Plants for a bottle garden

Discussion in 'Other Plants' started by clueless1, Jan 23, 2014.

  1. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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    I have a little project idea. I have some half gallon scrumpy bottles standing empty, and I thought it might be fun to do a bottle garden.

    Any suggestions for plants that would this criteria:

    * Easily grown from seed
    * Grow no higher than about 6 inches
    * Can tolerate over/under watering (being in a bottle, there will be no drainage except through evaporation and what the plants consume)
    * Will tolerate the potential heat of being inside a glass bottle on a windowsill
     
    clueless1, Jan 23, 2014
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  2. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    `They are great fun Clueless.. I used to do all sorts years ago... I did the traditional tradascantias spider plants etc.. Small houseplants often work..
    Mosses are brilliant in them & you will be amazed at the different sorts.... Mustn't be direct sun all day though or they will cook...! :hate-shocked:
    If you have a really sunny windowsill & they will get hot try some small tropical plants.. Wilkos often sell..
    Small ferns as well for window sills that don't get direct sun are good too again wilkos often have little ones of them..
    I even grew some small marginal pond plants in some once... Your soil is important though..

    This next link is very informative & says most of what I wanted to say really.. Let us know how you get on... :blue thumb:
    http://www.stormthecastle.com/terrarium/terrarium-plants.htm

    http://www.wikihow.com/Grow-a-Garden-in-a-Bottle

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...garden-thriving-40-years-fresh-air-water.html

    http://www.instructables.com/id/Bottle-Garden/
     
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      Marley Farley, Jan 23, 2014
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    • Kleftiwallah

      Kleftiwallah Gardener

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      Terarium is the word you're looking for. I made one in Hong Kong after 'finding' a acid carboy in the station dump. I even made the lampshade. I wonder what has happened to it?

      Cheers, Tony.
       
      Kleftiwallah, Jan 23, 2014
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    • clueless1

      clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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      Right, I'm stuck again.

      I've searched and searched and can't find any seed suppliers that sell the seeds for suitable plants.
       
      clueless1, Jan 31, 2014
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    • Marley Farley

      Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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      So what plants are you thinking of then Clueless?
       
      Marley Farley, Jan 31, 2014
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    • clueless1

      clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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      I don't know. I need maybe 3 or 4 very, very easy to grow ones. This project is for my 5 year old son, so it needs to be more or less as simple as dropping some seeds into a bottle, in which we've put an inch or so of moistened compost.

      I did look at the articles you posted, which were most helpful, but I'm still a bit bamboozled.
       
      clueless1, Jan 31, 2014
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    • Fern4

      Fern4 Total Gardener

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      Fern4, Jan 31, 2014
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    • Marley Farley

      Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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      OK well why not try some creeping Jenny seeds as a starter & I will have a look for some more. They need to be plants that like a moist atmosphere to start with or you will get mold... Will put my thinking cap on... :SUNsmile:
       
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        Marley Farley, Feb 1, 2014
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      • Marley Farley

        Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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        Can you drop any small plants in them? If you could you would have a wider choice.. germinating seeds & keeping them alive in the same bottle could be a problem.. Otherwise what about trying a few lentils,peas or beans but they would have to grow out of it.. Mustard & cress seeds perhaps..
         
        Marley Farley, Feb 1, 2014
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      • kindredspirit

        kindredspirit Gardening around a big Puddle. :)

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        See the Daily Wail link, I have exactly the same plant sealed in a specially made glass container since 1980. Never been watered and top is sealed. I'm getting bored with it now, though.
         
        kindredspirit, Feb 1, 2014
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      • Marley Farley

        Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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        I had one for about 15yrs with a Traddie in as well Kindered but I moved it up to the greenhouse & forgot it.. It fell victim to the cold up there as I forgot it come the winter..
         
        Marley Farley, Feb 1, 2014
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      • clueless1

        clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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        If they are small enough to fit in the neck of a half gallon scrumpy bottle, then it is an option. Microplugs would fit.
         
        clueless1, Feb 1, 2014
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