Terrarium Class and the RE Store

Before the trek to the Seattle Tilth Edible Plant Sale I attended "Creative Terrariums" Class at the RE Store in Ballard.  If you have not checked out the RE Store or its counterparts in Seattle: Earthwise and Second Use they are an absolute must.  They are architectural salvage stores and in addition to flooring and appliances they carry second hand furniture, mirrors, and a bunch of other amazing things.  Their ever-changing inventory makes them worth checking out once every few months.  Some inventory is even posted online.

After my class yesterday I found this great counter-height kitchen cart that fits perfectly into our kitchen nook!

Anyhow, back to the class. It was put on by a local landscape design company. A RE Store employee collected lamps, vases, and other glass containers from their store and the landscaping company provided gravel, filter cloth, soil, and plants for our terrariums. 

If you are interested in making your own terrarium they are a great plant for an indoor space like an office.  They require little water, particularly the enclosed terrariums, and the plants that are generally used are low-light plants such as ferns. 

They actually should not be put in direct sunlight or near a window because they will bake with the sun shining directly through the glass.

I selected a hanging glass vase for my terrarium and a mixture of ferns, grass, and a fig ground cover.

Terrarium Instructions:

(1) Put a 1 inch layer of small gravel in the bottom of your container.
(2) Place a piece of black filter cloth over the gravel cut to the shape of your terrarium container.
(3) Add 2 inches of potting soil mixture.
(4) Add plants using a device such as a chopstick to help you dig a hole if the opening of your terrarium is not very large.
(5) Add a trinket or two as appropriate. (Note in my terrarium there is a small plastic pig rooting around in the soil.)
(6) Add your plants choosing different sizes, shapes, colors, and textures.