Pinepig's Virtual Garden

A few years ago I took some stained glass classes. While looking for books on stained glass patterns I came across one for terrariums. I picked up some of the gear & some bottles, jars & glasses. I played with it for awhile but life took over.

I didn't loose interest, just time.

I love the idea of a little garden that can sit safely in the house, one the cats can't get into. I love the idea of creating. I love the idea of growing things indoors as autumn starts kicking its way towards us, to be followed by winter. I love the idea of a miniature world in a bottle/jar/glass. I love the looks of these things, especially the ones in the books. And I love love love the aspect of reuse, where I can go to a 2nd hand shop and pick up some jars or glasses cheap, breathe new life into them & make things of art. They're nice gift ideas too, which I haven't taken advantage of but will do this year I think since I've got some time to start. If you have a friend with brown thumbs you can also give a 'certificate' to maintain the terrarium on a regular basis (ie--check it monthly or every couple of months) for them & to teach them how to take care of it.

I have one terrarium that's been ticking along since that first attempt, one didn't do so well (not enough lighting at work), one I completely forgot about and because it was in a brandy glass it dried out and the plant died :(

When I was making them I picked up a glass gallon jug, I think it used to be for mineral water. It's been sitting in the living room collecting dust and cat hair. Every time I move it to vaccuum I think about it, think about making a terrarium out of it again. I found my terrarium materials & pulled out the jug. I've played with it and the old brandy glass. And I remembered why I was inspired by that book.

So here's some picts, some links and a brief how to. Keep in mind I'm a beginner at these things so check out the links & read some of the more-experienced people's suggestions. Take a look at Thyrza Segal's gorgeous terrariums and critters for some inspiration.

Here's the one terrarium that I've had that has been ticking along for awhile. It's a square jar that's got a maiden hair fern in it:


And a top view:


More under the cut:


Here's some of the materials for making a terrium.

-You need small 'pea gravel' (small sized) for drainage
-charcoal (like the stuff from the fish store, not briquettes for bbqs--keeps the terrarium healthy & allows the soil to stay fresh)
-you can add sphagnum moss too but I haven't yet
-soil (normal garden-centre soil is fine but you don't want it to be too clay-like; you can also add a bit of builders sand to normal potting soil to help with this but don't add beach sand)
-and a container of some sort (old pickle jars, spice jars, apothecary jars, old fish aquariums anything really that's glass or plastic, with or without a lid)

Tools you will need are skewers, spoons, and something you can tamp the soil down with (you can also pick up long-handled aquarium tongs and a bit of old, clean rag attached securely to a wire for cleaning after). You can also put small rocks, shells, toys, poly clay critters or sculptures in too. Be cautious of using driftwood or sticks or you might introduce unwanted 'wildlife' into your ecosystem. If you want to use these either quarantine each piece in a ziplock back for a couple months or bake it. Rinse the driftwood very well if it's from a beach.

And you need plants of course! The Garden Helper guide to plants = Great resource, groups plants into categories based on light levels. Gives regular & scientific names. You don't want anything that gets too big and you want to choose plants with similar light & moisture requirements for your terrarium. Collecting plants from the wild is possible but use caution. Don't collect rare or endangered plants. If you want to collect moss check around your back yard! I found some growing on our sidewalk in a damp area.

You can make terrariums with cactii and succulents (not closed ones due to high moisture levels), you can make terrariums with carniverous plants and other bog plants. You can make terrariums with herbs (again, not closed and you probably want to be able to fit your hand into the container to pick them occassionally).

Here are some of my materials laid out to do the jug terrarium:


Get your materials together, rinse or wash your container if you haven't already. Plan your planting by either grouping the plants how you want them in the container or (if you can't fit them in the container in their pots) by outlining your container and setting the plants inside the outline. You want to try to keep the plants away from the sides of the container if it is going to be closed or partly closed so the condensation doesn't rot the leaves. A variety of textures, sizes and colours make an interesting terrarium and replicate the 'wilderness' look of nature. You can group a larger plant in the centre with smaller ones around it.

Rinse the pea gravel and place some in the bottom of your container. Since each container size is different it's hard to say to just put (x) inches in the bottom. This is for drainage so you want an even level, no more than a few inches. You need to still put the charcoal & soil in & leave some room to not overflow the container. In general, you want less than 1/4 the container space. If you have a narrow-necked container you can use a largeish funnel or a folded piece of paper, cardboard or plastic (if you've rinsed the gravel stay away from the paper or cardboard!) Even it out either with your hand (if it can fit in the container opening or use some of your long-handled tools.



Rinse the charcoal and put a thin layer on top of the pea gravel. This keeps the soil fresh and free of fumes from any decomposing organic matter. Some of the websites I've read also suggest putting a layer of sphagnum moss on top of the charcoal. I haven't done it in the past but might consider it in future terrariums. It's supposed to be a filter layer and helps keep the gravel & charcoal layers in place & separate so they continue to do their jobs without the soil clogging them up. Even it out.

Add the soil next. Again, this doesn't have to be a special variety but you don't want it to be too clay-like or have any critters. Buy container mix or indoor planting soil from a garden centre instead of pulling it out of your garden. Landscape your soil, either by evening it out or a small hill (or hills). You can also slightly mound it in the middle for the plants. Once you have the soil level where you want it, dig out small holes for the plants. This is easier if you can fit your hand into your container. If you can't a long-handled spoon, skewer or stick work for this.

Take the plants out of their pots. Grouping plantings make more impact. Cover the roots with soil and tamp it down. Again, if your hand doesn't fit in the container you can do this with a cork stuck onto a stick or the back of a stick or skewer. Add any other pieces, rocks, toys, clay critters, etc. If your hand doesn't fit in the container to lower the plants in you can use a set of long-handled aquarium tongs or can take a long wire and put a small enough loop in to fit your container neck. Rest the plant on the loop and lower it into the container. Or do what I did and just gently push the plants through the hole.

Water gently. You don't want to water too much unless you are planting bog plants. Moisten the soil. If you have a lid, put this on. Check the terrarium over the next few days. You want there to be some condensation. If you have a closed terrarium and don't have any condensation add a little more water. If you have an open terrarium you will need to keep an eye on moisture levels and water it weekly or monthly.

Terrariums don't require a ton of after-care. After a few days to a week when your newly-planted terrarium has equalised you can gently rub any soil on the sides off. Water when the soil appears dry. This will depend on how closed the system is and the plants' needs.

In general you don't want to fertilise because you want plants to grow slowly. If your plants are mal-nourised then a very weak solution applied sparingly is the best bet. Keep an eye on your overall plant health. If you have a diseased or dying plant remove it. Prune any pieces that are dying (if your hand doesn't fit try a razor blade or craft knife on a stick). If a plant does outgrow it's terrarium you can replace it.

The sky is the limit when it comes to containers. Old pickle jars are perfect, as well as old apothecary jars or bell-jar cloaches. Check out some of the cool ideas in the links under my pictures. Never put a terrarium in the full sun. This will turn your terrium into an oven and kill your plants.

Here's the completed jar terrarium I did on Saturday. I've planted a couple of dendrobium orchids and a maiden hair fern in it. i've also put some moss from my native orchid in there. I think it's sphagnum & I hope it takes root!


And a peek through the top of the opening:



Here's a terrarium I did in an old brandy snifter I did on Sunday. I've used some club moss that's growing in my trillium pot for this. It's a spreading plant, a pest plant I think? and a little bit of tiny moss from the sidewalk out back.


and the top view:



Now the links:

Terrarium Man: How to make a terrarium Great site with how-to resources. Several links to different projects and ideas. Check out his Beginner's Guide to A Terrarium In One Hour, his How to Make a Micro Terrarium and his Single Plant Zen Terrariums

The Garden Helper Terrarium info = great how-to

The Garden Helper guide to plants = Great resource, groups plants into categories based on light levels. Gives regular & scientific names

The Terrarium Man also has an interesting concept submitted by one of his site viewers: Terrarium Within A Terrarium

Here's a great gift idea: Living Christmas balls & how to clean living Christmas balls

There's a link with a video here on how to make a terrarium