Giving a high-end terrarium: the gift that stays
Wedding, housewarming, retirement, corporate gift: a handmade glass terrarium is a gift that people keep. Which model for which occasion, when to order, and how to give it.
In this guide
A high-end terrarium is a gift that people keep. Flowers last a week. A bottle is drunk in one evening. A handmade garden under glass stays in the living room for years, and the person who receives it watches it grow.
It is also a gift that needs a little notice. This guide gives the right model for each occasion, then the timetable.
Why this gift stands out
- It is hard to find. A handmade geometric terrarium is not sold in a supermarket. Ours are handmade in Europe by our supplier, to order.
- It lives. It changes with the months. You think of the person who gave it each time you look at it.
- It asks for almost nothing. Watering once or twice a year is enough. You can give it to someone who travels or who says they have no green fingers.
- It is built. The person plants their own landscape, in an hour. The gift is also that moment.
Which model for which occasion
| Occasion | What matters | The model |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding, milestone birthday | A piece that makes an impression, for a living room | Prisme Canopy, 31 × 29 × 29 cm |
| Housewarming | An object for a new table or sideboard | Prisme Valley or Prisme Mosaic, 17.5 cm high |
| Retirement | A symbol of the long term | Prisme Bonsai, 27 × 27 × 36 cm |
| Corporate gift, thank-you | A desk size | Prisme Emerald, 16 × 15 × 19.5 cm |
The bonsai is a good symbol for a retirement or a milestone birthday: it is a tree that you tend for years. Our guide to the bonsai in a terrarium explains its care.
For an office or for a client, the small size is enough. It fits beside a screen.
The timetable: order three weeks ahead
A handmade terrarium does not wait in a warehouse. It is made to order and ships within 1 to 2 weeks. Here is the timetable we advise.
- Three weeks before: you order.
- Less than a week before: the parcel arrives. Open it the same day, check the glass, and bring the plants into the light.
- One or two days before: you plant, if you are giving the terrarium already assembled.
Is the time too short? Give a card announcing the terrarium, with its photo. The wait is part of the gift.
Kit to assemble or ready-planted terrarium?
Our kits arrive to be assembled. So you have two ways to give.
- Give the kit. The person plants it themselves. This is the right choice for someone curious, or for a gift to build together. Give the gift quickly: living plants only wait a few days.
- Plant before giving. You build the terrarium, then bring it over. This is the right choice for a wedding or for an elderly person. Carry it by car, flat, wedged in a box. Lift it by the base, with two hands.
The three mistakes to avoid
- Ordering too late. The glass is made after the order.
- Leaving the parcel closed. Living plants need light.
- Forgetting the light at the recipient's home. A terrarium needs bright light, without direct sun. In a room with no window, it will not last.
The note that goes with it
Add three lines of care to the gift. They are enough.
- Bright light, without direct sun.
- Water once or twice a year.
- The glass panel removed for a few hours, once a month.
The details are in our guide to caring for a closed terrarium.
In short
Choose the model by the occasion and the space at the recipient's home. Order three weeks ahead. Decide whether you give the kit or the planted terrarium. And add the three lines of care.
For a smaller budget, our guide to giving a terrarium compares the other formats.
Sources
- Creating a Closed Terrarium, Penn State Extension
- How to Design a Closed-System Terrarium, Mississippi State University Extension
- Manufacturer data sheets for the terrariums (dimensions, materials, manufacture, lead time)
Frequently asked questions
How long ahead should I order a handmade terrarium?
Three weeks before the date. The terrarium is made to order and ships within 1 to 2 weeks. Delivery is added on top, and you should keep a margin.
Does the terrarium arrive already planted?
No. It is a complete kit: the glass terrarium, the plants, the living moss and the filling. You plant it yourself, in about an hour. You can give the kit, or plant it before giving it.
Is a terrarium a good gift for someone with no green fingers?
Yes. A closed terrarium needs very little: bright light without direct sun, and watering once or twice a year.
Can the living plants wait before being given?
A few days, no more. Take the plants out of the parcel on arrival and keep them in the light. Have the parcel arrive less than a week before the day of the gift.
