Easy DIY Self-Watering Micro Living Plant Wall

I've made living walls a few times on the channel, but they're usually kind of involved to make. For this project, my goal was to make it as accessible as possible, using simple techniques and limited materials. For your convenience, I've left a complete list of everything here. Let me know what you think about the project in the comments and enjoy!
Materials Used
Capillary Rope - amzn.to/3xcHfA1
Large Tray - bit.ly/3DfsAHY
Large Tray Lid - bit.ly/3QvGxED (link doesn't show product; may only be available in stores)
Sphagnum Moss - low.es/3Day076
Super Glue - low.es/3DfibMr
Weather Seal Foam - low.es/3QMvTcZ
Plant List
Adiantum raddianum
Alternanthera ficoidea 'Snowball'
Callisia repens
Cryptanthus bivittatus
Hemionitis arifolia
Nephrolepis exaltata
Pellionia repens
Selaginella erythropus
Selaginella kraussiana
Learn More in my Blog
www.serpadesign.com/blog
Follow SerpaDesign
Instagram - / serpadesign
TikTok - / serpadesign
Second Channel - / tannerserpa
0:00 The Living Wall Idea
0:29 Choosing a Container
0:37 Modifying the Bin
1:27 Using Foam to Plant
1:55 Including Capillary Rope
2:35 Plant Preparation
3:20 Adding the Plants
4:35 Final Details
5:53 Finished Design
6:28 How to Care for It
#livingwall #plantwall #serpadesign

[@SerpaDesign]

I'm really excited to share this one! It's been in concept for a while now and I love how it turned out. What do you think? Let me know, enjoy, and have a great weekend SerpaSquad!

[@chaosstripe9446]

Turned out really great! Would care for this apply to the moss living wall to?

[@K.S.D_yokid]

I think there should be a pilea garden next

[@richardjohnson1076]

I really want to try this some day. Thanks for sharing!

[@rat_dragon]

I've been dying to do something almost exactly like this but all I've ever come up with is a magnetic container on my mini fridge filled with moss and springtails

[@sandramartin2713]

I definitely love this. And something I want to do for myself. But after watching you all I think about is Christmas and what a beautiful gift this would be for special friends and family! Absolutely love this!

[@creator3090]

could you try making something using cactus (and other very low watering plants) ? It's not exactly your style but i think you can do something very cool and refreshing from you usual tropical builds. also as always great video

[@Gaudybaubles]

I actually just made a biosphere a few weeks ago with two ghost shrimp and a ramshorn. They've all adjusted really well considering that I caught them out of the lake in my backyard

[@brianmanning9793]

What a beautiful project and I don’t know about anyone else but I completely de stress watching these videos

[@pencilpauli9442]

Sweet! Love the concept of having a variety of plants contained in a small footprint. Don't have a garden so might give something like this a go!

[@imoffendedthatyouareoffended]

After moving 6 months ago, I had built my whole backyard to be my garden. I built boxes along the fence to plant into and the middle was my plum tree. Wish I got to enjoy my backyard more but oh well. I’ve got 5 fish tanks now and have tons of plants in them to make me feel better haha.

[@s.gabriel2853]

Random question to the fish people of the internet: I have an angelfish that seems quite intelligent. He responds to fish food, likes to bump the snails off the aquarium walls and mess around with the plants (ie nip them). Are there any toys I can give him to keep him entertained?

[@tracybowling1156]

I like how you teach us, adding all the details we may need to carry out this kind of project!

[@hyperactivehyperbole]

Absolutely gorgeous, and you’re right, the drift wood was a beautiful, elegant addition. Loved it prior, but the driftwood just took it to another level. Simple but impactful. 💚 thank you for your continued excellence and artistic inspiration.

[@MrClockw3rk]

This is cool, but practical reminder: none of this matters if the plants don’t survive after a few months. Can we confirm if the original moss wall survived, or if this does after several months? Very interested in knowing that.

[@nevaeha4048]

Great build as always! The wall builds are some of my favorites as I’ve always wanted to make a living wall.

[@Lijnoftylerwoods]

Such a beautiful peaceful living wall. I love the plant selection and the light is what I would need thinking of placing one on my breakfast wall. Thanks again for this vid, your creativity is a joy to observe!

[@null9090]

I appreciate the specific care tips. A project like this is great for a beginner, and you correctly assumed that a beginner needs more guidance.

[@tuvelat7302]

Thank you for making such an easy project tutorial. I really want to try this!

[@RichardHaywardMelbourne]

I feel so excited by this simple low tech project, that I'm inspired to create my own!

[@janinebean4276]

I would love a video on using regular LED lights rather than expensive grow lights!

[@JP-nn4qv]

Absolutely ordinary white light will work fine. I am growing a variety of plants that include orchids as well as tropical fruit like chocolate, coffee, fig, and olive exclusively under ordinary white LED lights. I have multiple panels 3.5" x 3.5" that each consume a little over 14W. This is a little bit over 100W equivalent if it were an incandescent light. The color I am using is 4000K which is a "warm white" light but any shade of white light should work fine.

[@janinebean4276]

@@JP-nn4qv thanks! i think I'm going to give it aa try! grow lights are WAY too expensive

[@JP-nn4qv]

@@janinebean4276 They are also not all that aesthetically great. The purplish light makes the plants look grey and can be difficult to look at for any length of time.

[@terranovarubacha5473]

I use a full spectrum LED bulb that I got from a hardware store. It wasn't expensive, maybe $5. It works better than basic white but not by a huge margin. I also find that LEDs give me migraines and the full spectrum is somehow easier on me

[@debbiethomas3687]

@@terranovarubacha5473 I use these too, and they work very well in my terrariums. I also have a couple of inexpensive long led growlights that work fine but I got them because they are waterproof and in a couple of locations that was essential. I don't really see any difference between those and the full spectrum leds as far as the growth and flowering of my orchids is concerned, so I will only buy growlights again if I need them in high humidity areas.

[@utakcaline444]

facile à réaliser et magnifique, j'adore la simplicité de cette réalisation, bravo!

[@akkoakk4966]

You put so much care into your designs, you really inspired me to take better care of my animals. Serpa squad for life 💜

[@RobV1978]

Awesome idea and I love the simplicity of it. Thank you.

[@TriggerBud]

Amazing video as per usual! Thank you for all of these amazing ideas and beautiful art/videos to enjoy every Saturday morning. They're really something else and have become a great joy of mine. Keep up the great work! ☺️

[@parmerapps69]

This project reminds me of a quote by Leonardo Da Vinci: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." You were able to capture a breath of nature in a very small space, made the process easy and cost-effective for beginners to recreate, and exude an air of Japanese artistic elegance in both the production and the build. I guess what I'm trying to say is. . . fantastic job! ✌

[@joshe3592]

The big projects are great are great like the ponds are awesome but the little desktop ones are my favourite it feels like you looking down on a small ecosystem planet and its pretty magical

[@jaredwehmeyerdesigns8774]

This is amazing, really gets the creativity flowing

[@dennisfeldmann7399]

Tanner as always your videos are the best. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@hottysilotti]

By far one of your best! Great music choice as well

[@ThePantryPodcast]

LOVE this! So excited to work with this kind of concept in our house sometime soon! Our 4-year-old loves to work with mature and we went on a nature walk today to find mosses and such to build a terrarium like your "terrarium for free" video! This might be our second project!

[@ingeniouspixie]

I'm going to try using this as the back wall of my frog vivarium! Thanks for the simplification!!

[@nonamemalaika9545]

how was it?

[@remy1016]

This is so cool, I can’t wait to try and make one!! Thanks for sharing ✨

[@al-aurum2457]

i really love this living wall concept

[@woodfield9584]

This is a very attractive and clever build. Your knowledge and creativity seems endless.

[@TheCommenter1234]

this was great. i appreciate the availability of this project!!

[@LittleBlueOctopus]

I actually might have to try this one. I've been trying to think of something more intricate than a potted plant with a unsightly grow-light. Lighting on this looks more put together. Thank you for the inspiration Tanner!

[@willowthewisperer]

You and your embellishments, Tanner. I love how you can't resist driftwood. XD It's gorgeous and seems really low tech and easy to maintain. Kudos!

[@joannecummins5265]

What a lovely design, so simple but effective.... thankyou.❤

[@dangie_gamer1367]

started making terreriams for isapods and these vids help alot! keep up the great work

[@samanthalevang]

Thank you so much for all the work you put into your videos! We live on a sailboat and can’t realistically recreate many of your designs in our home, but we watch them all nonetheless. This, however, is one we could do, and I love it!! My partner built a teak framework and 3D printed a water reservoir. So far I’ve filled in the foam slats with cuttings I’ve taken from other plants, and they seem to be thriving. Now that I know how well it works, I’ll invest in some more plants to fill it out. Peace to you and all your animal friends 💖✌🏻

[@1290afineyear]

What a neat piece! Very creative. Thanks for the videos. 😊

[@GalileoRamosSkeletons]

This is gorgeous! Congratulations!

[@journey7x]

I like the maintenance tips. I still have the container from the old project. looks like a low upkeep planter for my desk at work!

[@MrClockw3rk]

Did the moss survive? Sherpa won’t answer me.

[@journey7x]

@@MrClockw3rk I didn't have very good luck with the container. The water evaporated too fast in winter or with air-conditioner running in summer. In the end I gave up.

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

amazing setup

[@166suzie]

Love this! Can't wait to give it a try!

[@algot9555]

That's awesome looking

[@Cyberdragunz]

I like this. Seems super easy to set up and maintain. Might give it a try

[@maarte_kyel]

very great idea for new style of gardening

[@cindywiner2772]

SO VERY BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Merlin_Price]

Love this channel dude. Well done hey.

[@vildhallon4709]

This is beautiful!

[@josephchang3780]

Great video. Thanks for your work on these.

[@carolebraswell982]

Thank you for this video. I believe that I can actually recreate this!

[@zonnavlogs]

I love your videos I fall asleep to them every night

[@luciekleen3240]

Beautiful as usual.

[@cherishireland9194]

so pretty!!!

[@StampswithSara1]

This is really beautiful.

[@emilwoemmel3722]

great build

[@gameboss7533]

i love your work bro you are amazing keep it up

[@t_s4500]

All ways love your video’s.

[@angeloguiruela3177]

oooh I would try to do this, this looks easy and awesome

[@gloriaash7511]

As always, great video!

[@laughinglighting4343]

Awesome video!

[@huynhcharlie]

love love love!

[@beckaliz]

wow omg i really want to try this

[@rachelburnell9532]

I am going to have a go at making this one! Nice 😁

[@kristabartholomew9069]

So cool I love watching your videos.

[@devinsidell]

LOVE THIS!

[@mynutshellmail]

Perfect beyond words! I really have to try this project. I so miss my gardens that I used to tend. Being housebound now, this will give me something to build and care for. Any flowering plant suggestions? I’d love to have a planted computer desk too. 🥰🥰

[@BonnibelLecter]

Well done, dude! (And I see you've added a little care section there, nice.)

[@jmarshal]

Love it! I think just about anyone could do this one!

[@lasarkreatifchannel]

Amazing.. so beautiful..❤️👍

[@user-xh9xg6oh6o]

Thank you! Very pretty!))

[@indoorplantnursery3064]

Wow❤️❤️ amazing

[@Dianne-uv3bs]

Really nice

[@GrimaceMCD]

Amazing dude!

[@Winniegirl85]

Love thisssss

[@haruka6844]

when you placed the plants in the dish so they don't dry out it gave me an idea what if you made a table garden like that one you can have near a computer and it's small

[@LukaSL9]

It's so cool 🥰

[@flamesofgames3986]

You should make an axolotl aquarium of some sort.

[@epiphanyrampold4209]

This is really beautiful and very inspiring! 💕 I would really love to know how this is doing 3 or even 6 months from now 👍🏻

[@calebryan8694]

Very cool

[@tanishaglenn6595]

So pretty 😍

[@misterpillows2800]

Wanna make a few of these to fill my bookshelf in the office! Now I just have to find those containers...

[@Nazoirr]

Hell yeah that’s so awesome B-)

[@DS-dr1zf]

Hey Taner, nice Video ! I'd be happy to see some more animal-focused videos, like the beardie or kingsnake enclosures!

[@calistachan6998]

HEY trailing watermelon begonia! my favourite plant

[@multatuli1]

Very cool make a bigger one ❤️

[@donn244]

Hey! Can you try to make a piece of wood with plants hanging from the ceiling? Really would love to see that! Love your vids

[@emilyrustin2231]

I just found your videos pretty recently and it's really nice watching everything you do. Your work is so beautiful. I love this because I feel like I can actually make this one. Or I'm definitely gonna try😄. Thank you🌿

[@charlie_moorcroft]

Nice!

[@Boulder_Betta]

Suggestion for your next build: Dutch aquascape, but as a terrarium

[@sandragee2864]

This scale is very possible in a windowless office without investing cost in a ton of lighting for an actual wall of said office. And absolutely, it brings some zen to the inside. I do worry that the air conditioning foam will not allow enough oxygen to the roots. I hope that I’m wrong about that.

[@codyj7769]

Hey Taner, Great video. At Costco they sell these San Francisco Company sourdough pretzels in these oversized clear plastic containers. I think I would be pretty neat if you could transform the container into a vivarium, basically vivarium on a budget. Thanks

[@FLOMALS63]

Так красиво и так просто в постройке. А значит генерально😅

[@serefine927]

Î might recreate this in a much bigger scale ( with plants who like it drier at the top ) since I need to move out to a smaller space and I still need a solution for my tropical plants, this might be it

[@billymacaraeg7761]

awesome 😎😎

[@arla.s720]

so cool serp

[@Mccormick2023]

You and md fish tanks uploaded in the same hour let’s go

[@assbear450]

=) perfect as always

[@cja0071]

Pleeeeaaaase make another one with a wood border!

[@sangieta238]

Nice

[@jgmatney5059]

Beautiful as always. Will we see inhabitants in the large jungle enclosure soon?

[@MapletheSaukuryn]

gorgeous!! day.. what, 6? of asking for a mantis terrarium!!

[@WingMom-ek8ft]

Very strange question/request. Would you ever consider doing a living terrarium/wall type set up that contains plants that are safe and possibly even edible by cats? I know you primarily do setups for reptiles and general projects but I would LOVE to create something that enriches my environment and my non-scaled friends lives. Just a thought. Thank you and great video as always!!!

[@ZaDussault]

You could grow a grass mat and once well grown, set it up vertically? Grasses need a LOT of water tho