Buzz
A glass plant container is a small indoor garden housed within a glass pot or box. These plants are typically resilient species that are perfect for people who lack gardening skills or do not have the time to care for plants. You can plant a variety of different species in a glass container. These containers bring a touch of nature to work desks, nightstands, and other small spaces.
Steps
Choose Plants
Select the plants. Any plant that is hearty enough can thrive in a glass container. Opt for plants that can grow well together. Commonly chosen plants (but not limited to) for miniature gardens in glass containers include ferns, moss, succulents, and cacti.
- Choose plants that are small in size. While you can grow a large lavender bush in a glass container, it’s easier to plant smaller species. Pick plants that won’t exceed the height of the container once fully grown.
- Shade-loving plants are ideal. Plants in glass containers must be able to tolerate low-light conditions. If you place sun-loving plants in the dark, they will become stressed and die.
- Choose plants that thrive in high humidity. The humidity inside a glass container increases quickly, so it’s best to select plants that are native to tropical rainforests, as they flourish in such environments.
- If you’re new to gardening, go for plants that are cheap and easy to grow. Choose affordable and low-maintenance plants.
Choose a Plant Pot. You'll need a deep glass container that can accommodate your plant's roots. The pot you select could be an old fish tank or a specialized pot for growing plants.
- Glass cloche – This type maintains high humidity, but you'll occasionally need to remove the lid to allow the plant to breathe.
- Hanging jar – This one also has high humidity but offers better air circulation.
- Bell jar or glass vase makes a great choice for creating a tall glass plant pot.
- Wardian case – Suitable for both closed and open glass plant pots.
- Fish tank – Fish tanks work similarly to glass pots; they can be left open or covered with a glass lid.
- Jar, jar, or jam jar – A glass pot with an open top can be aesthetically pleasing, but you'll need to water the plant frequently, no matter the jar type.
- In this guide, we'll use a fish tank as our glass container (see the image).
Pick a Pot Location. Glass plant pots are healthy for your plants, but you must choose the right spot to keep your plant thriving.
- Light: All plants need light, and glass pots are no exception. However, glass amplifies sunlight, so placing your glass pot in direct sunlight is risky. Opt for a location where your plant gets indirect light, or use fluorescent lights, always adhering to safety guidelines for purchasing specialized garden bulbs.
- Temperature: Glass pots should be placed indoors in a warm spot (areas like porches or arches are not ideal unless you want to risk freezing your plant). Avoid placing them near heaters or air conditioners, and keep them away from areas with extreme or fluctuating temperatures.
- Choose a Suitable Surface: Avoid placing the glass pot on delicate surfaces. Also, keep it out of reach of children and pets.
Buy Materials. To make your glass plant pot, you'll need the following:
- Soil. Choose moisture-retaining soil with moss or peat moss if possible. To check the moisture level, squeeze a handful of soil: when you release it, moist soil will hold its shape, while dry soil will crumble apart.
- Gravel or pebbles. These materials placed at the bottom of the pot help prevent waterlogging and create a surface for your plant's roots in the glass pot. Choose small pebbles (less than 1 cm) for better drainage, though you can opt for larger ones if you prefer.
- Activated charcoal. If your pot lacks drainage holes, use activated charcoal. You can find it at pet stores or garden centers. It helps keep the soil clean.
- Sheet moss. Sheet moss is helpful when lined at the bottom of the glass pot. It acts like a sponge to absorb excess water from the plant.
- Gloves. When handling sheet moss, it's best to wear gloves and long sleeves to avoid fungal infection. Gloves are also useful when handling activated charcoal.
- Decorative Items. Select any decorative pieces you'd like to include in your glass plant pot, as long as they won't degrade when in contact with water. For example, small gnome figurines, shells, pebbles, mini statues, or aquarium decor work well.
- Avoid adding live creatures to your glass plant pot as they may harm the plant and introduce bacteria.
Planting in a Glass Pot
Clean the Glass Pot. If the pot was previously used, wash it thoroughly with soap and water to remove any leftover soap residue. A dirty glass pot can harbor bacteria, so use an antibacterial soap if possible.
Add some gravel to prevent waterlogging for your plant. Mix gravel or pebbles with charcoal. Pour this mixture into a glass plant pot, ensuring it's about 2 cm thick.
Place a layer of moss. Moss helps filter and prevents soil from spilling into the gravel layer underneath.
Fill the pot with soil. Depending on the size of your glass pot and the length of the plant's roots, you should add about 5 to 8 cm of soil. Lightly press the soil down to remove air pockets and ensure an even surface. Create small holes where you'll plant the roots.
Plant the greenery. Gently remove the plant from its pot and shake the roots to remove excess soil. Place the plant in the hole you've made and fill around it with soil, pressing it gently. Continue planting the other plants using the same technique.
Add decorative touches. You can add more moss or pebbles to tidy up the surface of your glass plant pot.
Increase humidity for the plant. Gently water the plant, and you'll have successfully created a beautiful glass terrarium!
Plant care
Water the plant. Occasionally water the plant if you have an open glass terrarium. However, this won't be necessary for a closed one. Still, plants in an open terrarium need watering once a week. Succulents and cacti only require watering once a month.
Keep the plant healthy. Immediately remove any damaged areas, such as weeds, mold, or sick parts. Also, trim any old or faded parts of the plant, like withered flowers.
Ensure proper ventilation. If you're working with a closed glass terrarium, allow air circulation. While this isn't always necessary, if your plant starts wilting or if condensation appears inside the glass, let some air in (for example, by leaving one side of the container open, possibly by propping it up with a small stone under the corner).
Advice
- Some plants can grow from branches or leaves. If you know someone who grows these types of plants, ask for a small cutting to propagate.
- Don't place your glass terrarium in a dark corner; it should receive indirect light to thrive.
- Tropical plants are the best choice because they enjoy high humidity and come in many vibrant colors.
- Many large plant stores offer small glass terrarium plants for sale.
Warning
- This article guides you on planting in glass terrariums for decorative purposes. If you're planning to use a terrarium for frogs, turtles, or other animals, make sure to research the needs of these creatures beforehand.
- Don't overwater your plants. Only water when the soil and sides of the container feel dry.
Things You Need
- Loose, well-draining soil that absorbs water easily.
- Pebbles or gravel.
- Activated charcoal.
- Moss mat.
- Gloves and long sleeves.
- Decorative items (optional).
