miniature gardens: a Challenge

"In Springtime, the Earth renews itself. Life bursts forth from that which seemed dead. Create a project (using any media you desire) that honors a spirit of renewal."

So states the Blogging Business Artisans etsy team April Challenge created by me.  I love Springtime, the season when the Earth renews itself and hope returns.  Flowers bloom, birds build nests and wait for babies to hatch.

  
I love plants, so what better way to celebrate Spring and renewal than to do some gardening!  miniature gardening!  I have become obsessed with terrariums and small scale gardening.

First I re-planted a conservatory (Wardian Case) I've had for several years.  I left the angel wing begonia in place but cut it way back.  In time it will grow to fill the upper space and will have lovely pink blossoms.  Additional plants were a woodland fern, crassula, moss covered bark, polka dot plant, kalanchoe, unknown plants, and woodland moss.  Since this case is partially open to the air, I occasionally water some of the plants and I mist the moss.

beginning the arrangement

 a little scene with a bench, watering can, pathway, and boulders

Next I made completely enclosed terrariums for my twin goddaughters.  

 Here's how to do it.

BUILD: 
1.     Wash container thoroughly 

some of the glassware I found at thrift stores

supplies: clockwise from top--plants, charcoal, moss, pebbles, spagnum moss

 

2.     Layer of tiny pebbles or gravel, an inch or two depending on the size of your terrarium.

3.     Thin layer of activated charcoal which helps absorb moisture and sweetens the water

4.     Layer of sphagnum moss to absorb excess water/ release water if needed

5.     Layer of good draining potting soil, moistened with filtered water. This should not clump wetly together, but fall apart a bit in your hand.  How much soil you need depends on the plants you choose and the depth of their root systems.

6.     Add plants—small plants so they have room to grow

7.     Add moss.  Mist the moss with filtered water.

8.     Add aesthetic elements such as figurines, rocks, sticks, bark, and other decorative elements

9.     Place in indirect light.

 
  

plants: woodland fern, coleus, variegated spider plant, crassula, woodland moss

CARE:

WATER

OPEN:   will need water added as required by the needs of the plants inside.  Moss will need to be misted regularly.

CLOSED:  Occasional misting may be necessary, especially with moss.

In either case, watch to see if more water is needed or if the terrarium needs an airing out.

LIGHT

Indirect

GROWTH

As plants grow, they may need to be removed.  Divide and replant if possible.

Some plants can be given a “haircut” to keep their growth in bounds.


REFERENCES (an incomplete list):
CREATE
little big 
The Garden Helper 
little big in a glass Christmas tree type ornament
Terrarium Man tutorial + links to other terrariums 
Gardener's Supply a different method

BLOGS
life in sugar hollow 
little big 
little big photos and links

FLICKR GROUP
terrariums  lots of photos 

FORUM
Dave's Garden 

INSPIRATION
mossarium  lots of photos
terrarium  lots of photos

OTHER
make a mini greenhouse with picture frames at Country Living
terrariums and mini gardens at CNN Living 

 

I perused the library for possible books on the subject

BOOKS
Gathering Moss:  A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses, Robin Wall Kimmerer

Tabletop Gardens: 40 Stylish Plantscapes for Counters and Shelves, Desktops and Windowsills, Rosemary McCreary
Terrarium Craft: Create 50 Magical, Miniature Worlds, Amy Bryant Aiello and Kate Bryant 

Terrariums:  An Easy Guide to Growing a Host of Miniature Gardens Using Traditional Terrariums, Glass Bottles and Decorative Dishes, Pamela Westland
Terrariums Reimagined:  Mini Worlds Made in Creative Containers, Kat Geiger 
The Complete Book of Terrarium Gardening, Jack Kramer

The New Terrarium, Tovah Martin
The Terrarium Book, Charles M. Evans, Roberta Lee Pliner, and Betty Fraser

The Unexpected Houseplant: 220 Extraordinary Choices for Every Spot in Your Home, Tovah Martin
Tiny World Terrariums:  A Step-by-Step Guide to Easily Contained Life, Michelle Inciarrano and Katy Maslow

WEBSITES
Tovah Martin 
Twig Terrariums 
  

NOTES:
In general, be sure to put plants together that have similar needs for light and water.  There may be exceptions.  My plant conservatory is doing well with succulents, non-succulents, and moss.  I am watching it carefully, and accomodating the individual watering needs of each plant.  Since this is an open case and not small, it works well.

I bought the pebbles and activated charcoal in the pet section of a store.

LINKS:
terrarium -my blog post with a photo of one of my daughter's terrariums  
outdoor miniature garden I made with photos 

photos by me © 2013 all rights reserved