House & Home

choose more contemporary geometric shapes such as square glass containers.

You can source these from pound shops or inexpensive hardware stores.

Open containers are better for plants that prefer dry conditions, such as cacti and succulents. Closed ones are more suitable for ferns and mosses that enjoy moist air and damp conditions.

Clean and dry the container before use. Next you need a layer of grit or stones to line the bottom to create a drainage layer where excess water can sit.

This could be pea gravel, pebbles, rock or even coloured glass stones. To keep the atmosphere fresh, use activated carbon or charcoal – aquarium shops sell this as it is used to keep water fresh in fish tanks.

Yo u r g rowi n g medium will depend on your plant choice.

Cacti compost is best for these plants but if unavailable, mix grit with ordinary compost. Houseleeks ( Sempervivums), Sedums, hens and chicks ( Echeverias) will all prefer free- drainingi i soil. The most important rule of thumb is to plant like with like – don’t mix arid plants such as cacti which store water in their stems and leaves with wet carnivorous ones which will do better in damp sphagnum moss.

Your choice of plants will also be determined by the miniature landscape you are trying to create. What will it be?

A tiny desert punctuated by Lithops (living stones) and cacti, a Mediterranean herbal garden or a miniature forest of tiny ferns and Baby’s tear moss?

Some plants may be better divided if they are too bulky, and you don’t have to confine yo yourself to plants either – sm small theatrical sets can in include dollhouse size fi figurines,i twigs and LED lights.

Or as Christmas is round the corner, some miniature elves and small baubles as sculptural features could be fun!

Te r r a r i u m s a re l ow maintenance – it’s really just a matter of being sparing with the watering.

While the amount varies according to the species planted, you do need to be careful not to saturate them as the water will not be fully draining away.

Remove dead foliage or decaying plants to keep the environment as clean as possible. As they are in essence mini greenhouses, filtered light is best as strong sunlight through glass in summer can scorch plants.