Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Pane, no gain
is in there it will become much heavier to move around. Avoid bright sunlight if you can, a semi-shaded windowsill or dresser top is ideal. Plant varieties such as ferns, Pilea, Peperomias and Hypoestes tolerate and appreciate humid environments, meaning they are ideal for planting in a bottle garden. Once they are planted in, watered well and fitted with a cork in the top, it will create its own micro-climate.
This works by the container recycling its own moisture as it evaporates and hits the body of the glass, then as it cools the water falls back into the soil, completing the cycle.
Another area that is growing in popularity is terrariums, which are panes of glass which usually have beading of copper in between to hold the panes together. These resemble mini-greenhouses and they can be bought in many different shapes, from traditional greenhouse styles to hexagonal varieties which make superb, fun shapes for planting in. Fill them with aggregate sand or dried moss.
Most commonly found are open terrariums, with an open face, rather than closed terrariums, which are sealed. Open terrariums are great for cacti and succulents such as Aloe, many varied Echeveria, Crassula and Kalanchoe, which are suited because they hold a lot of moisture within their foliage and don’t need to be watered as much as non-succulent houseplants.
When planting up a terrarium, keep the plants in their own little pots, simply sinking them into the base material. This means you can swap them in and out with ease. Most of these plants, especially cacti, do not have extensive root systems so they won’t mind. It also stops the compost from mixing with the aggregate sand or moss.
You’ll want to display your terrarium or bottle garden in full view to appreciate its beauty. But ensure it is not placed in direct sunlight because the heat will intensify through the glass.
Instead, place it on a well-lit windowsill, in a place where you can easily get to it to water a little and often, making sure you get the water directly into the pot you’re watering.
The other option is to save up glass bottles and jam jars, because you can do an awful lot in a simple glass container. For instance, if you take cuttings from geraniums or fuchsias and leave them sitting in an old jam jar of water, you’ll find that they root quite easily and you can enjoy watching it.
You can clearly see the ones that don’t root and begin to rot, meaning you’ll have space for the ones that are growing well.
In fact another great option is Phalaenopsis (moth orchids), which are epiphytes, meaning in nature they grow on the side of trees.
That’s why their roots have green in them, which enables them to photosynthesise.
It’s also why they are often sold in clear pots, so be sure to not plant them in a pot that will completely cover their roots. Instead, place them in a glass vase or pot.
Glass works particularly well with gardening, whether that’s in the form of bottle gardens, terrariums, or even jam jars. Adding them into the home adds a chic edge to your interior and they are really interesting focal points.
This indoor gardening tool kit has everything you need to keep your house plants, terrariums and bottle gardens in great shape. From a watering bottle to various tools, cleaning brushes, tweezers and transplanting tools, it is perfect for the dedicated indoor gardener. I found it for £14.90 via amazon.co.uk
For loads more hints and tips on gardening visit daviddomoney.com or follow me on Facebook at @DavidDomoneyTV or on Twitter @daviddomoney