Question
Hi,
My daughter gave me a huge beautiful glass vase recently that I think would make a great terrarium. It is kind of like a tall, skinny fishbowl. It is about 18" tall & 6" across the top but wider in the middle. Could you suggest any plants that would do well in this type of container & how to make a terrarium? I appreciate your advice.
Thanks, Pam

Answer
Terrariums used to be the rage of the hippie generation, which I guess is probably us.

Then they fell out of favor.

I was thinking of building one myself recently.  There are little woodland plants that I love that were perfect for these.

Terrariums need a special system of soil to keep from generating anaerobic bacteria, which produce methane and cause other problems, all bad for the plants inside.  Get a book out of the library that will show you how to do that.  Or you can buy one on Amazon.com, which has some excellent selections and a free delivery option.

The short answer to that is:  Place one inch of a mixture of gravel and fishtank-filter charcoal across the bottom, then a half inch of sand, and finally 2 to 3 inches of soil.  You'll need a sheet of glass to cover it all, something you can remove from time to time to allow fresh air to re-enter the Terrarium.

My personal favorites included a small bulbous plant with leathery, mottled leaves called Scilla Violacea and a moss called 'Peacock Moss', Selaginella Uncinata.

Rex Begonias are also low light plants that have dazzling leaves.  Peperomias, African Violets, Ferns, Strawberry Plants and lots of others are on the long list of possibilities.

They can all be purchased from Logees Greenhouses in Danielson, CT.  They have a website; you can find a lot of Terrarium plants there.  It's an old family business.  I've bought a lot of things from them.  Craigslist may also have some used accessories or even plants that you can pick up for a song.

Hope that helps.  Thanks for writing.