This layer can be anywhere from a couple inches deep to half of the container, depending on the size of the bottle, the size of the plants, and the look of the design you’d like to achieve. They are naturally small in stature and can be planted in the growing medium alongside broad leaved evergreens and ferns. Some bottle garden guides suggest several ingredients to start, such as sand, activated charcoal, gravel, and cheesecloth. Add houseplant compost till the bottle is about a third full – breaking up any lumps with your hands.

That being said, a terrarium bottle garden can range from an easy project to an expert build, depending on your container of choice… and how much you’ve had to drink. This photosynthesis process is the opposite of the cellular respiration that occurs in other organisms, including humans, where carbohydrates containing energy react with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water, and release chemical energy. I purchased the pillow moss I used when I updated the planting inside two of my BiOrbAir terrariums in August 2015, and when I created my Rainforest Terrarium in 2018, from Triangle Nursery. By lowering a bamboo pole (or maybe even a bamboo skewer for the smaller bottles) into the center of the bottle, you can wrap an epiphytic vine around and have it be the star of the show.In many cases you will be starting with a brand new or very old Wardian case, bottle, carboy or terrarium, in any event it will need to be washed, to ensure the entire container is clean. The bottle you use can be large or small, wide-mouthed or narrow, open to the air or enclosed completely. The Croton and Pilea have not grown at all, but this could be because it's cooler as we are getting close to Winter now. Working in a similar way to terrariums, you can grow a bottle garden for an indefinite period of time, as long as it’s exposed to the right lighting conditions. Shallow, wide-mouthed containers support drier environments and offer the best option for a terrarium full of cacti or succulents.

A second thin dowel and a slender set of tweezers can also be helpful as you’re manipulating the plants and soil inside the bottle.

This is because flowers do not tend to do well in very moisture rich atmospheres and will rot easily. The best thing about these accent plants is that you can generally trim them down to tiny cuttings and just sprinkle them in. You’ll find the details of the garden centres, nurseries, and suppliers, where I have purchased the terrarium plants, orchids, ferns, mosses, and cork for my BiOrbAir terrariums, my Madagascar Terrarium, my Miniature Orchid Trial Terrarium, my White Orchid Trial Terrarium, my Orchidarium, my Rainforest Terrarium, my Tall Orchidarium, my Glass Globe Terrarium, and my other indoor gardens, at the bottom of this planting list. Adding a final layer of grit after planting will hold the compost down and make your micro-garden look prettier.

Overdoing it will greatly increase the chances of a fungus or mould attack which will ruin all your hard work. If you want to grow a bottle garden that’s truly breath-taking, make sure to choose a variety of plants. The first layer should be a very porous material to help with drainage and prevent fungal attacks caused by too much moisture. Likewise, you could opt for clear, plastic soda bottles and simply cut an opening for your plants to fit in.Aerangis punctata is an epiphytic orchid species, which can be found growing in central highland Madagascar, and also on the island nation of Reunion, at elevations between 900m and 1500m. My glass bottle garden also has a miniature gazing ball that glows in the dark and a fairy-sized fire-pit. You'll also need some good-quality potting compost, shingle or coarse grit and, of course, the plants. Secondly the first layer is generally a fail safe for incorrect watering technique, which (touch wood) we are usually good at.

The fire-pit is a flameless tea light candle in a candle holder (actually the cap from a vodka bottle).

Aerangis hariotiana is a miniature to small sized, epiphytic orchid species that originates from the Comoros Islands, where this orchid can be found growing on trees, in areas of humid forest.