss contributes to humidity and visual structure

What springtails do inside a bioactive system

How to recognize condensation, stress, and plant decline

When to intervene—and when to leave the ecosystem alone

What’s Included

All standard terrarium-building materials

Live plants and moss

Guided instruction

Individual build tray and tools

Printed terrarium care card

Moisture-calibration guide

Take-home finished terrarium

Protective transport packaging

Access to the Moss & Glass digital care guide

Light snacks and non-alcoholic refreshments

No previous gardening or terrarium experience is required.

Natural materials used during the workshop may include soil, bark, moss, stone, live plants, and small soil-dwelling organisms. Gloves will be available, and participants should wash their hands after completing the build.

To keep the workspace controlled, substrate and decorative materials will be pre-portioned into individual trays. Water will be introduced only during the guided moisture-calibration step using controlled spray bottles.

Because each terrarium is a living system, its long-term condition depends on light, temperature, moisture, plant health, and ongoing care. Moss & Glass provides guidance but does not guarantee that a terrarium will remain permanently self-sustaining without adjustment.

12:45 PM – Doors Open & Material Check-In
Arrival, seating, refreshments, and introduction to the build station.

1:00 PM – How a Living Terrarium Works
A beginner-friendly introduction to layers, moisture cycles, plants, moss, and decomposition.

1:20 PM – Build Phase One: Foundation
Drainage, charcoal, substrate, and structural layout.

1:45 PM – Build Phase Two: Planting
Plant selection, root preparation, placement, and moss installation.

2:20 PM – Bioactive Layer & Moisture Calibration
Springtail introduction where selected, controlled watering, and humidity setup.

2:40 PM – Landscape & Finish
Natural stone, wood accents, final composition, and glass cleanup.

2:55 PM – The 30-Day Care Plan
Light placement, condensation checks, watering decisions, and troubleshooting.

3:05 PM – Living Gallery & Photos
Finished terrariums are displayed together for optional photos.

3:15 PM – Workshop Ends
Staff cleanup and material reset continue after participant departure.