- A modern take on the terrarium
Story and photographs by Christine Hall.There is something uniquely fascinating about miniatures as a hobby. As a child, I was fascinated by dollhouse villages, fairy gardens, and gingerbread houses. Small worlds seem to convey a sense of joy and peace, and interacting with them is rejuvenating in many ways.
And as a gardener, I find it hard to give up my troll every winter when our home gardens go dormant. So when my daughter came home from school one day with a mason jar terrarium for her science project, it gave me a creative spark to build my own authentic terrarium – my winter gardening solution! While terrariums are experiencing a modern renaissance, they are not a modern invention. In fact, the concept of the terrarium was a misguided invention by Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward, an early 19th-century English botanist. He made this discovery in London’s East End at a time when smoke and other carcinogens were polluting the air following the opening of factories during the Industrial Revolution.
In this Victorian era, Ward was astonished to discover that the sealed display cases he created to nurture his insect pupae also encouraged the flowering of adjacent plants (in his case, mosses and ferns). Soon after his discovery, many people installed “guard display cases” in their windows, from where they could enjoy from inside not only the preserved natural beauty of the flora and fauna, but also views of factories and smoke from chimneys.
- A modern take
It wasn’t until the 1970s that the terrarium was given its name (“terra” for earth and “erium” for air) and revived. Looking for a simple, low-maintenance arrangement, I found a simple glass container at a local craft store that was perfect.Organic DecorAfter choosing my pot, I visited several local nurseries looking for suitably small specimens that wouldn’t outgrow the size of the container. Since I wanted the terraarium to evoke the peace and tranquility of a forest, I chose an air fern, some succulents, and plenty of moss to match the desired aesthetic. The final step was choosing the ground medium. I chose pebbles, sphagnum moss, and some acorns to complete the look.
- Capturing Curiosity
Small gardens can offer new landscapes to explore that might not be realistic on a large scale, or stunning vessels that are as functional as they are spectacular. Whether it’s a gold geometric terrarium that offers a sleek look with modern lines or a teardrop-shaped terrarium that provides a more organic feel, your terrarium creation awaits.
- Getting Started
Choose a theme that sparks your imagination. Ideas to inspire your ideal world range from jungle to desert to ocean. Adding rocks, bird nests, driftwood or shells can add visual experience to a unique creation. Don’t be afraid to use fairy garden decorations, small animal figurines or elements of existing furniture as a finishing touch.
Choose plants that don’t outgrow the size of the container, such as dwarf palms, succulents, boxwood or moss for sun-loving plants, and medium-sized ferns or button ferns, club moss, for low-light needs or papillomas.Basic tools you’ll need include a scoop for pouring soil into containers, long tweezers for placing objects, scissors for trimming greenery, and paper towels or cloths for cleaning glass.Since glass containers can amplify the sun’s rays, place the terrarium in a location that receives indirect sunlight.If you’re not sure, check (and save) the plant’s nursery labels for the sun, shade, and soil conditions it needs.
