Children’s Garden Club
Volume # 9, Sheet 2 February 2nd, 2008 Terrariums Sappington Garden Center 11530 Gravois Welcome - I am glad to see everyone at this February meeting - to learn all about Terrariums and
be able to enter them into the 2008 “Rainbow of Colors Flower Show” at the Builders Home & Garden Show at the America’s Center & Edward Jones Dome, Youth Horticulture Section - Class 16. Our next meeting is at the America Center from February 28th to March 2nd Lawn & Garden section # s 1428 & 1432. Next Join us March 1st at Sherwood’s Forest Nursery & Garden Center, 2651 Barrett Station Road our topic will be Seeds & Spouts, please join us. Today, I would like to Thank Annie Stanley with Sappington Garden Shop and staff for hosting this month’s meeting. Annie has some great plants & bubble bowls that we will be using to construct our terrariums. I would also like to introduce Madelyn Hucker of the Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri, ECD, Madelyn will go over some information you will need if you wish to enter your terrarium Class 16 or for those that did not attend last month meeting on Class 12 “Sunrise, Sunset” – Today we will also go over - Class 13 “Cordon Bleu” – a picture representation not to exceed 10" x 12" constructed form various dried legumes, dried herbs, dried flowers and or other dried plant material. We have a assortment of 8.5" x 11" card stock for you to take home to use in for the Flower show. Also Sue Reed and Jeanette Helland have offered to help with entries that need to be delivered to the
America Center. It would be nice to confirm with them either Today or by Phone – (636) 537-0469, if you are interested. They will help you & your parents transport entries if they are drop off at Sherwood Forest for transportation down to the Home Show for you. We have attached the rules & information with a entry application, and 2008 calendar. Terrariums’ are a fun green project to do in the winter months. We are going to assist you in starting your terrarium, thanks to this months sponsor Sappington Garden Shop. Terrariums are another form of miniature garden or landscape you can develop. In the past planting a open container, you need to remember to consider the height and size of your plants, (some say the thriller, filler, spiller) rocks, bark, and your special figures make your own. Terrariums can be constructed in a wide selection of containers from bottles, pickle jars, jugs, bubble bowls, brandy snifters, fish tanks, etc.. Within these preferred glass containers, there is a moist atmosphere and plants are protected from a lack of humidity, sudden change in temperatures and drafts. These glass gardens practically maintain themselves. The History Behind the Terrarium Transparent Containers for growing plants, Can be traced back as early as 500 BC were plants were kept under bell-shaped glass jars for exhibit. The “Fern Case” “or Wardian Case” was discovered accidentally in 1827 by Dr. Nathaniel Ward, 1791 – 1868, a London surgeon, an ardent amateur botanist happened to notice several seedlings had begun to grow in some moist soil in the bottom of a loosely capped bottle into which he had placed a moth chrysalis the previous summer. Dr. Ward placed the bottle on his window ledge and the plants continued to thrive without addition of fresh water for at least nineteen months. His curiosity aroused by the seedlings initiated observation to undertake a series of experiments using ferns, foliage and flowering plants. He had constructed a number of small greenhouses about the size of a bread box, sealed them with putty and watered them about every five to six weeks. The principle of Ward’s invention is quite simple and has been termed the Wardian Case or the Terrarium. The “ Wardian Case “ was a development from his continued observations with many plants in containers and in 1842 published a book called “The growth of plants in closely glazed cases”. Among the bottled plants was a fern and unlike the ferns in his garden, it looked healthy; Dr. Ward concluded that plants could flourish in London if they could be protected from the city’s polluted air. Ward pursued discovery in miniature greenhouses, which he named fern cases, and which are now know as Wardian cases or terrariums. Dr. Ward’s terrariums also became so popular for growing plants, and it became in various guises, almost a domestic necessity. The Wardian cases grew into miniature Taj Mahals and brighton Pavilion, perfect vehicles for the contemporary love of elaborate ornamentation as well as the living plants. The Wardian cases became fashionable in the United States in the early 1860’s and hardly a selfrespecting Victorian household was without one . Today’s “wardian Cases”, or Terrariums as we now call them no longer have the need to keep our plants away from the cold and fouled air, but serve quite another purpose. With the dry air of out
modern air conditioned, and forced air heated homes, many plant have difficulty thriving with out a great deal of attention. Terrariums allow us to keep plants easily in our home in attractive, decorative containers, whole creating and an environment which requires very little care. With this discovery Horticulturist were able to bring back sensitive tropical plants in Wardian cases well-protected from salt air and changing climatic conditions during the long sea voyage A terrarium container is suggested to be made from clear glass or plastic.Tinted or cloudy galss greatly reduces light transmittance and interferes with plant growth. As long as it is clear, almost any type of container may be used - empty fish bowls. fish tanks, brandy snifters, bubble bowls, jugs, bottles, etc.. Once a container is selected, in a preparation of the container for planting it is necessary to wash or clean the container to prevent any unknown elements in to the ecosystem that you will be growing. First place 1 – 2 inches or so (relative to the container) of small pea gravel, next on the top sprinkle a thin layer of charcoal to keep the soil sweet. Like any garden, a terrarium’s success depends on its design and practicability with plant selection. The soil for terrariums is best to be a potting soil with high organic matter clean and sterilized and ready for use. Adding fertilizer is not necessary, since plants should not grow rapidly and stay in scale of the container. Another tip in selecting the right plant’s is to use plants that need about the same amount of water and sunlight. It be best to select naturally small or slow-growing plants with similar requirements for temperature. light, and humidity. Add interest by choosing plants that provide of height, texture, leaf size and color or variegation. If you are hiking finding and adding mosses, lichens with small ferns and bark you can create a woodland effect. Plants material suggested - suitable for terrarium could include ……….. Artillery plant (pilea microphylla), Alumium plant ( Pilea cadierei minima), Baby tears ( Soleirolia Soleirolli), Maidenhair fern ( Adianturm spp.), Fluffy ruffles fern ( Nephrolephis exaltata) Pussytoes (Antennaria spp), wild strawberry, Peperomia ( Peperomia caperata ), (Fragaria spp.), Sweet violet (viola ororata ), Cypress Spikemoss (Selaginella plana), Fittonia (Alumium plant), Podocarpus (Budhist Pine), Wandering Jew (Transcantium) Coffee plant, Spider plant (Chlorophytum comsum “vithatum”), dwarf –miniature African Violet, dwarf-mimiature Orchids , to name a few to get you started.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
2008 Children’s Garden Club Calendar
All meetings are at 9:00a.m. at different locations throughout St. Louis County & City. All are LFree thanks to our Sponsors. No RSVP’s are required, everyone welcome, & Great for Scout troops. The Children’s Garden Club is designed to educate, as well as bring delight in gardening and horticulture with projects they start themselves and take home top continue to grow and enjoy. January 5th, 2008 February 2nd, 2008 Feb 28- March 2 March 1st, 2008 Flower Arranging Terrariums Baisch & Skinner, Inc. – 2721 LaSalle Sappington Garden Center – 11530 Gravois
Flower Show & C.G.G - Home & Garden Show America’ Center Seeds & Spouts Sherwood’s Forest Nursery & Garden Center 2651 Barrett Station Road
April 5th, 2008
Planning & Planting Your Garden – For the Garden at Haefner’s 6703 Telegraph Road Annuals Queeny Park Greensfelder Recreation Complex 550 Weidmen Road
May 3rd , 2008
June 7th , 2008
Perennials in a container – Sherwood’s Forest Nursery & Garden 2651 Barrett Station Road Summer Bulbs with Jason Delaney with Missouri Botanical Garden 4344 Shaw Blvd. Possible New Sponsor Lend a Hand – Care for the Land Observe, Explore, and Care for the environment, generally Caring for the planet we live on. Queeny Park Greensfelder recreation complex 550 Weidmen Road The Magic of Fall For the Garden at Haefner’s 6703 Telegraph Road.
July 12th 2008
August 2nd, 2008 September 13 , 2008
October 4th , 2008
November 1st, 2008 December 6th , 2008
A Fall project Sherwood’s Forest Nursery & Garden Center Enjoying the Holiday Decorations Sherwood’s Forest