BoomerGirl Diary

Outside the air is crisp and green thumb enthusiasts have made final preparations to put gardens to bed for the winter. Houseplants have been lugged indoors where their leaves fall onto the rug from the shocking blow of at-home conditions: less sunlight, less humidity and fan-propelled heat. Winter can be a grim time for plant lovers.

Fortunately there are plants that thrive indoors. Your wintering gardening genius can shine even brighter if you take care of a terrarium.

With flora housed in glass, terrariums are not only an easy way to grow plants indoors, they are practically fool-proof bio systems that work with the elements inside the clear, glass container. The terrarium micro-system replicates the photosynthesis process found in the outdoor world with the plants exchanging sunlight, moisture, chlorophyll and carbon dioxide for oxygen.

Not only are terrariums a wonderful way to surround yourself with a lush, horticultural presence even in the winter, but these windows into the plant world offer gardeners a chance to express their creativity. Terrariums can be made into miniature forests, nautical environments, lost civilizations, castles or a showcase for broken, delicate pieces of china. They are small worlds with nearly unlimited design potential.

Terrariums have an accidental origin, going back to early 19th-century medical experiments. In 1827, Dr. Nathaniel Ward, a London physician and plant enthusiast, was studying sphinx moth cocoons which he had placed in covered, glass jars. Ward observed that among these cocoons was a tiny plant, a fern, growing in soil. This greatly excited the doctor, who had tried to grow ferns in his residence only to lose them repeatedly to the London smog. Ward experimented successfully with covered containers for four years, putting a lid on the once-established ecosystem and then simply walking away, sometimes never even watering the terrariums.

Dr. Ward’s covered containers quickly caught on with the public and “Wardian cases” became a mainstay for plant growers as well as an artifact of affluence. Horticulturists would use the cases in shipping plants across the ocean because the contained environment could protect the plants from airborne ocean salt and unpredictable weather conditions. The finest homes of England would contain Wardian cases decorated with miniature Taj Mahals or model Brighton Pavilions. The terrarium fad hit the United States by the 1860’s where self-respecting Victorian households nurtured thriving Wardian cases.

Today terrariums are rather rare to come across, however if you have a gorgeous glass container with or without a lid, you might throw your hat into the terrarium ring as a sure bet for a beautiful indoor garden. Laurie Nisley, the Houseplant Department Manager for Heifner Nursery, explains how to get started, “It is important to create a water reservoir by layering gravel and horticultural charcoal under potting soil. The soil should be peat-based with a little perlite or sand mixed in. Always water thoroughly across the surface and down to the bottom. Water when the soil is dry and there is no condensation on the sides of the terrarium.” David Jackson, President of Jackson’s Greenhouse & Garden Center Inc., adds: “You will need good, bright, indirect light [no direct sunlight]. Once flora is planted properly and placed in the correct location, there is virtually no care needed.”

A terrarium with a lid will produce more algae on the sides of the glass but never needs watering once it has established itself. a terrarium without a lid will require occasional watering but that comes with the benefit of more visibility into the miniature world.

Several plants grow well in this petite, self-contained ecosystem. Nisley recommends, “I try to keep the size of the plant in proportion to the container. I recommend selecting compact, slow-growing plants and plants that have small leaves, or are simple to snip back to retain their shape.” Jackson’s choices for the perfect terrarium flora includes baby’s tears, peperomia, lipstick or shrimp plants, pilea varieties, hoya plants, miniature jade and other small succulents. And of course, most tropical plants also will thrive in a terrarium as it is an ideal setting for them with high humidity and natural warmth emulating a rain forest.

So, don’t despair winter, gardeners, instead create a miniature world of wonder. While the snow accumulates on the window panes you can turn your attentions to this fascinating, little rain forest flourishing indoors.