Landscapes in a Bottle and Other Interesting Ideas
Although terrariums can be somewhat challenging, these eye-catching gardens from the past offer the opportunity to create a miniature landscape, unique in its own right. A terrarium, or landscape in a bottle, can also be achieved with an assortment of containers including old apothecary jars, brandy snifters, pasta jars, crystal goblets, cookie or candy jars, and 2-liter pop bottles. Allow your imagination to guide you. Bottles having narrow openings can also be used. Rather than placing an entire plant into the bottle, you can simply use cuttings. These will root easily within this environment.
Once you have chosen a container, place about �½ inch of pebbles along the bottom. Cover this with equally mixed amounts of moist soil, sand, and peat moss. You might consider using compost as well. Choose small, slow-growing plants. There are numerous houseplants which are suitable for both partially and fully closed containers. Among these include firefern oxalis, strawberry geranium, dwarf palm/fern, acorus, mini begonia, African violet, mini euonymus, moss, and small-leaved English ivy. Depending on the size of your bottle or container, you can incorporate about 3 to 5 plants. Place the taller ones toward the back or middle and keep low-growing plants in the front.
Using a long stick, make a small hole in the soil and gently lower the plants with a pair of tweezers or tongs. Carefully maneuver the soil around them. Spread a thin layer of pebbles along the top to help prevent plants from drying out. If your bottle is large enough, you can create a miniature landscape with paths and streams. You can even use tiny figures for additional interest. Once the plants have been arranged, lightly sprinkle with water. Keeping the soil evenly moist throughout (not too dry, not too wet) is the key to successful terrarium or bottle gardening. When watering, use either a spray bottle or small watering can. An average temperature with semi-sun or semi-shade is adequate for maintaining your landscape in a bottle.
Did you know that some plants will grow in a bottle of water year-round? There are numerous plants that are well suited to this type of environment. They have what is referred to as embryonic root systems that are formed along each point in which a leaf begins. These pre-formed roots develop quickly when emerged in water. Geraniums, peperomias, impatiens, hibiscus, spider plants, coleuses, wax begonias, English ivies, aglaonemas, aucubas, and grape ivies are all suitable for growing in bottles. Simply cut the stems from selected plants just below the leaf nodes and remove the lower leaves. Arrange cuttings in a bottle of water immediately after cutting.
Place your bottled plant in a well-lit area and enjoy. Be sure to add water to the bottle as it evaporates and replace the water completely on a monthly basis to prevent algae growth. Wash the bottle out thoroughly during this time. To create a garden of bottles, group various types of bottles together. You can even hang them in baskets or set them in decorative casserole dishes for additional interest. Bottles filled with ivy and related cuttings can be strategically placed behind pictures or mirrors to gracefully grow around them and eventually, framing these objects altogether.
Many bulbs such as hyacinths, tulips, and crocuses can also be grown in water. Place a chilled bulb in a hyacinth jar (wide-mouth jar with narrow neck), add water, and watch it grow. Do you enjoy interesting foliage? Try cutting the small end off of a large carrot. Carefully hollow out the large end and fill with water. Place the carrot upright in a small wire basket and hang. Soon you will take delight in its fern-like foliage. Additionally, sweet potato tubers can be placed in a small glass or vase filled with water. When set in a warm, sunny area such as a windowsill, vines will begin shooting out within only a few weeks.
You can also grow numerous house or garden plants in dishes such as earthenware saucers, ceramic bowls, buckets, salad bowls, and cups. Soil amendment and planting preparation is much the same as for terrarium or bottles. Place pebbles along the bottom of your dish, add soil, and level off or create hills. Arrange your chosen plants to your liking and gently set them in the soil. Water the plants lightly. Seashell planters look lovely when placed in a window or within a book shelf. You’ll want to choose a somewhat large shell, such as a conch. Add drainage holes and soil. Fill with cascading plants like ivy, lobelia, sweet alyssum, ajuga, or sedum.
Were you aware that the idea for chia pets actually derived from our ancestors? Back in the day, people commonly used wet pine cones saturated with grass seed for centerpieces and the like. To grow your own ‘pinecone pet,’ simply place some fresh moss within a saucer of some kind. Lay a wet pinecone on top and sprinkle with grass seed. After a couple of days, grass will begin popping out of the pinecone. Pinecone planters were also commonplace at one time. Any type of container can be utilized so long as it can accommodate at least 3 to 5 pinecones. Thoroughly saturate the cones and set them in a moss or sand filled container. Sprinkle the pinecones with ornamental grass seed and keep it watered. You will soon have an interesting focal point.
Probably one of the most unusual containers for growing plants is a plastic bag. Size doesn’t really matter; it’s up to you. Fill the plastic bag with a moist mix of peat moss and vermiculite (compost works well too) and staple the bag closed. Carefully make small slits at random along the top of the bag. Insert seedlings or rooted cuttings through the slits. You may also sprinkle seeds, if preferred. Place a small funnel somewhere in the top of your bag for watering purposes. You can choose a small plastic cup with punched holes in the bottom as well. The funnel will be concealed once the plants have established or you could opt to decorate it instead. Fertilize your plants sparingly during watering and enjoy your garden in a bag!
