Style: July 10, 2020

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WATERING
Sparingly water your plants. You want the soil to be just
moist but not saturated. Use a watering can or similar
with a fine spout and a thin trickle. While you were
planting, you may have got some soil on the glass, so use
this watering time to wash it off or, if this doesn’t work,
use a long paintbrush to brush the soil off. If you are going
to have an enclosed system with a lid on, or the neck of
your bottle is small, then the water has less chance to
escape and watering correctly is more crucial.
CONGRATULATIONS
Your bottle garden is done so pour yourself a
wine, sit back and admire it!
Place your freshly planted terrarium out of
any direct sun because it will heat up surprisingly
quickly and probably cook your plants. If
condensation occurs in a closed vessel, then
remove the lid to let some of the moisture out.
There will be a little maintenance down the
line, perhaps a bit more water will be required,
or some vigorous growth or a wayward leaf will
need to be snipped off, but for the most part it
will take care of itself.
PLANTS TO CONSIDER
• Japanese sweet flag for a grass-like look.
• Maidenhair ferns absolutely love the
humidity in a terrarium and provide a lacy
look. Also try button fern and the foxtail
fern useful for providing spires.
• Spider plant for its green and white
strappy leaves.
• Earth stars provide interest at ground level.
• The ivies, particularly the small-leaved
varieties, are hardy and great fillers.
• Prayer plants are for bigger containers, but
provide horizontal interest.
• Moon valley has green and burgundy
leaves to bring in another colour and the
aluminum plant for its silver striped leaves.
• African violets are good, especially the
miniature ones.
• Baby’s tears is a useful small-leaved ground
cover and comes in green, lime and
variegated options.
• Mother of thousands provide roundshaped
leaves.