Like many fads of the 1970s, terrariums are making a comeback. Today they are called glass gardens, and this time they are in country-style reincarnations using household containers, antiques and flea-market finds.
You can use the old fish tank from the ‘70s or try something new – how about a glass water pitcher or large vase? Or a covered compote or casserole dish? Or even top a tiny tin ice cream dish with an old glass butter dome.
Look around your house or a flea market – if it’s glass and watertight, it will work.
Before planting, clean the container thoroughly. Add a layer of pebbles or gravel to the bottom as drainage material. Mix in some horticultural charcoal to absorb gaseous byproducts and keep the soil mix fresh. A light-weight, peat-based soil mix is best, and adding perlite and vermiculite to the soil helps drainage and adds color and texture. Fill the container ¼ to ½ full.
Choose small-scaled plants that like moist humid conditions. For shallow containers use sprawling plants like baby’s tears and creeping fig. For taller containers, try orchids, ferns, pitcher plants and African violets.
If the container is too small for your hand to fit inside, attach a spoon to a pencil to use as a digging tool and a cork or thread spool to another pencil to use as a tamper. Cover bare areas with moss, pebbles or pine needles.
Water the garden after planting by running a stream of water down the edge of the glass so as to avoid splashing. This also will wash down any soil that got on the inside of the container during planting. Cover the container and keep it in a bright location out of direct sun.
Open the top occasionally to provide ventilation. If the container is continuously obscured by mist, the soil is too wet; remove the cover until it clears.
Glass gardens rarely need watering but if it seems to be drying out, use a plant mister to provide necessary humidity without overwatering.
Remove dead leaves and trim the plants from time to time so that each has enough light and space. A razor blade inserted into the end of a wooden skewer is useful for pruning plants in small-necked bottles.
If any plants encroach upon others, either replace them with smaller plants or re-plant the entire container. Most plants do well for several months before re-planting is required.
Leave a Reply