Terrarium in a Vase at Nouveau Classics

A little reader inspiration for this month as we look at gardens of all types - here is a slightly offbeat and stylish terrarium project that hit our inbox yesterday...

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Aaron wrote, "Just wanted to pass along this fun project I just completed here at our store, Nouveau Classics in Nashville, TN. I made a little terrarium with some succulents and cacti, using a vase by 18 Karat as opposed to the usual bowl. So far, it's been a big hit among customers."

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We applaud the creative use of a big vase for a terrarium. It's nice to find a way to use these type of large scale vases on a more day to day basis. A terrarium is a long term beautifier so why not use a vessel that otherwise might only be displayed now and then?

Thanks for the inspiration, Aaron!

Comments (13)

if by, "slightly offbeat and stylish" you mean, looks exactly like a bong...then yes.

It's great looking though!

posted by inertia on June 26th 2008 at 1:44pm
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LOL

How do you fit your hands in there?

posted by mscot on June 26th 2008 at 2:08pm
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Yes, inquiring minds want to know...How is this done?

posted by danze on June 26th 2008 at 2:30pm
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I heart it. Yeah, how DID you arrange that thing? Using a ship-in-a-bottle technique?

posted by InTheDetails on June 26th 2008 at 2:31pm
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I wondered the same thing! How??

posted by piratemptress on June 26th 2008 at 2:43pm
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It is totally bong-ish! But to answer your question, when sitting on the floor, the top of the vase comes just past my elbow and it's wide enough where the stem meets the bowl portion to move my hand around. The cacti were the only cumbersome things to deal with, other than that, it took about 30 minutes to do.

posted by A. Ron Hubbard on June 26th 2008 at 2:53pm
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Great Job Ron! I may try something like that....

posted by quiltmaster on June 26th 2008 at 4:22pm
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OK, it looks totally cool, but cactus/succulents and fittonia/pilea in the same terrerium? One or the other is going to keel in a week. The cacti need bright light and little water. The leafy plants need less light, more water and humidity.

I truly hate to rain on your parade, it is a beautiful design.

posted by whytephoenix on June 27th 2008 at 6:16am
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Thanks for letting us know how it is done, A. Ron!!!

posted by danze on June 27th 2008 at 7:20am
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Yeah, I knew that going into it, but figured I'd give it a shot. This one is one of the original ones that we did and has actually been on the floor for over a bit now and is still going strong. It gets a lot of sun from the windows and I think that there's just enough condensation in the vase to keep the succulents happy.

posted by A. Ron Hubbard on June 27th 2008 at 7:26am
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So cute, I want one!

Dont succulents need a drainage hole?

posted by mrsemerald on June 27th 2008 at 11:48am
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The key ingredient is putting gardening charcoal at the bottom. It absorbs the water and keeps it from smelling bad. You make a layer with that, add your potting soil, your plants, then whatever rocks you want.

posted by A. Ron Hubbard on June 27th 2008 at 12:49pm
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cool! I've been picking up those little round glass fish bowls in hopes to make a special plant arrangment. Thanks for the excellent inspiration!

posted by lynnea on June 27th 2008 at 12:59pm
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