Let’s plant something you’ll love.

Welcome to the Photosynthesis family. Make yourself comfortable, unpack your kit and join us as we create your own little living world.

Our family has put these guides together to help you enjoy every layer, every detail and every new leaf. Follow along at your own pace and make it yours.

Before you begin   ·   Choosing plants   ·   Care & questions

If a video does not play in your browser, use its Watch on YouTube link below the player.

 Choose my planting guide

What are we planting today?

Experience Centre

01 / MAKE A LITTLE SPACE

Before we get our hands into it.

Clear a comfortable spot, put down a tray or towel and lay out your kit. Bring a little water, clean scissors and a spoon or planting tweezers if you have them. Keep your phone somewhere dry where you can pause and replay the guide.

Watch the opening of your product’s video before opening every bag. Keep the materials separate until you reach their step. There’s no rush: take a break whenever you like.

Your Lamp Terrarium checklist

  • Your chosen glassware and lamp components.
  • The planting mix and decorative materials supplied with your kit.
  • Plants or cuttings appropriate to your delivery destination, or locally purchased plants.
  • Your Small or Large Lamp video above, ready to play.

Decorative selections can vary. Use your order details to check any extras you purchased. If glass has arrived damaged, leave it packed safely and use the help details below before building.

02 / MEET YOUR PLANTS

A small start. A world of possibility.

These plant and delivery instructions apply to the Lamp Terrarium DIY Kit.

QLD · NSW · VIC · ACT

Plants are included with your delivery. Unpack them promptly and follow your build guide.

South Australia

Your plants arrive as soilless cuttings. No moss is included. Follow the propagation steps below to establish them.

WA · NT · Tasmania

No live plants or moss are included. Use this guide to buy suitable plants locally and prepare them for your build.

What to look for at your local nursery

Choose small, healthy starter plants with room to grow inside the glass. You don’t need every plant listed here. A small selection gives you more room to create.

  • Fittonia, or nerve plant: compact foliage with colourful leaf veins for a humid terrarium.
  • Ficus pumila, or creeping fig: choose a small-leaved form and keep its spreading stems trimmed.
  • Peperomia: ask for a small tropical variety suited to terrariums. Varieties differ, so check the label and growing requirements.

Ask a local garden centre for these botanical names, or choose an online nursery that confirms delivery to your location. Check for pests and damaged foliage before buying. Moss is optional, not essential for rooting cuttings.

Trim, plant and propagate

  1. Choose healthy growth. Use clean scissors to take a short stem tip just below a node, where a leaf meets the stem. Around 5 cm is a useful starting point for fittonia.
  2. Prepare the cutting. Remove the lowest leaves, keeping a few at the tip. Keep leaves above the planting mix. For peperomia, use a variety with suitable stems; rosette types may need division or a different propagation method.
  3. Prepare your miniature landscape. Follow your Lamp video for the layers. Lightly moisten the planting mix without flooding it.
  4. Plant gently. Make a small hole, place a bare lower node in contact with the mix and firm it lightly. Leave space around each cutting.
  5. Let the terrarium help. The glass retains humidity while roots establish. Use the enclosure as designed, keep electrical components dry and keep the terrarium away from direct sun.
  6. Check while they settle. Keep the mix lightly moist, never waterlogged. Increase ventilation if it remains excessively wet, and remove decaying material. Peperomia is particularly sensitive to overwatering.
  7. Enjoy the new growth. Rooting time varies. Avoid pulling cuttings up to check. Once established, leave them to grow in place or gently arrange them in their final positions.

Watch the Small Lamp build · Watch the Large Lamp build

03 / PLANTS WITH PERSONALITY

The lovely part? It will be yours.

Follow the video for the foundations, then give yourself permission to play with the composition. Your terrarium doesn’t need to look exactly like ours.

Choose a focal point

A favourite stone, a plant or a miniature can give your eye somewhere to land. Try its position before planting around it.

Create depth

Try taller elements towards the back and smaller details towards the front. Turn the glass occasionally to see how it looks from your favourite angle.

Leave room to grow

A little open space helps each detail stand out. Leave plants room to develop and keep leaves clear of the lamp.

Pause the video, move a detail, step back and look again. That time spent creating is part of the experience.

04 / KEEP THE GOOD THINGS GROWING

A little confidence for what comes next.

How much water should I add?

Follow the initial watering shown in your product’s video and check the mix as you go. For a terrarium, aim for lightly moist mix, not standing water around the roots. Newly planted cuttings need closer attention than an established terrarium. Avoid a fixed number of sprays for every plant and situation.

Is condensation normal?

Some condensation can occur as temperatures change. If the glass stays heavily fogged and the mix is wet, ventilate and hold off adding water. Clear glass alone does not mean it needs watering: check the mix and plants too.

What if I see mould?

Remove affected dead leaves or debris with clean tools, increase ventilation and check for excess moisture. If it keeps returning or live stems are soft and decaying, send us a clear photo so we can help identify what’s happening.

My plant is wilting or turning yellow. Should I water it?

Check the mix first. Wilting can happen when plants are too dry or their roots are too wet. Add a little water if the mix is dry; if it is already wet, do not add more. Check placement and contact us with a photo if the decline continues.

Where should I display my Lamp Terrarium?

Choose a stable indoor spot away from direct sunlight and heat. Keep leaves clear of the light and electrical parts dry. Follow the Lamp tutorial for positioning and the controls supplied with your lamp.

How do I use the lamp, remote and timer?

Use the controls demonstrated for your lamp in the Small or Large Lamp guide. Keep the remote and charging components dry. If the controls on your unit differ from the video, email a photo of the lamp and remote with your order number so we can give the correct instructions.

How do I trim plants that have grown too big?

Use clean scissors to shorten overlong stems just above a node. Remove dead foliage and avoid crowding neighbouring plants. Healthy stem trimmings can become new plants: use the propagation steps above.

Does my design have to match the video?

No. The video helps you build a healthy foundation. The arrangement is yours to enjoy. Try a different focal point or leave more open space; living artwork changes as it grows.

I have an Isla, Orb or Teapot. Which instructions should I follow?

Choose the matching video above. The Lamp plant-delivery table and propagation section are specifically for Lamp kits. For ongoing care, use the Isla or Terrarium care links below as appropriate to your product.

This was a gift. Can I use the guides?

Yes, these guides are here for the person enjoying the product. Keep the packaging QR code or bookmark this page so you can come back whenever you need it.

Something is damaged or missing. What should I do?

Email support@photosynthesis.com.au with your order number if available, a photo of the packaging and a clear photo or description of the issue. Keep damaged glass safely packed and avoid handling broken pieces.

Isla care guide · Terrarium care guide · Aquascape care guide

MADE BY YOU. LOVED FOR YEARS.

Your little world begins here.

Take a photo of your finished piece. We’d love to see what you’ve created: tag @photosynthesis_co if you share it.

Thank you for making Photosynthesis part of your home.
Harry, Alejandra & Valentina
The Photosynthesis family

Need a hand? Email us or find our Southport store.

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