Terrarium Gardening

This week we planted dianthus flowers in terrariums.  This was inexpensive for a few reasons.  Our horticulturist was given 12 terrariums from a liquor store to use.  They held small liquor bottles.  It took me two days to remove the liquor stickers—but they are very nice bowls.  I was also able to use some left over OmaGro to fill them.  This will also give the plants some well needed fertilizer to start them out.  Passers-by think they are fish bowls!  Others are impressed with our recycling abilities.

The other cost savings is the time of year.  Plants are clearanced out now—I got four packs of plants (24) for $3.  I picked flowering plants that were small, and could handle the terrarium environment.  Small moss or cactus-like plants would also do well—but weren’t clearance out!  Go with the flow I always say!

While the children planted their plants, we discussed different places plants could grow, and how the environment really had a large affect on them.  We also had to discuss why I had to put the chemical Sevin on the broccoli plants—as the bugs were getting more than we were.  We also needed to place a shade cover over our broccoli bed, as it was getting too much sun, and may not set on.  I found a vent cover in the back room that we weren’t using, so it will let filtered sun through and the rain—just not direct July sun.  Thank goodness for our horticulturists!  More recycling.  Total cost of today’s adventure–$3.

I also needed to use Sevin dust on the eggplant (which are growing nicely!), because the eggplant beetles were eating the leaves.  The sun and heat and rain every few days REALLY helps the garden.  I think this week is it for the lettuce, then we will replant.