Creating a DIY bottle garden is a great way to display plants at the same time as making an indoor feature. Terrariums have grown in popularity tremendously in recent years along with the houseplant trend, so it’s a great way to put your green fingers to use along with making an on-trend statement in your home. Bottle gardens can be used in any space but particularly useful if you only have a small area or no more room for houseplants. You can even add your own personal touches to make it really special.
1. A bottle
Firstly you will need a clear glass bottle with a lid or even a jar but the bottle effect is by far the best to look at. Make sure its thoroughly cleaned without any remaining food or residue on the inside as this could impact the plant growth. Use some warm, soapy water to remove any labels from the outside and scrub off any glue. Choose the size you want according to where it will stand. A large glass jar could stand on a coffee table or a smaller jar on a shelf. A bowl without a lid can also be used.
2. Soil
Depending on the size of the bottle you are using you’ll need soil to fill at least one third. A good potting soil is by far preferable but other composts will work. If you’ve got some coffee grounds, they could be mixed in to help retain moisture. Before you plant up, make sure the soil is moist but not soaking. The water is carefully after the plants inside have been arranged.
3. A plant
If you are growing in a small bottle, you may only need one plant but if you have a larger space, you can fill your DIY bottle garden with a few plants to create a lovely display. Think about using ground cover plants and small, low growing greenery so your bottle garden doesn't end up out of control! If you are planting cuttings, just lay it on the soil, otherwise make sure the plants are placed into the soil and firmed down. Depending on the bottle neck size you can use a spoon or even a chopstick. Ferns, Frittonia’s and Air Plants are great to use in a Terrarium.
You can add your own personality to your DIY bottle garden by covering the soil with colourful stones or marbles, they could even match your interior decorations. The same applies to a base layer of stones under the soil before planting. When you have completed your DIY bottle garden, you won't need to do much else to it, they are really simple to grow. Just water it occasionally as needed.
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