Miniature terrariums

103 Pages·2018·7.658 MB·English

by  Soo, Leeyong

m i n i at ur e
terrariums
by Fourwords
TUTTLE Publishing
Tokyo Rutland, Vermont Singapore
PREFACE
Recreating a plant’s natural environment in a transparent glass container,
terrariums are a popular way to bring green into homes and work spaces.
Originally devised as a method of transporting plants over an extended
period of time, terrariums are now used as a form of small space interior garden,
and are often sold at shops selling home goods and furnishings, at specialty garden
shops and even at craft stores.
This book shows you how easy it is to make your own small-scale terrariums
using moss, ferns, air plants and succulents. Terrariums are fun to look at,
fun to create and fun to grow.
And they are very easy to make and care for, once you know how!
Play up the characteristics of particular plants and keep the combination
of container and plants in mind when creating your
very own unique versions.
Contents
02 Preface
04 What is a Terrarium? Chapter 3
10 Making a Terrarium Arid Zone Plants
54 A Juicy Green Terrarium of Haworthia
Chapter 1 56 A Wild Terrarium Portraying Haworthia
Wetland Plants
in Their Natural Desert Habitat
16 A Terrarium with Fluffy Selaginella 58 Succulents in a Grouping of Beakers
18 A Conical Flask Terrarium of Lush Mosses 60 Delightful Dense-Leaf Formations in a Bottle
20 Natural Driftwood Paired with a Terrarium 62 Fleshy Leaves and Flowers Fan Out from a
Makes a Unique Display Item Group of Gasteria
22 Test Tube Terrariums Make Monitoring Plants’ 64 Complementing a Terrarium of Curled
Daily Development Fun Escheveria with Other Smaller Varieties
24 A Pairing of Fern and Asparagus for a Refreshing 66 Tiny Cuttings of Succulents Arranged in Your
Feel Favorite Glass Containers
26 Carnivorous Plants Join Swamp-Lovers in a 68 Terrariums With Lovely Changing Leaves
Terrarium Group Planting 70 Fresh Fragrance of Aromaticus in Your Own
28 Enjoy Beautiful Blooms Year-Round Little Box Garden
with an African Violet Terrarium 72 Exotic Mini Terrariums Using Cuttings
30 Practical Tip 1: Where to Obtain Moss from Other Mini Plants
74 The Round Shape and Jewel-Like Sparkle of
Haworthia Obtusa in a Globe Terrarium
Chapter 2
Air Plants 76 Striking Red Blossoms in a Terrarium of
Euphorbia
32 Simple Hanging Terrariums You Can Make
78 Practical Tip 3: Finding the Perfect Container
Right Now
34 Add Natural Elements for a Tropical Resort-Style
Terrarium Chapter 4
Mixed Terrariums
36 A Chic Red Tillandsia Capitata for an Elegant
Vase Terrarium 80 Use Dark Tones to Create a Sense of Calm: A
38 A Diamond-Shaped Hanging Terrarium Doubles Terrarium with Succulents, Moss & Ferns
as a Delicate Tree Ornament 82 A Wetland Terrarium of Shadow-Loving
40 A Self-Contained Desert Oasis Plants with Paphiopedilum in the Leading Role
42 Simple Terrariums Displayed Together as 84 Cute Rosettes That Turn Pink: A Terrarium with
Interior Accents Moss, Air Plants & Succulents
44 Using Unusual Shapes to Create Chic Looks: 86 Multi-Hued Greens Glow in a Triple-Mix
A Light Bulb Terrarium Terrarium
46 A Charming Antique Lantern with a Group of
Three Silver-Leaved Plants 88 Catalog of Succulents
48 A Spherical Hanging Terrarium 92 Catalog of Air Plants
50 A Terrarium on a Stand as Objet D’art 94 Moss and Other Wetland Plants
52 Practical Tip 2: Where to Display Your
Terrariums
What is a Terrarium?
4
A Little garden, created for pleasure
A terrarium is a little garden created for pleasure by cultivating
plants in an open or closed transparent container. They’re gaining
popularity as a source of indoor greenery, as they can be cultivat-
ed with minimal watering—light enters the container and, in the
case of closed terrariums, moisture evaporates but can’t escape,
recirculating and thereby recreating the same cycle as in nature.
Terrariums originated in 19th–century London. It was a time
when professional plant collectors—known as plant hunters—
traveled all over the world in search of rare plants and new species
to take back to their own countries. But caring for the collected
specimens during transport proved difficult. The “Wardian case,” a
sometimes elaborate closed glass container, solved the problem.
In 1829, physician and passionate horticulture enthusiast Natha-
niel Bagshaw Ward sealed a moth’s cocoon and some soil in a
glass jar and, by coincidence, discovered that a fern and some
grass had germinated in the jar. This proved that if soil absorbed
water in the contained environment of a glass vessel, it created
the conditions necessary for plants’ growth, allowing them to be
THE WARDIAN CASE transported for long periods of time.
The forerunner of the modern terrarium, the Since then, various forms of Wardian cases spread among the
Wardian case (c.1829) is a closed protective glass general populace as they allowed anyone to cultivate and style a
case invented by Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward (1791–
small garden with ease. These are now known as terrariums.
1868) in order to shield plants and cocoons from
the polluted air of industrial London.
Care The more airtight the container, Containers As long as the container Upgrade your living space Simply
the better the cycle of moisture, is made of transparent glass, which adding green to a room makes it a
meaning that daily watering isn’t maintains a constant temperature, space where you can relax. Why not
necessary. Also make sure the terrar- any shape is fine. There are types with try incorporating this healing and
ium is placed appropriately for the sealable openings and types whose decorative item into your daily life?
plants inside. mouths are meant to remain open.
5
In this book, this category refers to plants that grow at the edge of water
Chapter 1
Wetland or in swampy areas, dislike strong sunlight and require moist soil—in-
cluding ferns, mosses, butterwort and other carnivorous plants. This
Plants
category is particularly suited to sealable terrariums.
Mosses
for example
Mosses play a well-known role in so can be enjoyed year-round. Their
bonsai and other types of container rich green hues exude an air of har-
gardening. Classified as bryophytes, mony and healing despite the mod-
they grow naturally in various envir- est size of the moss.
onments such as coastal areas, trop- As moss is unsuited to dry condi-
ical rainforests, alpine regions and so tions, its leaves wither if it dries out,
on. There are over 20,000 species, but it goes into a state of dormancy
and most areas where moss grows so there is no cause for concern. It (Page 20)
can boast a number of varieties. will revive if lightly sprayed with
Mosses have no roots, with only water (a plant mister or spray bottle
rhizoids to anchor the leaves, stems works well).
and body of the plant. For this Moss requires photosynthesis, so
reason, most mosses tend to grow make sure to occasionally place it in
densely, spreading out to form a soft sunlight to allow it to absorb the
large carpet-like colony to maximize sun’s rays.
moisture retention and create a
(Page 18)
support system.
Most mosses are perennials and
6