By Harvey D. Goodman
To no one’s surprise, the coldest winter in a decade is an absolute “downer.” My winter houseplant projects have reached the maintenance stage, and I am thus ready to embark into some unchartered territory.
The project I have selected allows me to control every facet of growth, even when winter throws us curves and fast balls. For simplicity, let’s title the project “The Fish Tank Garden.”
Many of us have stored in a dark, forgotten corner a discarded 10- or 20-gallon fish tank. The glass container may have held fish, gerbils or hamsters. And now it sits idle, awaiting its newest resident.
Welcome to the world of terrariums — self-contained mini-gardens that survive by natural cycles and a minimum of care.
Begin by placing a layer of charcoal and gravel on the bottom of the tank. The charcoal will absorb some of the naturally occurring metabolic gases; the gravel provides a means for water drainage and a barrier for the roots and any standing water. Then add a 2-to-3-inch layer of light potting compost. Select a mixture that is blended for use with cuttings.
Now be creative. Landscape the ground into hills and valleys. Decorate with stones and pebbles. It is not recommended to incorporate wood. The wood will eventually decay, attract molds and quickly become unsightly.
There is an extensive range of plants suitable for the Fish Tank Garden. Delicate ferns, crotons, fittonia, maranta, cryptanthus, calathea, selaginella and rhoeo will all flourish.
You may wish to become really creative by adding splashes of color between the foliage. African violets and orchids are good choices. Don’t mix categories of plants such as those that are sub-tropical and require high humidity and water, with succulents such as cacti.
Now it’s time to become the gardening artist. Placement of the plants is really up to your taste, but don’t cramp them; leave adequate room so they will be able to spread. Place the gravel, pebbles and other decorations among the plants for an aesthetically pleasant appearance.
Carefully water and mist the plants. Avoid getting the soil wet — a slightly moist compost is quite adequate. Cover the fish tank with a beveled piece of glass and place the terrarium in a well-lit spot, but not in direct sunlight.
Maintenance is incredibly simple. The glass cover allows for the recycling of water through evaporation and condensation. Indeed, that is the one condition that should be monitored carefully. If excessive condensation appears on the glass cover, slide it open for a few hours to allow the moisture to escape. If there is a lack of condensation, water ever so carefully.
There is little else to do other than removing dead or diseased leaves and watering every few weeks or as required. As the plants continue to grow and a jungle-like appearance takes over the fish tank, you may wish to remove some of the larger plants, replacing them with smaller versions of similar flora or new species that add a sense of variety to your project.
Questions or concerns about gardening or houseplants may be addressed to the plant doctor by e-mail at Harvey.Goodman@att.net.
