Terrariums

A terrarium is a miniature garden grown inside a glass container, such as a jar, bottle or bowl. A closed terrarium has a lid, so the water inside evaporates, forms droplets on the glass and trickles back down to the soil. That little water cycle means it largely looks after itself, like a tiny self-watering ecosystem on your shelf.

Terrariums date back to Victorian Britain. A doctor called Nathaniel Ward noticed that plants could thrive inside a sealed glass case, protected from the smoky city air. His glass boxes, known as Wardian cases, became a craze for growing ferns at home, and they were also used to carry living plants safely on long sea voyages. The modern jar terrarium is their small, stylish descendant.

Start at the bottom with a drainage layer of gravel, pebbles or clay balls, so any extra water has somewhere to go. Some makers add a thin layer of activated charcoal to help keep things fresh.

Next comes a layer of moss or mesh to stop the soil sinking into the drainage, then a good layer of soil for the plants to root into.

Now for the fun bit. Use long tweezers or a chopstick to tuck in your plants, then press the soil around them with a tamper, which is often just a cork on a stick. Finish with moss, stones or tiny decorations, give it a light mist of water and pop the lid on.

Closed terrariums love small plants that enjoy humidity. Fittonia, also called the nerve plant, has gorgeous veined leaves in pink, red or white. Small ivy trails beautifully, and cushion moss makes a soft green carpet. Little ferns and peperomia work well too.

Succulents and cacti prefer dry air, so they're better suited to open terrariums without a lid.

Very. There's no gardening experience needed, and your Activity Leader walks you through each layer and helps you choose your plants. It's calm, fiddly in a satisfying way and surprisingly absorbing. Best of all, a closed terrarium is about as low-maintenance as houseplants get. Even serial plant killers are welcome.

Keep it somewhere bright but out of direct sunlight, which can overheat the jar. A little condensation is a good sign. If the glass stays fogged up all day, take the lid off for a few hours. If it looks dry, add a small spritz of water. Trim any plants that start pressing against the glass.

You might also like Mushroom Growing, Botanical Walk and Bug Hotels.

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