In the making of any garden, which are in glass containers, care must be taken to provide for adequate drainage. If the depth of the container will allow it, you should use a thick layer of pebbles or potsherds in the bottom, covering this layer with one of Sphagnum moss.

For best results, granulated charcoal should be added to the pebble layer. Next comes a layer of humus or rich potting soil, and then the plants are set in place and held in position as soil is filled in around them. A really finished appearance is achieved by fitting pieces of sheet moss around the plants so that it covers all the exposed soil, or by adding ground hugging plants such as pellionia or helxine (baby’s tears) to cover it.

In choosing plant material, select plants which are compatible, needing the same culture, and avoid those which may grow too robustly. Whether or not a cover is needed for the container will, of course, depend upon what kinds of plants are used. Cacti and other succulents do not need a lid over them ; tolmieas (pickaback plant), peperomias and syngoniums can take it or leave it; African-violets, small ferns and Rex begonias are at their best “under cover.”

Watering a terrarium is a tricky business; too much water invites rot and mildew, while too little will cause tender leaves to shrivel. After the initial planting is finished, use a misty spray to settle the plants slightly and refresh the leaves. For the first week or two, spray at frequent intervals, giving only small amounts each time, until you have determined how much water is needed. Then it may be done once a week or perhaps less often.

Interesting things sometimes result when plants are placed in warm, humid containers. I had a red-veined fittonia in my window that grew just enough to provide an occasional cutting, but a rooted snippet of this, planted in a terrarium, promptly branched out in all directions and began flowering!

Plants grow rapidly in terrariums, and terrariums have a way of “growing” on people. And that reminds me… I have a dandy bunch of rooted cuttings – have you an unused fish tank I could borrow?

For more information about outdoor landscaping lights. Visit our evergrowing library at http://www.plant-care.com/1605-landscaping-lights.html.