From small scale exotics to hanging gardens, there's lots of inventive ideas for displaying your plants inside adding a creative edge to your living spaces, not least the iconic terrarium...
Originally used to transport plants between Britain and her distant colonies, the terrarium has become a cult symbol over the years. No hip modern home is complete without one – a far cry from 1829, when English doctor Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward first noticed a fern growing well inside a sealed glass jar while others in his garden withered and died.
After some observation and experimentation, he devised what would become known as the Wardian Case – an antique-looking glass enclosure that was soon enabling plant specimens to survive sea journeys to India, Australia, and beyond.
Modern terrariums emerged in the 60s and 70s, with their miniature ecosystems chiming with a newfound appreciation for the fragility of our own planet. Publications like the Whole Earth Catalog and other DIY manuals abounded, making terrariums an integral part of many a childhood.
Today, Ward’s original design remains a retro classic, while a new generation of designers is crafting the third wave of terrariums.
Here’s our top picks:
Brass Terrarium. Apart from being an adorable mini garden, this also works beautifully as a candle lantern on a shelf. Skillfully made by fair trade artisans.
Decorator’s Notebook
Geometric 3D Terrarium. Perfect for air plants (Tillandsia) this adds a definite talking point to your living space.
DingaDing Terrariums
Teardrop Terrarium. This beautiful terrarium comes almost ready to go. All you gave to do is take the plant from its bag and inset it into the teardrop. Can be hung but also can sit on any flat surface.
The Art of Succulents
