A Terrarium, Mason Jar, and Potted Succulent

I bought some new terrarium plants last weekend. My terrarium has been empty for awhile since the plants in it had died. I knew I was going to be stopping at Terrain at Styers in Glen Mills, PA on Sunday after attending a lecture at Longwood Gardens, and they always have nice terrarium plants there. What surprised me, though, was what a nice selection they also had in the garden shop at Longwood Gardens.

My terrarium with new plants.

My terrarium now has Yellow Irish Moss (Sagina Subulata ‘Aurea’) and Pin-Cushion Spikemoss (Selaginella Kraussina ‘Brownii’) that I had gotten at the garden shop at Longwood Gardens, and Polka Dot Plant (Hypoetes Phllostachya) which I had gotten at Terrain at Styers.

I had some tiny shells and a little fairy figurine that seemed perfect for my terrarium. (I took these two shots with a macro lens extension.)

While I was at Terrain, I got inspired by some pansies they had planted in a mason jar. I already had what I needed to make my own mason jar planter, except a plant. I bought a cute little fern to go in it. I layered in some charcoal, stones, moss, and soil before adding my fern. I love it! I want to make more!

Small fern in a mason jar.

I found this lovely green, elongated pot at Terrain that was on clearance. I’m wishing I had gotten two because I love how it turned out with this succulent and stones. I believe the succulent is Haworthia. I am in the process of trying to learn more about succulents because I’ve fallen head over heals for them.

I think this succulent is Haworthia.

Up Close With My Orchid

My Phalaenopsis Orchid is blooming. I thought I’d experiment taking some pictures with my macro extension tubes. I’ve been contemplating getting a macro lens, however they are very expensive. Brian got the macro extension tubes for Christmas for me to try and see how they work. Here’s my orchid up close and personal.

Orchid Phalaenopsis.

Orchid Phalaenopsis.

Windowsill Plants

Some of my windowsill plants are blooming, so I thought it was a good time to post about them. We have a bay window in our family room that is the perfect spot for a few plants. Not too many, though, since there has to be room for my two cats, too!

Plants in the bay window.

My favorite plant in this grouping is of course the orchid. It is a Phalaenopsis KV Beauty “Golden Treasure” (Salu Peoker x Chih Shang’s Stripes). The only reason I know that is I actually saved the tag! I bought this orchid a year or two ago at the annual Longwood Gardens Orchid Show and Sale. (Definitely worth a visit each year.)

Phalaenopsis KV Beauty “Golden Treasure” orchid.

I have always been intimidated by orchids and was told the Phalaenopsis is the easiest to grow. It has done really well in this windowsill. So well that it’s outgrowing its pot.

Yep, those are roots growing out of the pot. Probably not a good sign.

Another plant that is flowering right now is this one with tiny orange blossoms. I obviously didn’t save the tag for this one because I can’t remember the name. A friend had given this to me when I had an emergency appendectomy two years ago (surprise! I’m your appendix and I need to come out NOW!) I really need to cut this back so it’s not so spindly, but it is flowering so nicely right now so I’ll have to wait on that.

Colorful orange blooms brighten up the house in winter.

I love terrariums, yet I don’t have a true terrarium with all of its tiny, perfect little specimens. I tried planting one in this small terrarium, but the only plant that survived was this coleus, which is now taking over.

Terrarium with coleus.

I love bell jars. This first one I had gotten at Terrain at Styers. It used to house my African violet, however, the violet did so well in it that it outgrew it. I temporarily stuck a sweet little sedum in it and it seems to actually like it. I think sedums usually do well with more air and not such a humid environment, so I think I’ll have to find something else for this bell jar soon.

Sedum.

Brian was observant enough to notice that my African violet needed a new home and he bought me a larger bell jar for Christmas. It’s a really beautiful one from Williamsburg. Interesting note: My African violet is quite old and never bloomed until I moved it into a bell jar. Now it blooms quite often. Although, it’s not blooming right now.

African violet in a gorgeous bell jar.