INSPIRATION COMES IN MANY FORMS

Just what is a terrarium? Terrariums create an enclosed ecosystem that mimics the natural world. Moisture evaporates from the soil level and the leaves of plants, then condenses on the roof and walls of a glass vessel or container. The condensed vapor then drops down, replicating the natural rain cycles that provide moisture for our ecosystem and keep our planet alive.

In 1829, Dr. Nathaniel B. Ward (1791–1868), a London physician with a passion for botany and nature, realized the scientific principle behind what is now our modern-day terrarium. In a closed bottle, Dr. Ward studied a sphinx moth in its chrysalis and found a fern seedling growing. After four months’ time, without so much as a drop of water from him, the seedling developed. Ward was amazed, and the concept for the Wardian case was born. Ward could not have known how he would influence the future of terrarium craft over a century later, but we appreciate his discovery today.

TERRARIUM DESIGN

In this chapter, I share my favorite terrarium designs. These designs mimic the natural world, such as a woodland, desert, bog, or tropical jungle. In these concept designs, I will add fundamentals of small garden design, maybe a bench, a stream, a dry riverbed, or a gravel pathway. Even the simplest glass container is elevated to a splendid garden by the details we meticulously place inside. I will highlight how we create variation by using these details in similar containers. The use of one distinctive plant can influence your design and change the “feel” or “style” of your terrarium. You’ll see how distinctive plants influence each of the terrarium design in this chapter:

• Tropical Terrariums
• Variations on a Fish Bowl
• Woodland Flavor
• Desert Landscapes
• Seasonal Terrariums

In glass garden design, we use basic ingredients to change the miniature landscape and create a unique place taken from our memories of the beauty in the real world we admire.

THE BASICS

This is an inspirational, instructive book on terrariums, but let’s infuse our experience with humor and above all—fun. Let’s find out how much enjoyment we can derive from magnifying natural beauty under glass. In the following sections, you will find plenty of details that will help to create your landscaped theme. Let’s start with the basics for building the foundation of any terrarium. What are “the basics”? These are the ingredients, supplies, tools, and specialty mosses. The basics involve certain sizes and colors of gravel, pebbles, or sand in different colors. All these basic ingredients create a specific look. You can find these items in traditional terrarium supply websites and at local garden supply stores, among other places. Be sure to rummage through my Resource Guide (page 165) for sources. I find looking for supplies and tools somewhat of a fun-filled scavenger hunt.

THE GLASS VESSELS

There are many styles of glass containers, some with and some without lids. In this chapter, I will cover many terrarium possibilities and help you start your collection of vessels. Even a humble fish bowl can become a masterpiece with your plant and design choices. Glass vessels include (but are not limited to):

• Fish bowls, footed glass vessels, and cylinders
• Lidded cookie jars and apothecary jars
• Vintage Wardian cases
• Hanging ceramic planters, glass globes, and teardrops
• Cloche displays and lanterns
• Cake stands, compote dishes, and footed fruit bowls

Here, you will learn how to select glass pieces and how they will affect your plant choices. I’ll offer my observations on the moisture levels created inside the different container shapes and how you can alter this outcome with a few simple, handy tips. You will learn which containers are good for dry deserts and which are good for humid tropical jungle terrariums.

GETTING STARTED

There are just a few basic steps to keep in mind on your way to success. This chapter shares the standard, traditional, classic terrarium building steps for any vessel. Familiarize yourself with these concepts, and you’ll be able to adapt them to your own unique abilities, interests, plant availability, and, of course, glass terrarium vessel. I suggest that you just dive right in. There are step-by-step photos to guide you on your way.

• Assemble the ingredients.
• Choose the plants.
• Place the drainage material at the bottom.
• Add a divider to separate the planting medium from the drainage well.
• Place your activated charcoal.
• Decide where the plants will be placed.
• Plant, tamp down, and add the final potting mix.
• Topdress your final design to finish the look.

THE PLANTS

This chapter contains a special listing of specific plants that survive well in the special conditions of glass biospheres. Each creates an unique look. Some have unusual growing patterns, red veins running through their leaves, or other intriguing attributes. Others need no soil at all, just a weekly water-bath dunking. These are the plants that I have found to best dress up terrariums while surviving the effects of warmth, humidity, and cramped living quarters. Most are houseplants that we are accustomed to seeing in pots on a windowsill or in container gardening. Terrarium plants include tropical plants, succulents, a few cacti, ferns galore, and some other very unique specimens. Here is a list of the best terrarium and modern indoor gardening plants:

• Air plants Tillandsia
• Staghorn fern Platycerium grande
• Pink star Cryptanthus
• Club moss Selaginella
• Mexican rose Echeveria
• Baby tears Helxine soleirolii
• Mikado Syngonanthus chrysanthus
• Creeping fig Ficus pumila

MODERN INDOOR GARDENING

Japanese-inspired indoor gardening trends are becoming ever more popular. More and more bloggers and magazines, as well as specialty shops, are featuring Kokedama string gardening plants for sale, classes to make your own, and instructions on the steps. I want to inspire you to explore this fun and easy technique. I will share some display ideas for Kokedama creations in this chapter. Marimo algae balls are also found all over Pinterest pages, in the most otherworldly aquatic scenes. So I had to include these fascinating natural wonders in this chapter too.

My profound love of Japanese gardening begins with my deep emotional connection to the Japanese interpretation of nature. I see a natural richness in the moss and stone. I want to share my passion with you, and I hope it is contagious as you create your own projects.

MAINTENANCE

Is there any plant care at all required for a terrarium? Well, very little, but once you have invested your creative energy planting these fabulous gardens under glass, you’ll want them to thrive. I am one of those people who thinks about plants 24/7. I’m sure everyone does not spend their day obsessed with their plant collection. Well, maybe a few of you do. When you bring a new plant home, take a moment to discover its basic needs.

• Does it naturally grow in the desert? Rainforest? Marsh?
• Does it go dormant in a certain season?
• Does it like to be wet? Dry? Evenly moist?
• Does it need air circulation?
• Does it love hot, moist, humid conditions?
• Does it thrive in bright indirect light or hot sunlight?

The idea is to establish a small arsenal of care information for each plant. We have filled our containers with healthy living things that we expect will flourish and look great.