Lead Head Glass: Recycled Window Glass Terrariums Catch the Eye of Martha Stewart

Lead Head Glass, a Detroit-based terrarium builder, has caught the eye of Martha Stewart as a top American Made craft outfit.  Chad Ackley and Derek Smiertka re-purpose window glass from deconstructed homes into terrariums.  According to the Lead Head Glass FAQ page, window glass (the kind coming out of homes or businesses) has a different composition than bottle glass, which prevents the two types of glass from being recycled together.  Recycling bottles is easy, recycling window glass: not so much.

Honeycomb House Terrarium
by Lead Head Glass

Lead Head Glass designs a mean terrarium, enough to outshine the eco-friendly sourcing of materials.  In addition to the stacked box design typical to many paned terrariums,  Lead Head Glass terrariums include barrel shaped roofs (Honeycomb House, pictured) and spire-topped gazebos. These stylish pieces were enough to catch the attention of the Martha Stewart Company, as Lead Head Glass is a finalist in this year's Martha Stewart American Made contest, an annual quest to find the best local artisans and entrepreneurs making handmade goods across the country.  Winners will be announced on October 17th so snap up a Lead Head Glass terrarium before they blow up!

Terrariums by Vernon Caldera

"Oz" terrarium by Vernon Caldera

Nothing says spring like a lush succulent terrarium.  Looking for succulent terrarium inspiration or perhaps looking to purchase?  The Houston Chronicle recently had a small write up on Vernon Caldera's terrariums.

While I tend to build sparse terrariums to allow for plant growth, a densely packed terrarium like "Oz" (pictured above) is ready for the immediate spotlight on a dining table or entryway.  If you are looking for a quick display craft rather than a long-term terrarium planting - select small cacti and succulents with blooms ready to open.

Fern Fever: The Story of Pteridomania - Victorian Terrarium Craze

Bell jar style terrarium ad, from the
book "Fern Fever"

Collecting ferns and moss was quite the fashion for the Victorians, so much so that one might have called it an obsession.  Fern enthusiasts traded and promenaded their fantastical ferns, going as far as making treks out to the wild to collect rare specimens.  An over-enthusiastic, fern-seeker even tumbled to her death while reaching for an elusive cliff-dwelling specimen.

Sarah Whittingham traces this phenomenon in her glossy book "Fern Fever: The Story of Pteridomania."  Jam packed with lush photos of ferneries, fern grotto gardens, and decorative arts graced with fern fronds, she forms an overwhelming set of evidence for the Victorian fern fever, or pteridomania.

Interestingly enough, young women embraced fern fever the most avidly of all Victorians.  Much like the pop star-crazed tweens of today, Victorian teens were engrossed in trading fern specimen collector cards and begging their parents to install fern grottoes in their basements.  Even the daughter of novelist Charles Dickens developed mild pteriodomania.

An excerpt from the book:

The novelist Charles Dickens was sometimes irritated by his daughter Mary's lack of vigour and purpose in life.  In 1862 he wrote to a friend to whom Mary (then aged 24) had expressed a wish for some ferns to plant in their home: 

"After careful cross examining my daughter . . . I do NOT believe her to be worthy of the fernery . . . When I ask her where she would have the fernery and what she would do with it, the witness falters, turns pale, becomes confused, and says: 'Perhaps it would be better not to have it at all."

"Fern Fever: The Story of Pteridomania"
by Sarah Whittingham

Gosh, Dickens.  Maybe if you hadn't bullied your daughter over it you could have both enjoyed an entrancing fern grotto.  Of course the ferns did hold a sort of "fantastical" fascination for many Victorians.  Some enthusiasts connected ferns with faeries and fantasy, while others touted it as a healthy study of natural science and a great family activity to fern hunt in the countryside on a weekend.  Clever folks published lucrative fern field guides; stuffy folk formed formal fern societies and journals.

Incidentally, all these ferns necessitated all sorts of fern cases, aquariums, terrariums and other methods of constructing suitable environments for the precious and often costly fern specimens.  I share a few copies of the advertisements for Victorian fern cases from the book.

Neo Geo Terrarium by Ricardo Espinoza

Photo by Ted Savage

One wonderful aspect of terrariums is their versatility.  Terrarium enthusiasts design terrariums in a variety of themes and moods- from whimsical and fantastical (think mini faeries and glitter), to scientific or historic themed (beakers, test tubes and steampunk) or modern and angular.

Check out these geometric terrariums by Ricardo Espinoza.  While the angular, gem-facet look is becoming very common in terrariums - I haven't seen the wall-mounted geometric terrarium like the one in the photo.  See more at mocoloco.com.

Terrariums: Tropical Plants in Dry Climates

It can be frustrating to not be able to grow lush tropical plants due to your residency in an arid climate.  Cue this neat article about terrariums in the Star Phoenix,


Guillaume Blondel says:

"In northern climates like ours, we have a hard time keeping tropical plants. In our dry, heated homes they tend to lose foliage. But in a terrarium, the humidity is always high, and plants flourish."

Engage Kids in Flower Shows by Adding a Terrarium Category

Photo by Hugh Fisher, for the Salisbury Post

Flower shows may be waning in popularity but a simple way to build the next generation of gardeners is to involve kids early!  The Retro Flower Show in North Carolina experienced  an increase in competition entries after adding three new kid-friendly categories to a new "youth division:" terrariums, single flowers and dish gardens.

What can kids learn from making terrariums? Terrariums are a great hands-on learning tool for children as they illustrate both plant life cycles and the water cycle.

Robert Mayers, competition judge said:

“A lot of times they garden with their grandparents … It’s good to get them involved in hands-on activities like gardening, and get them thinking.”

Grow Little Terrariums

Kali Vermès, a Paris-based artist maintains Grow Little, her terrarium business.  Read more at babble.com.

10 Terrariums to Check Out Today

HomArt Pierre Faceted Glass Terrarium from Amazon.com

inthralld.com shares ten terrariums to get your creative juices flowing!  Who's up for a geometric terrarium?

Moss Monday: Terrariums for Dorm Rooms

Some artfully selected moss can make a lovely spot of greenery for a crowded dorm room.  Take a break from your dutiful studies and gaze at some greenery every so often.  Read more about making a terrarium for a dorm room at The Bates Student.

Glass Gazebo Terrarium

Why not add a miniature greenhouse to your mini garden?  This glass "gazebo" terrarium from Anthropologie looks just like a greenhouse fit for a doll.

Open a New World with a Terrarium Garden

Triblive.com reports on the popularity of terrarium-making classes in the Pennsylvania area, citing the appeal of monitoring a miniature ecosystem right from your desk.  The author also cites a helpful list of plants best suited for terrarium life:

"Plants that work best are those that require low to moderate light, do well in high humidity and can be easily pruned. Ferns, tradescantia, pilea, alternanthera and cryptanthus work well. Begonias and African violets are nice options for added pops of color. Club moss makes a nice ground, and ivy and creeping fig can help round out the look."

How to Make an Orchid Terrarium

How to Build an Orchid Terrarium -- powered by ehow

Check out this great video from Chuck Dorr, from the 'Dig' garden shop.  He makes some great points about the terrarium environment you'll need to support an orchid:

• Water very sparingly
• Build a "nest" of bark on the surface of your terrarium soil to keep your orchid out of the dirt

You'll have to watch the video for the rest of his advice!  And check out his other videos on e-how

Ten Themes for Your Terrarium

If you've made a few plain terraria and are looking for a new theme or inspiration, check out 10 out-of-the-box ideas at Concrete Playground.  I'll give you one spoiler: yoda.

Build-a-Faux Terrarium

Thanks to an anonymous reader who left a helpful link to willardandmay.com, purveyors of what appear to be the rolls royces of faux terrariums.  I love that some of the fake plant inserts appear to have roots - as the root system is one of my favorite visible parts of a real terrarium!

Help, I Overwatered: Removing Water from a Terrarium

You've gone and overwatered your terrarium and all the signs are there: condensation on all the interior surfaces, drowned plants and possibly the appearance of algae scuz.  I have one trick for you to try.

Twist up a paper towel or two and dangle them into your terrarium until it just touches the surface of the soil.  Paper towels are mega absorbent and thanks to capillary action - water will travel up the surface and out of your terrarium.  Think of it as the opposite of using a water wick to water houseplants.

Leave the paper towel wick for a few hours and then toss the sopping thing out!

Trio of Terrarium Candlesticks

Visit partylite.com for the full set of instructions for these adorable "candlestick" terraria.  These would look great placed down a table runner.

Lyndon Lyon Greenhouses Inc.

I first learned of LyndonLyon.com on a gardening forum.  The supplier mainly specializes in african violets (immense variety in size and shape of african violets...) but also carries a small selection of terrarium-suitable plants for reasonable prices.

Nautilus Aquatics

Nautilus Aquatics in Ohio develops elaborate terrarium arrangements for use in vivariums, such as the above photo of an "Indiana Jones" themed mudskipper vivarium.

Three Things to Consider When Selecting a Terrarium Vessel

Dennis7Dees.com shares a short and sweet tutorial for getting started with your first terrarium, including selecting the best container for your terrarium.  You'll have to click through the link to see the three suggestions but I'll share one here:

"Air-space or headroom inside container (above plants, once planted) should be at least ½ of container or more."

Orchids for Terrariums: Jewel Orchid

Yellow-flowered jewel orchid available at logees.com

Commenters on orchid themed discussion forums often suggest "jewel orchids"(Anoectochilus chapaensis) as a great starter orchid for terrariums.  The compact size and love of humidity makes them a natural for a terrarium environment - although you may not achieve the traditional orchid "look."  Have you ever owned a jewel orchid?