Gardens in a glass, poetry in a glass

Imagine a world in a glass. The deep, dark earth, lush green plants and even tiny living beings all are living and breathing in a bottle.

This is not a modern-day Alice in Wonderland scene but terrariums or as horticulturist and gardening entrepreneur Vrinda Keshav calls it, “poetry in a glass”. It’s a mini-ecosystem that you can create inside a glass bottle using some activated soil or peat, plants and minimal watering. “It’s a mini-greenhouse and works on the same principle,” Keshav says. A terrarium, for the uninitiated, is a garden in a bottle. You control the humidity, temperature, and the plants create an ecosystem which helps them thrive for 10 years or more. Architect Akshay Srinagesh came across terrariums during his voluntary work in animal rescue where they were used to house exotic pets like turtles and geckos. “But now people are creating little bottle gardens for home decoration,” he says. If you have a green thumb but no space, a terrarium is for you. It’s a great conversation starter, too. Her advice: keep the terrarium in a place with just enough light – “meaning an old person can read small print without glasses”. “Talk, sing, entertain your plant but water only when you see it turning light green or the soil turning to lighter brown. Let the plants create their own survival system,” she says. You can prune them from time to time. Make your own terrarium You need: A glass container, rocks or pebble, activated charcoal or peat, potting soil, various small plants, scoop or shovel, gardening gloves, items for decoration like moss, smalls figurines. Step 1: Prepare the container Remove any price tags or stickers and wash it thoroughly. Step 2: Add drainage layers Now, fill the bottom with rocks to create a false drainage layer. Aim for a depth of 1/2-in to 2-in. Step 3: Add the charcoal Just cover the rocks. The charcoal helps in reducing bacteria, fungi and odours. Step 4: Add soil Get the right soil depending on which plants you’re using. Add enough soil so that the plant roots have plenty of room to grow .