Maybe it is just me. Since I had an order for 40 of my miniature gardens as gifts at the local Johns Hopkins for the staff of one of the hospitals, I am going crazy with Christmas decorating in miniature. Instead of dreaming about sugarplums, I’m dreaming of miniature gardens in an endless line that I am decorating! I love making these small creations that people can enjoy for months to come.
For my popular posts on making miniature gardens, go to Miniature Gardens-Whimisical Creations, Fairy Gardens, and Fairytale Christmas.
It merely takes a small glass terrarium container, bonsai pot, or low terra cotta container and you can make your own. For materials, I use small Christmas balls, reindeer moss, miniatures, sheet moss, and small potted plants from a local nursery. I use either woodland plants for a moist container or succulents for a drier one.
For details on making gnome homes in a cut away pot, go to Gnome Home. You need to cut a chunk out of a terra cotta pot to create this and I give you instructions on how to cut the pot.
All of the plants will get much larger and can be kept in bounds for at least a year. Transplanting and replanting would be in order when the plants grow too large for the container and you could keep the planter going for several years or more.
Step By Step
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Place potting soil in container with drainage: Alternatively, if you have a glass type terrarium, place gravel in bottom with some horticultural charcoal ( few tablespoons, available at garden centers)
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 Plant a variety of plants with different textures and colors, starting with the largest ones first; I used from 3 to 5 plants for each small garden
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If a woodland garden, I like to place moss in between the plants to hide soil; If a succulent garden, place small gravel on surface
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Place any pathways, ornaments, reindeer moss, or gnomes at the very end; I like to use colored glass chunks for added color
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Water thoroughly until the soil is saturated and place in a filtered sun spot for woodland scenes and full sun for succulent ones
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For care, I stick my finger down into the soil to see if it is moist or not; For succulent gardens in the winter water every few weeks, and for woodland ones, water about once a week, depending on how warm and dry your house is
Claire, these are absolutely precious! I love how you tailored these with different types of plants and different environments. What beautiful holiday spirit. All of the recipients are so fortunate to have the gift of your artistry! WG
I loved every one of them. My sister let my air plant die while I was gone. How can that happen? So I’m playing catch up. I’ll keep this for next Christmas when I can breathe again.
Me and you both, It has been too busy!
Wow, I can’t imagine making 40 of these. The hard part for the recipients will be choosing one!
These are absolutely incredible! Fantastic idea, next year I will have to try something like this. I have so much to try next year, my kids gave me a book called Digging Deep by Fran Sorin, what a great book!! I recommend. Her gardening prowess is unmatched. fransorin.com is where her site is. Again, these miniatures are lovely!
Thanks I will check that book out
Beautifull I love this