ChiFond Terrariums

It feels like a long time since I last posted... August was such a busy month with my family and I just needed a break.

Now I am back and here's my latest sloth theme terrarium for a commissioned order of a birthday present! 😊 Such a cute theme and such a great friend!

I am so grateful for the commission orders of the Petite Prince terrariums! Even with the same theme, you can see each terrarium is unique 😊

Thank you for the interest and support! ❤️

I know it's been a while since my last update... I've been busy with a couple commission orders which I am very grateful for. I have a lot of ideas in my head and sometimes I procrastinate because I can't decide on which one to work on! 🤣

Anyway, I've been thinking about this Spirited Away terrarium for a while now and I am so happy to finally bring it to reality. I love how it turned out! 😊 Let me know what you think!

It's available for sell for $150 😊

I would like to sincerely thank everyone who participated in my raffle to raise funds for True North Aid (www.truenorthaid.ca) over the last two weeks. I am so glad to be able to use my terrarium for a good cause!

My goal was to raise $250. 19 Generous individuals bought a total of 102 tickets to help me raise $330!! All proceeds have been donated and receipt is attached.
Thank you! ❤️

After reading about all the unmarked graves on previous residential school grounds, I have been thinking what I can do to help.

I have decided to do a raffle on the Baby Yoda terrarium I made and donate all proceeds to True North Aid (http://www.truenorthaid.ca/).

True North Aid is dedicated to serving and supporting northern Indigenous communities in Canada through practical humanitarian support. Their mandate is to provide practical humanitarian assistance through initiatives established on eight foundational stones of support. These include self-determination, reconciliation, water, food, health, housing, hope and education. Feel free to read more about this organization on their website.

Raffle tickets are $5 each or 3 for $10. I will collect raffles over next 2 weeks and the winner will be announced on Wed, July 21. A proof of donation will also be made public :)

My goal is to raise $250. Let's see if we can achieve it!

Please feel free to share!

One great thing about live terrariums is that they grow and change over time!

This is the first ever terrarium I made about 5 months ago. The little bush my hedge hog had back then had become quite a forest!

This is also after I made a number of trims to cut back the plants. Conveniently, you can use the cuttings to propagate more plants!

It's been a couple stressful weeks, battling pests on some of my houseplants and caring for sick children at home... Health is something we take for granted sometimes.

Anyway, finally able to find a few hours to make this Little Prince theme terrarium! I struggled with plant choices a bit as Little Prince's home planet is pretty bare in terms of plants. I tried to do the best with what I have. What do you think? 😊

I am keeping this one for myself but do let me know if you are interested in commissioning something similar!

- What is a terrarium?
Terrarium is a miniature garden potted in a glass container.

- What’s the difference between closed and open terrarium?

Closed terrariums have lids that sealed the moisture in the container. Therefore, closed terrariums are great for humidity loving plants like ferns, begonias, fittonia, etc.
Open terrarium is open so technically any houseplant can be potted in one, including succulents and cactus.

- What kind of light do terrariums need?

Bright indirect light would be the best. Avoid direct sunlight, especially for closed terrariums, as it can heat up the terrarium quickly and burn the plants!

- How do I water a terrarium?

Since terrariums don’t have drainage holes, it’s important not to over water. I like to use a squeeze bottle or a syringe to water so that I can easily control how much I water. They also help to access hard-to-reach areas within a terrarium. All purchases here will include a squeeze bottle or syringe :)

- How often do I need to water?

It depends!
For closed terrariums, since moisture is sealed inside, it may only need to be watered once a few weeks or months!
For open terrariums, watering needs depend on the plants and your home conditions. I would recommend starting with once or twice a week for leafy plants, or once every 2 weeks for succulents.
Try to avoid over watering. Watch how the plants react and adjust accordingly :)

- How do you decide what theme to create?

I get inspirations from my favorite movies, anime and natural sceneries. I also welcome your suggestions and can consider commissioning!

- How do you price your terrariums?

The price of the terrariums depends on the cost of all the materials (mainly the container, plants, and special items like figurines) and the time required to make them. Sometimes smaller terrariums can actually take longer to make! I am just a mom trying to share my love of terrarium so it’s certainly not a mass production. The benefit is, every terrarium is unique!

OMG, look what I have just received! May have to order more as I am keeping this one for myself 😆
Anyone else love The Little Prince?! 😊

Update: Both sold! Thank you for your support! 😊

TWO new tear shaped terrariums featuring the glow-in-the-dark kodama (tree spirits) available for sell for $79 each! 😊

One with a forest look and the other with river land look. Both terrariums can be either hung using the rope or rest on a plant pot or bowl. Each measures about 5" wide and 9.5" tall.

The plants in the forest one are rabbit foot fern and peperomia napoli night; in river land one are ficus pumila variegated, peperomia napoli night and fittonia.

Delivery included within Ottawa. Free if within 20min of Kanata or for a small fee if you are further away ($5-10 depending on location).

Feel free to message me if you have any questions! 😊

Just received a batch of glow-in-the-dark kodama (tree spirit)! In Princess Mononoke, their presence was a sign of healthy forest 🌳

Stay tuned for some upcoming terrarium(s?!) that will feature these cute little guys! 😁

https://ghibli.fandom.com/wiki/Kodama

Here I present to you the Baby Yoda (Grogu) desert themed terrarium I just made tonight!

I am loving the fact that I can incorporate characters I love into my terrariums 😊 The shape of the terrarium kind of reminds me of some of the spaceships in Star Wars.

Featuring sempervivum red, cactus and lithops (living stones), and of course, a happy Grogu that will surely bring you smiles 😊

Inspired by the iconic scene from My Neighbor Totoro where the little girl sleeps on Totoro's soft belly, I created this lush terrarium globe with asparagus fern, maidenhair fern, ficus pumila variegated, pink hypoestes, pilea aquamarine and live carpet moss.

What a magical space to peak in and get lost in the scenery 😊

Beautiful and functional, this is a terrarium lamp!

My Neighbor Totoro is one of my favorites from Studio Ghibli and this terrarium gives me smiles every time I look at it 😊

When you love making terrariums, you see all glass containers as potential terrariums!

Here's my trifle bowl terrarium featuring asparagus fern :)

Welcome to ChiFond Terrariums!

My name is Stephanie and my Chinese name is Chi, hence the name "ChiFond" 😊

I love plants and own more than 80 houseplants. I started making terrariums early 2021 during the COVID pandemic as a way to find a sense of calm and escape. I totally fell in love with the process and just can't stop!

I love incorporating characters I love into my terrariums. Studio Ghibli is one of my favorites so you will see plenty of those themes here :)

Hope you enjoy my terrariums and feel free to contact me if you have any questions! Stay tuned for new terrariums available and delivery is currently available for greater Ottawa regions 😊