The Elusive Wardian Case

Posted by hpotterblog on September 3rd, 2010in Gardening Products, Terrarium, Wardian case | 1 Comment

Case solved: My Wardian case at home.

By Kylee Baumle

Growing plants in a bowl or any kind of enclosure is a look I like. So when I was visiting Longwood Gardens and I spied a small Wardian case for sale in their gift shop, I didn’t hesitate in purchasing it.

But there’s more to that story…

The Case of the Elusive Wardian Case

Mom and I were on one of our gardening adventures, and while she had visited Longwood Gardens a few years before, she wanted to go again and knew that I would want to see them too. So before heading back home, we drove to Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Our usual plan of action is to do a quick tour of the gift shop to see if there’s anything we can’t live without, and then enjoy the gardens.

I saw the Wardian cases sitting on a table marked “Reduced.” There were five of them, but I only wanted one.  The gift shop wasn’t busy and I asked the manager if I could buy one now and have him put it back for me while we toured the gardens. He convinced me to just wait to buy it before we left.

We went on our way and spent a few hours walking through the beautiful grounds.

When we returned to the gift shop to make our purchases, I walked over to the sale table and was shocked to see that all the Wardian cases were gone. I asked the manager if there really were none left and he told me that one person came in and bought them all.

I just couldn’t believe it. Then one of the shopkeepers said, “I think there’s one in the back that’s got a broken glass pane in it. It’s not perfect, but maybe you’d want that one?” Of course I wanted to see it.

When she brought it out and I saw the cracked pane was at the bottom of one side and not that conspicuous, AND she said, “You can have this one for $11,” I said, “Sold.”

These cases were used as table decorations, when Longwood Gardens celebrated the 100th anniversary of Pierre du Pont purchasing the property and turning it into the beautiful gardens there today.

Planting my Wardian Case

As I was walking through Lowe’s one day, I saw they had some small square plastic terrariums on sale for half-price – $7 each.  I bought two.  In each one was a beautiful jewel orchid, a fern, and an evergreen type of thing that I don’t recognize.

My Wardian case has a plastic liner in the bottom, where I placed a layer of potting medium.  I planted all the Lowe’s plants, filled in the gaps with more potting medium, and used sphagnum moss as a top dressing because I like how it looks.

Just for fun, I added a couple of stones, put a turtle on top of one and placed a ladybug bulletin board tack near the base of one of the plants.  It’s been planted for about eight months now and is doing well!

I check the moisture level of the potting medium once a week and water if it needs it. If I can see a bit of moisture condensation on the inside of the case, I know it’s got plenty.

The Source of my Wardian Case

I did a little research and found that these Wardian cases are made by H. Potter, one of my favorite garden sites to visit.  They’ve got beautiful garden accents and some of the most exquisite Wardian cases I’ve ever seen. Someday I’d like a larger one, but for now, I’m enjoying my tabletop version, which reminds me of a Victorian greenhouse.

Watch a new video of a favorite H. Potter terrarium, and see Kylee’s Wardian case dressed for the holidays in our Sugar Plum Terrarium video.

We’re delighted to have this guest post from Kylee Baumle. Kylee writes the award-winning blog, Our Little Acre, about her garden in Ohio. She is Book Review Editor for Horticulture magazine and a Feature Writer for Indiana Gardener magazine. Kylee is also one of The Soil Sisters, a collaborative venture with fellow gardener, Jan. You can join their gardening community here.

For a free RSS or email subscription to the H. Potter Knowledge blog go to the upper-right section of the sidebar. Your email address will not be shared.

Summer Care of Terrariums

Posted by hpotterblog on July 6th, 2010in Gardening Products, Terrarium, Tovah Martin | No Comments

By Tovah Martin, author of The New Terrarium

Capture the essence of summer in terrariums.

It’s summertime and nature is calling. But you might not be able to answer the call of the wild as often as you’d like.

Stuck inside? Trapped in an office cubicle? Got the rainy day blues? No problem. Just grow a terrarium and nature will always be right by your side.

Summer is custom-made for creating terrariums

There are plenty of opportunities to get outside and collect nature’s treasures for terrarium accents.

• When you’re on hikes, when you’re working in the garden – keep an eye peeled for the fodder (dried seedpods, etc.) that will fill your terrarium and make it a true sampling of the Great Outdoors.
• Always wear gloves.
• Watch out for poison oak and poison ivy.
• Never dig up growing plants from public spaces or other people’s backyards. Instead, look for nature’s discards (such as lichen-covered sticks) whose removal won’t endanger the natural environment.
• And don’t forget to be on the lookout for great souvenirs when you’re on vacation. Again, you’ll want to respect “leave it be” rules in parks. But a seashell or an intriguing stone can serve as a poignant memory of moments when “the good times rolled” this summer.

Monitor your terrariums indoors

• Remember that light can move around from season to season. And summer’s bright sunrays can wreak havoc for anything growing in a closed case.
• Watch for sunbeams that flood into a window and move your terrariums away from the light source, if necessary.
• When humidity is high and light is a tad brighter, condensation can increase in your terrarium. Ventilate it occasionally.
• And clean the glass whenever “schmutz” appears.
• When plants grow too energetically (especially moss), brandish the shears and hand out the haircuts.

Thinking of displaying your terrariums outdoors for the summer?

If it houses living plants, don’t do it.

Terrariums can be extra work outside. Unless they’re sheltered under heavy shade, chances are that sun will become a problem as it moves around during the day. Don’t risk it, especially for closed cases. Even outdoor porches can receive surprise sunrays unless they’re heavily shaded.

Instead, keep your terrarium inside where you can share your artwork with company, friends, and family.

Watch a new video of a favorite H. Potter terrarium.

Don’t miss any of Tovah’s expert advice on terrariums! For a free RSS or email subscription to this blog go to the upper-right section of the sidebar. Your email address will not be shared.

Planting a Glass Cloche

Posted by hpotterblog on June 9th, 2010in Cloche, Gardening Products, Terrarium, Tovah Martin | 1 Comment

By Tovah Martin, author of The New Terrarium

A glass cloche with the traditional bell jar shape.

There’s something about a glass cloche

All terrariums exude a sense of charm, it’s true.

But there’s something about a glass cloche (also known as a bell jar) that’s particularly compelling.

As with all terrariums, the venue need not be confined to plants – you could display just about anything within a cloche. But there’s something whimsical, wonderful, romantic and mysterious about a living, growing plant clapped under a glass lid.

Short history of the glass cloche

Cloches were originally employed agriculturally to protect tender plants from chills in the beginning (or end) of the growing season. Nowadays, there are all sorts of less expensive (and less poetic) plastic devices to use outdoors for that purpose.

Instead, curvaceous glass cloches have taken on a more artistic job profile and they’re used as evocative focal points in interior décor.

A beautifully planted glass cloche is a head-turner as well as a creative outlet to display your little work of art that you’ve designed inside. Nothing says “nature contained” like a cloche.

Make a proper planting bed in the glass cloche

Planting a cloche varies slightly from tackling a conventional terrarium with sides and a lid due primarily to the depth of the planting bed. All the plants I recommend for terrariums will do well in a glass cloche.

Because cloches are merely a glass lid, the challenge lies in finding a base to plant in.

For indoor gardening purposes, you’ll need a plate, pan or saucer for your cloche to cap. And you’ll need to build up the soil so it provides sufficient depth to nurture plants.

Cheese dishes often come with a base that has a small lip – and that makes your job easier. A two-inch lip will give you a sufficient base to bury very small plants with limited root systems.

But in most cases, the planting surface will be flat or nearly flat and you will need to build up the base to create a planting bed. The most effective plan of attack is to build up a donut-shaped crater, firm the soil into the volcano-like shape and plant within the center.

How to plant a glass cloche

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 3/8 inch pebbles
• Charcoal
• Potting soil

Line the bottom of your plate, saucer, or pan with a thin layer of pebbles. Add a teaspoon of charcoal or slightly more, depending on the size of the base. Mix them together.

On top of that foundation, build up a firm donut of potting soil shaped like a volcano – then add some loose soil in the center of the volcano and add the plants into the soil, planting just as you would plant in a planter.

Be sure to firm the soil around the newly inserted plants and water immediately after planting. Clamp the lid on your terrarium and it’s good to go!

Lift the lid on one side to water when necessary and let the water soak in.

Admire your artfully planted glass cloche and display it as a focal point in your décor. Follow my tips on maintenance to keep your glass cloche at its sparkling best.

Watch a new video about a favorite H. Potter terrarium.

Don’t miss any of Tovah’s expert advice on terrariums! For a free RSS or email subscription to this blog go to the upper-right section of the sidebar. Your email address will not be shared.

Terrarium Maintenance: Long-term Care

Posted by hpotterblog on May 19th, 2010in Gardening Products, Terrarium, Tovah Martin, Wardian case | No Comments

By Tovah Martin, author of The New Terrarium

Easy terrarium maintenance keeps your plants healthy.

A terrarium shouldn’t be forgotten

Your interaction with a terrarium shouldn’t end when you’ve tucked in the last plant and closed the lid. Terrariums are low-maintenance, to be sure, but that doesn’t mean they should be forgotten.

Hopefully, you’ll be so riveted by your crystal kingdom that you’ll be inspired to invest plenty of time admiring the small masterpiece you’ve created.

And while you’re at it, you might want to do a little upkeep and keep your small world perking happily along.

A terrarium benefits from maintenance

• Most often, keeping a terrarium content is merely a matter of turning the terrarium occasionally. If the light source that’s illuminating the plants inside comes only from one direction, rotate your terrarium every week or so. And make sure that the sun hasn’t shifted seasonally. You don’t want your terrarium to be sitting in a very bright or too shady of a situation.
• Every two or three weeks, it’s wise to ventilate a closed terrarium for a few hours. After you’ve aired it out, close the lid again and wait to see if condensation builds up on the glass. If so, then it’s good to go for a while. If not, then open it and give it a small drink of water.
• Fertilizing a terrarium is not necessary – after all, you want to keep the players in your mini world from growing into Jolly Green Giants.
• When you’ve got the terrarium open for ventilation, examine the inside for dead branches, flowers that have faded, and anything that could lead to problems. Whisk the dead stuff away.
• At the same time, make certain that no mold or fungus is threatening your miniature peaceable kingdom. The instant you see a problem, escort it off the premises. With mold or similar problems, contain the crime scene by putting a tissue over the area. Then scoop it away in a manner least likely to release spores. Monitor the terrarium carefully for future outbreaks.
• Although it’s desirable and delightful when a terrarium begins to fill in and the plants happily coexist and thrive, you don’t want the residents competing for real estate.
• When the plants inside a terrarium start encroaching on each other’s turf, divide off a section of the plant (for a clean break, you might need to cut the part to be removed with a knife) or, if it’s more feasible, lift the whole plant, diminish it, and replant a portion. When replanting, take care to bury all the roots and firm them into the soil. That’s critical. And always water a newly transplanted plant immediately after the transition.
• When plants begin to press against the glass, they need to be pruned or moved to a larger vessel. Mosses can expand like sponges. Simply take scissors and give them a haircut to diminish their girth.
• While you’re at it, clean the glass. Avoid using cleaning fluids of any sort, simply moisten a paper towel and wipe any schmutz away. Cleaning the glass should be done on an “as needed” basis. But address the chore fairly regularly. A few strategic swipes with a cleaning cloth will keep the terrarium plants healthy and give you a clear window on your small world.

Watch a new video about a favorite H. Potter terrarium.

Don’t miss any of Tovah’s expert advice on terrariums! For a free RSS or email subscription to this blog go to the upper-right section of the sidebar. Your email address will not be shared.

A Terrarium or a Wardian Case: Great Green Gifts

Posted by hpotterblog on April 29th, 2010in Cloche, Terrarium, Tovah Martin, Wardian case | No Comments

By Tovah Martin, author of The New Terrarium

Pair the book with a terrarium for a memorable gift.

A terrarium is a fool-proof gift

Know someone who might benefit from a little green in their life but don’t want to burden them with responsibilities? Go straight for a terrarium.

Terrarium = easy care

Here’s a venue where plants can thrive without hassle. Not only are they trouble-free, but terrariums put a shine on any plant sequestered within.

Plus, terrariums take the pains out of growing. Your friend, relative, neighbor, or lover won’t need a sunny exposure. The terrarium will be on auto-pilot and will rarely require water.

Basically, flower-related fuss will be a thing of the past.

When you create a terrarium, it’s always custom-designed

There’s the “from-the-heart” factor. Talk about giving something that’s personal –a terrarium is like a piece of living art. Your instincts and my design tips will combine to make a memorable piece.

Gift terrariums come in all shapes and sizes. You could go for a glass cloche and fill it with a small, expressive scene.

The Rolls Royce terrarium – a Wardian case

You might want to present some lucky recipient with the Rolls Royce of terrariums — a Wardian case. Even within the Wardian case realm, you can select from a vast array of sizes and styles. They come in table-top as well as floor-standing versions.

Add a free-standing Wardian case to a room, and it commands all the impact of a fine piece of furniture. Fill it with green, and nature sends its positive vibes flowing throughout the scene.

A tiny terrarium garden

You could design a mini-garden within your glass case complete with down-sized arbors, little trees, and Lilliputian tools, or let the lucky new owner design their own crystal kingdom. My post about plants for terrariums guides you through the woods to good selections.

If you go the planted route, be sure to include care instructions. Or, better still – include a copy of my book, The New Terrarium.

But garden-related themes aren’t the only option – a terrarium can display just about anything from your seashell collection to antique toys.

Terrrariums are miniature worlds for children

Speaking of pursuits for the young-at-heart – can you think of anything more appropriate for a kid? When you give a terrarium, you share the world in miniature. You might set some eager future nature-lover on a green growth spurt that will last a lifetime.

A terrarium is a life-affirming present

And that’s another perk to terrariums – they endure — the gift of a terrarium will really continue giving…and growing.

Watch a new video about a favorite H. Potter terrarium.

Don’t miss any of Tovah’s expert advice on terrariums! For a free RSS or email subscription to this blog go to the upper-right section of the sidebar. Your email address will not be shared.