Set It and Forget It!
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- Gay_Klok
- Cottage_Garden
- Lynda04
- Cottage_Garden
-
Jo Murphy
- Cottage_Garden
- Cottage_Garden
- Cottage_Garden
-
Jo Murphy
- Cottage_Garden
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» Gay_Klok - What plants?
Do you only grow the African violets?It reminded me of the African violets that were growing in the basement of the home Kees rented for 3 months when I married him in Canada. A very nice home belonging to a retired bank manager who was going on an extended holiday after finishing his working years. Kees was easing me into married life very nicely! I was a most undomestic creature in those days
There were dozens of African violets in the basement with special lights which we had to turn off and on for so many hours a day [I have forgotten] - I was frightened I would kill those plants, they were very important and beautiful things that I had never really seen before. My natural garden istincts must have started developing, I didn't over water them and avoided splashing the water on their leaves
-- posted by Gay_Klok
» Cottage_Garden - Re: What plants? LOTS!!
In response to message posted by Gay_Klok:I try different things, depending on what I can find at the nurseries locally (meaning within a 40 minute hiway trip). SOme work better than others, I think my house is too cold in the witner for some of the fussier tropicals. There is also a big variation from night to day and not all plants like that, either.
The violets bloomed, they were sold as minis but have gotten BIG! I think they like it in there.
I tossed in a leaf from an eyelash begonia -- now rooted and GROWING -- and a snippet of a sweet small leafed philodendron, there are some specialty plants in there with those violets, too.
The latest one my daughter and I made has a dwarf fittonia and a baby's tears and a nifty little specialty grass textured thing -- I can't recall offhand what it is but I found it in a bonsai department. We also added a little bridge for fun.
Our cat likes to eat plants so the terrarium thing is very attractive -- it protects the plants AND the kitty.
Little monster. She acts like a two year old. If she wants attention or is bored she nibbles on plants and looks me in the eye. mmmmmrrrrrAAAAARRRH? she says. Hrmph.
I have my seed pans in a wire cage on top of the refrigerator -- she likes to sit up there for the view and maybe the warmer air currents so last year my seeds had pawprints right down the middle of each pan. This year I have Taken Appropriate Precautions. She is a very cute kitty, a Devon Rex, very smart but OOOOoooooooooooooh! LOL
-- posted by Cottage_Garden
» Lynda04 - A new use for my old fish tank?
Do you think an old fish tank will make a terranium? It is plastic, about 14 inches high and the circumference is 16 inches? I would love to have a go at this, but am not sure what sort of plants to put in.Thanks for a most interesting article!
-- posted by Lynda04
» Cottage_Garden - Re: A new use for my old fish tank?
In response to message posted by Lynda04:
YES You bet! Perfect!
I started one in an abandoned fish tank last winter, it works just fine. 
I was very careful though to clean it out thoroughly. I also recycled the gravel.
Are you looking for flowering plants or foliage plants or just a desert type dish garden effect?
I keep mine closed to protect the plants from the kitty but you can do a sort of dish garden thing as well. An open top may also allow you to expand the range of plants you grow, although to me then it is not really a terrarium any more and it will also need some additional care and attention -- like watering periodically.
Do you have a preference?
-- posted by Cottage_Garden
»
Jo Murphy
- Bottles
I went through a phase last year where I bought about twenty really big old bottles for the markets ... I won't explain.
Anyway now that I am going back to the primary classroom what an excercise. Pair up and make terrariums. We could make tiny little clay critters and let them peek out from behind the mini bushes? Should be fun.
This thing let me get back in to edit. I just worked out what 'set it and forget it' means. (grin) I am a bit slow. It was the throw away line that attracted me in the first place.
Jo
http://www.busywomen.com.au
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/mura...
-- posted by Jo Murphy
» Cottage_Garden - Re: Bottles
In response to message posted by martine3038:I have made mini terrariums with cildren ages about 6 and up. You can use a clear plastic two liter soda bottle, nice recycling. Cut the top off about half way up the bottle so you have a lid. Add soil, plant with something simple like a cutting from a pretty English ivy (Hedera helix cultivar) or Hypoestes (Pink polka dot plant), add a bit of bark or stones or your tiny clay figures or whatever, some glitter for fairy dust ... use a bit of tape to make a hinge or two for the lid, and voila. Nonbreakable inexpensive and best of all, it really works.
-- posted by Cottage_Garden
» Cottage_Garden - Re: Bottles
In response to message posted by martine3038:Hint: If the bottles are narrow necked, use a funnel to add the soil and then plant with a pair of long chopsticks using them as best you can like long handled tweezers. You can also tape a spoon onto the end of a long stick (maybe a bit of bamboo) and use that as a mini trowel. Small children might find this a bit fiddly -- I know I would lose my mind trying to do this with or without kids helping. (grin)
-- posted by Cottage_Garden
» Cottage_Garden - Plants For Dish Gardens & Terrariums
In response to message posted by Cottage_Garden:I have just written an article with links to lists of plants and very specific instructions for making these little gardens. If you want to try your hand at it, I would highly recommend reading it for loads more helpful tips and inspiration. Some deal specifically with doing terrariums for children and there are some great step-by-step illustrations and photos.
-- posted by Cottage_Garden
»
Jo Murphy
- Re: Re: Bottles
I love the Potatoe Bonsaii
Very, very appealing idea for the kids,
Jo
http://www.busywomen.com.au
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/mura...
-- posted by Jo Murphy
» Cottage_Garden - Re: Re: Re: Bottles
In response to message posted by brisbaneartist:Thank you! The potato bonsai cna be a bit anticlimatic though -- you really have nothing to do once you set it on pebbles and hide it in the dark. Then you just wait and see what happens. Unless you want to try to train it by pruning (or nipping off eye bits) to look more like a traditional bonsai form.
-- posted by Cottage_Garden
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