Where to Start with Maria Colletti

Maria Colletti is a terrarium designer and educator who teaches the Living Decor terrarium series at the New York Botanical Garden. Dubbed a “terrarium savant” by Edible Manhattan, she has led workshops for thousands of students, teaching them to build everything from simple moss terrariums to elaborate orchid displays. Her book “Terrariums: Gardens Under Glass” (2015) distills that hands-on teaching experience into a comprehensive guide featuring over twenty step-by-step projects. It remains the most widely recommended introduction to terrarium building for beginners, combining clear plant science with practical, workshop-tested instructions.