Jarred project from Miniscapes: Create your own terrarium by Clea Cregan
Miniscapes by Clea Cregan is the perfect Christmas gift for those friends and family who like to make and do. Here’s a taster of the fantastic projects that can be found inside....
Jarred
This project makes use of old kitchen jars. They are perfect for turning into miniature gardens!
BASIC EQUIPMENT 25 cm (10 in) glass canister with lid
1 cup small cream pebbles brown paper
1 cup dried sphagnum moss
1/3 cup horticultural charcoal
2 cups potting mix
PLANTS
1 Ficus benjamina ‘Weeping Fig’
1 Fittonia verschaffeltii ‘Forest Flame’
1 Humata tyermanii ‘White Rabbit’s Foot’
1 Selaginella kraussiana ‘Spike Moss’
DECORATIONS 1 medium rock
small handful of river pebbles
1/4 cup small black stones
handful of live moss
1 meerkat figurine
GUIDELINES Bright, indirect sunlight.
If the container is sealed you may not need additional moisture. Open every few months and slowly pour ½ cup water onto the soil, if required.
Closed terrariums should fog up. This shows that the eco-system is working effectively. Big droplets indicate there is too much moisture. If this happens, leave the lid open for a few days.
Remove the live moss if it starts to brown or turn mouldy and replace with fresh moss.
Project steps
Give the glass canister a good wash inside and out.
Pour the small cream pebbles into the bottom of the canister, and gently shake to create an even layer. Add a separation layer, if using.
Soak the sphagnum moss in water for a few seconds, then squeeze out the excess water and place a thin layer fi rmly on top of the pebbles or separation layer. You want to form a barrier so that the soil doesn’t drop into the drainage layer below.
Sprinkle the charcoal evenly over the sphagnum moss.
Add half of the potting mix to the canister, creating diff erent height levels.
Remove the plants from their pots and gently scrape away any excess soil from the roots.
Arrange the plants inside the terrarium. Add the remaining soil to cover the roots and press down firmly.
Place the rock, pebbles and stones in between the plants and position the live moss around the inside edge of the terrarium. Add the meerkat.
Water the plants thoroughly with a waterspray bottle.
Photography by Rich MacDonald. This book can be ordered at all good bookshops or online at hardiegrant.co.uk, Amazon, or Waterstones.