HOME GROUNDS FACT SHEET Horticulture Center Cornell University Demonstration & Community Gardens at East Meadow Farm Cooperative Extension 832 Merrick Avenue East Meadow, NY 11554 Nassau County Phone: 516-565-5265 Plants for Terrariums and Dish Gardens Invented in 1836 by N. B. Ward and originally Soil called “Wardian Cases,” terrariums were used for Soil from the garden is not good for terrariums. A transporting growing plants on long sea voyages. good soil mix should be composed of 1/3 soil, 1/3 They provided the best and safest method of sand and 1/3 peat moss. Some houseplant mixes transporting potted and living plants across the sold under various trade names are ideal. One ocean. tablespoon of water soluble houseplant food in dry A true terrarium is an enclosed environment. form may be added to 2 pounds or 1 quart of soil When it is properly sited so it receives the correct mix. When you add soil to the terrarium, make sure light, it should be almost self-sustaining for at least it's no more than 1/5 the total volume of the ter- a month, perhaps longer. rarium. Since there are no drainage holes, some The terrarium can be a work of art when the provision must be made for this. A layer of sand, proper materials are cleverly combined in an small gravel or moss can be placed on the bottom attractive container. It can also provide the for drainage. opportunity to grow some of the delicate plants that would ordinarily dwindle rapidly when exposed to the dry atmosphere of the home. Some people Culture ■ grow cacti and other succulents in glass containers, Closed terrariums can heat up rapidly. Give it but they will do better if left uncovered. good light, but not direct sun. ■ Do not overwater. This is the number one Design problem encountered in terrarium maintenance. Water only when fogging stops or the plants 1. Try to create a picture or replica of nature rather become slightly wilted. Add water directly to the than just a collection of plants. soil in small amounts over a day’s time. Mist the 2. Select plants that will be in scale with the size of foliage at the same time. the terrarium. ■ Leave the cover off until water is no longer visible 3. Choose species that have similar culture require- on the foliage, then replace the cover and check ments and are aesthetically compatible. again for the proper amount of fogging. If the 4. Plants that might grow too rapidly can be planted terrarium is properly watered when it is con- in their pots to slow growth. structed, it may not require watering for almost a year. 5. Each terrarium should have a focal point: a stone, a striking plant or perhaps a ceramic ■ Fertilize infrequently. figure. ■ Some pruning or thinning of plants is necessary. 6. A path into the vegetation can add interest and ■ a bit of mystery. Try breathing into the container occasionally to stimulate the plants with extra carbon dioxide. 7. Try to cover the soil because bare soil is not natural in moist environments. Low-spreading ■ Remove faded flowers and dead leaves. plants and mosses can be used. ■ Redesign occasionally. Don’t be afraid to change 8. Do not crowd your plants. the plants that aren’t doing well. A-1-17 DWM:ln reviewed RT 1/03 Building Strong and Vibrant New York Communities Cornell Cooperative Extension in Nassau County provides equal program and employment opportunities. PLANTS FOR TERRARIUMS AND DISH GARDENS The following are three lists of plants for use in the woodland, tropical and desert terrarium. Woodland plant list ■ Maidenhair Fern - Adiantum pedatum ■ Partridgeberry - Mitchella repens ■ Mother Spleenwort - Asplenium bulbiferum ■ Plectranthus - Plectranthus oertendahli ■ Boxwood - Buxus ■ Shield Spike - Polystichum ‘Braunii’ ■ Dwarf Hinoki Cypress - Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘nana’ ■ Club Moss - Selaginella sp. ■ Pipsissewa - Chimaphila Umbellata ■ Dwarf Yew - Taxus media var. ■ Wintergreen - Gaultheria procumbens ■ Foam Flower - Tiarella cordifolia ■ English Ivy (dwarf forms) - Hedera helix ■ Piggyback Plant - Tolmiea Menziesii ■ Liverwort - Hepatica americana ■ Canadian Hemlock, dwarf varieties - ■ Juniper - Juniperus sp. Tsuga canadensis ■ Ground Pine - Lycopodium complanatum ■ Ilex sp. - Ilex (also Holly) Tropical plant list ■ Friendship plant - Pilea involucrata ■ African Violet - Saintpaulia ■ Nephthytis (Arrow Leaf Plant) - ■ Bird nest Sansevieria - Sansevieria trifasciata Syngonium popdophyllum cv. 'Hahnii' ■ Maidenhair Fern - Adiantum pedatum ■ Strawberry Geranium - Saxifraga stolonifera ■ Norfolk Island Pine - Araucaria heterophylla ■ Pothos - Epipremnum aureum ■ Asparagus Fern - Asparagus setaceus ■ Spike Moss - Selaginella sp. ■ Parlor Palm - Chamaedorea elegans ■ Swedish Ivy - Plectranthus australis ■ Kangaroo Vine - Cissus antarctica ■ Creeping Charlie - Pileanummulari ■ Earth Star - Cryptanthus ■ Wandering Jew - Tripogandra multiflora, ■ False Aralia - Dizygotheca elegantissima Zebrina pendula, or Tradescantia sp. ■ Dracaena - Dracaena godseffiana and ■ Grape ivy - Cissus rhombifolia Dracaena sanderiana ■ ■ Creeping Fig - Ficus pumila Trailing Watermelon Begonia - Pellionia sp. ■ ■ Nerve Plant - Fittonia sp. Aluminum plant - Pilea Cadierei ■ English Ivy (dwarf forms) - Hedera helix var. ■ Baby Tears - Helxine soleiroli ■ Prayer Plant - Maranta sp. ■ Dwarf Myrtle - Myrtus cummunis microphylla ■ Miniature Peperomia - Peperomia var. ■ Artillery fern - Pilea microphylla ■ Philodendron var. ■ Croton - Codiaeum variegatum ■ Creeping Jenny - Pilea depressa ■ Moon Valley Pilea - Pilea ‘Moon Valley ■ Yew Podocarpus - Podocarpus macrophyllus ■ Neanthe Bella Palm - Chamaedorea elegans ■ Table or Brake Ferns - Pteris sp. ■ ‘Neanthe Bella’ Cacti and succulent plant list ■ Dwarf Century Plant - Agave pumila ■ Bunny ears - Opuntia microdasys ■ Old Man Cactus - Cephalocereus senilis ■ Crown Cactus - Rebutia Kupperiana ■ Peanut Cactus - Lobivia silvestrii ■ Coral Beads Plant - Sedum Stahlii ■ Cone Plant - Conophytum sp. ■ Hen and Chicks - Sempervivum soboliferum ■ Rattail Crassula - Crassula lycopodiodes ‘Maki’ ■ Aeonium arboreum - Aeonium ■ Propeller Plant - Crassula falcata ■ Bishop’s Cap - Astrophytum sp. ■ Rattlesnake Crassula - Crassula teres ■ Tom Thumb cactus - Parodia aureispina ■ Barrel Cactus - Echinocactus Grusonii ■ Medicinal Aloe - Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera) ■ Plain Cactus - Gymnocalycium mihanovichii ■ Crested Euphorbia - Euphorbia lactea ‘cristata’ ■ Window Haworthia - Haworthia cymbiformis ■ Devil’s Backbone - Pedilanthus tithymaloides ■ Zebra Haworthia - Haworthia fasciata ■ Jade plant - Crassula ovata ■ Panda Plant - Kalanchoe tomentosa ■ Chandelier plant - Kalanchoe tubiflora ■ Living Stones - Lithops sp. ■ Air plant - Kalanchoe pinnata ■ Golden Star Cactus - Mammilaria elongata ■ Ghost plant - Graptopetalum paraguayense How to Plant a Bottle Garden 3. Roll larger, leafy plants in paper cylinder to slip them through the neck without damage. 1. Clean and polish bottle with moist paper towel held in wooden tongs. Dampen towel with window-cleaning spray to remove stains. Let dry before planting. 2. Add 1" layers of sand and charcoal chips - then a few inches of potting soil using a 4. Use wooden tongs to lower small funnel and paper tube exten- plants through the neck and to sion to help keep dust down maneuver all plants into position. and off sides of bottle. 6. A spool on a stick can be used to tamp and firm soil. 7. Shaping and pruning can be done with a razor blade taped to a stick. Pick up prunings with tongs. 5. A spoon taped to a stick is great for digging planting holes, 8. Use a bulb syringe to wash sides of glass, water positioning plants, covering roots into place and settle soil. Use it dry to roots and shaping the terrain. blow dust and soil particles off glass or leaves. A-1-17 DWM:ln reviewed RT 1/03.