My vegetable and flower seeds are finally arriving. Each day that I collect the mail and find seed packets waiting for me, it’s like receiving a Christmas present in February.
Unfortunately, there is snow on the ground and the temperature is too cold to do any planting at this time, which is a big disappointment for my family and me. We are anxious to get out in the yard, do some digging, and get some planting going. The colorful pictures and descriptions on the seed packets make it extremely difficult to wait for planting time and warmer weather.
Last weekend, we came up with the idea of planting a small, low maintenance garden that the family can enjoy, helping take our minds off not being able to do any outside gardening. We were in BJ’s stocking up on Super Bowl snack food when I spied a humongous 4-pound plastic container of Utz old fashioned sourdough hard pretzels. I realized, why not empty out the pretzels into a large plastic bag and turn the container into a terrarium?
A terrarium is a tiny indoor garden that has been planted in a plastic or glass container. The Utz container was perfect. We made sure that the container was cleaned thoroughly to prevent bacteria from growing. We placed small brown stones from the fish department at the local pet store at the bottom of the container for drainage. Activated charcoal, also available at the pet store, was mixed with the gravel to help keep the soil fresh. A layer of wet sheet moss was placed on top of the gravel/charcoal mix to prevent the migration of soil into the drainage area. We then added three inches of a light potting soil, which included perlite for good drainage.
The fun started when we we decided how to landscape our terrarium and position the plants that we purchased. A couple of long-handled wooden spoons worked superbly in positioning the plants, digging the holes and backfilling. We purchased our miniature plants at Meadowbrook Farms, an awesome garden center in Meadowbrook, Penn. about a half-hour drive from Ewing.
When purchasing your plants, make sure they are small enough to fit into your terrarium, preferably without touching the sides. They should also have the same growth requirements, such as light exposure, and watering requirements.
The plants we used were button fern, variegated peperomia, moss and miniature African violets. We decided that the terrarium was going to be viewed from one side, so we placed the taller plants in the back and the shorter ones in front. If we had planned to view it from all sides, I would have placed the taller plants in the center and the smaller ones closer to the sides. After much discussion, a 4-inch tall figurine from my pink flamingo collection was added to give the terrarium a tacky yet personal touch that the kids loved.
Terrarium maintenance is very minimal. Our terrarium is closed, meaning we keep the lid on. It is located in bright, indirect, natural light. If placed in direct light, there is the chance of the terrarium overheating and cooking the plants. If condensation occurs, we open the lid and let the terrarium air out. Since our terrarium is closed, we do not have to water it. When the plants get overgrown, we will prune back the foliage and reshape the plant as needed.
Terrariums can go on desks, coffee tables and other places where space is limited. They are easy to make and will add a small measure of natural beauty and peace to your living space. Terrarium projects can be a family fun event and will make a wonderful gift for any plant-challenged relative or friend.
Craig Dupée is a garden-design consultant. He lives in Ewing with his wife and daughters. Send him your email questions at hort1014u@aol.com.
