creating a mini garden in a glass jar

[queen of the cobs]

Dear All,

I've been given a large, round green glass jar with a neck just wide enough to get an arm in (can hold it in my arms and my hands cross at the wrists (Does that make sense? I'm saying it's quite big, but not enormous).

I thought it might be fun to create a little garden in it with sempervivum etc in it that are pretty hardy and don't need too much looking after. So, my questions:

• growing medium? Soil from the garden? They are going to be in there for good, so potting compost would be exhausted?
• should I add something, such as water-retaining crystals to help it along for the first year?
• how often to water?
• any suggestions for other plants?

thanks.

[ladylottie]

Gosh this post takes me back about thirty odd years when we all seemed to be doing this! Have a look at this link

http://www.houseplantsguru.com/using...e-plants]Using Glass Containers For House Plants

If I remember rightly the most important thing was not to put any flowering plants in the bottle and to be very careful as you potted it up not to get too much soil on the sides. I just treated it the same as any other pot plants, watering when needed and adding liquid feed occasionally.

Good luck - they were great fun to do - put a picture up when you've done it.

[queen of the cobs]

http://www.houseplantsguru.com/using...e-plants]Using Glass Containers For House Plants

Hmm, can't make the link work or find it on houseplantsguru, however, you seem to have given me the requisite advice.

Will give it a go, many thanks lottielady.

[veggiechicken]

They were called Bottle gardens and I have still have the huge green narrow necked "bottle" sitting, covered in dust, on top of the cupboard, Try this Glass act: Bottled gardens make pretty projects when it's cold outside | Mail Online

[ladylottie]

QotC - Sorry, try this link instead:

Using Glass Containers For House Plants