Cacti and Succulents Garden

UNIT 5 TERRARIUM, BOTTLE GARDEN

AND TRAY LANDSCAPE GARDEN

Structure
5.0 Objectives
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Types of Indoor Landscape Gardens
5.2.1 Terrarium Gardens
5.2.1.1 What is Terrarium?
5.2.1.2 Size of Terrarium
5.2.1.3 Shape of Terrarium
5.2.1.4 Function of Terrarium
5.2.1.5 Selection of Plants for Terrarium
5.2.1.6 Tools and Equipments for Terrarium
5.2.1.7 Preparation of Terrarium
5.2.1.8 Climate for Terrarium
5.2.1.9 Plant Grouping
5.2.1.10 Planting of Terrarium
5.2.1.11 Irrigation of Terrarium
5.2.1.12 After care of Terrarium
5.2.2 Bottle Gardens
5.2.2.1 What is a Bottle Garden?
5.2.2.2 Function of Bottle Gardens
5.2.2.3 Selection of Plants for Bottle Gardens
5.2.2.4 Tools and Equipments for Bottle Gardens
5.2.2.5 Climatic Conditions for Bottle Gardens
5.2.2.6 Planting of Bottle Gardens
5.2.2.7 Irrigation of Bottle Gardens
5.2.2.8 After care of Bottle Gardens
5.2.3 Tray Landscape Gardens
5.2.3.1 Selection of Tray for Landscape Gardening
5.2.3.2 Preparation of Media or Soil for Tray Garden
5.2.3.3 Selection of Plants for Tray Gardens
5.2.3.4 Grouping of Plants for Tray Gardens
5.2.3.5 Plantation of Plants in Tray Gardens
5.2.3.6 Protection of Tray Garden from Enemies
5.2.3.7 After care of Tray Gardens
5.3 Let Us Sum up
5.4 Key Words
5.5 Further References
5.6 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

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Landscaping
5.0 OBJECTIVES
After going through this unit, you will be in a position to:
explain the different types of indoor landscape gardens i.e. Terrarium, Bottle
& Tray landscape gardens,
discuss about the containers to develop these gardens,
essential tools and equipments require for these garden development,
preparation of soil media and development of landscape of containers for
plantation,
essential plants require for these gardens, and
plantation and irrigation methods of these gardens, and after care of these
gardens.

5.1 INTRODUCTION
You have learnt in earlier units of this block about the other type of landscape
gardens. In this unit you will study some other specific gardens like terrarium,
bottle gardens and tray landscape gardens which are very useful for interior
decoration of house. These gardens can be display in the houses, offices or hotels
etc. These gardens are symbolic of beauty, love and tranquility. They form a soul
of a house and convey the message of nature in mini- form to man.

Interior decoration of house with plants and miniature landscaping is granting

popularity these days when most of the people do not have open space in their
houses. Some special features of gardening play a very important role to develop
attractive- mini-garden inside a house. These special features are known as
“Terrarium” (glass cases), bottle garden or aquarium and a beautiful mini
landscape in tray or a dish, or bowl. With the help of these features, it is possible
to create a delightful miniature landscape inside the house. Here in this unit we
will discuss all these things with you. What are the requirement, plants used in
these gardens, how to develop this type of gardens within a containers and how
to maintain these type of gardens inside of a beautiful house. It is an exciting
hobby to plan the long lasting special features of the garden inside the house,
according to their size and shape. These types of gardens are very important for
multistoried residences and hotels etc., where people do not have any outer open
space to develop a garden. People can develop these features easily in their houses
by using the following plan of work, which we will discuss with you under this
unit.

5.2 TYPES OF INDOOR LANDSCAPE GARDENS

These landscape features are of different type, it can be developed in a different
size of glass case, bottle garden which is known as terrarium and a beautiful
mini-landscaping in a tray or dish or a bowl.

5.2.1 Terrarium Gardens

When a landscaping is done under a glass case, box or in a large glass bottle with
round month known as terrarium or bottle garden developed with plants. Terrarium
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feature can be developed in different forms. Its size can be varying according to Terrarium, Bottle Garden
and Tray landscape Garden
the requirements.

5.2.1.1 What is Terrarium ?

When we develop a beautiful landscape within a glass case is called terrarium.

In a terrarium suitable plants can flourish in a small containers world and the
growing requirements of plants being recycled by plant.

5.2.1.2 Size of Terrarium

Terrarium feature can be developed in different forms and size. It may be squire,
round, flat etc., depends on their choice and availability of space in your house.
Generally the convenient size being 1 meter length x 0.5 meter width x 0.5
meter height.

5.2.1.3 Shape of Terrarium

The terrarium are available in different shape with the market. But, sloping roof
instead of a flat one is a good option. It has a glass cover at the top which can be
removed occasionally for ventilation, which is necessary for the plant growth.

5.2.1.4 Function of Terrarium

Terrarium is a closed feature, hence, the plant do not require frequent watering,
as the moisture developed from the transpiration of leaves and evaporation from
the soil, again becomes available to the plants for their functions. This way by
keeping the plants in enclosed containers, drought is excluded and high humidity
can be maintained.

5.2.1.5 Selection of Plants for Terrarium

Plants to be selected for a terrarium are very limited. The plants should be such
types which do not require pruning frequently. For this region you can use suitable
plants. Succulents and quick growing plants are not suitable for the terrarium.
Flowering plants are not suitable too, as the faded flowers of it become difficult
to remove and it left inside become a sources of diseases due to rotting. Only
small rooted cuttings or offshoots should be planted. The suitable plants for
terrarium are as follow:
Begonia-rex : only small leaved varieties or forms. Begonia ‘Tiger paws’,
Eyelash begonia.
Cryplanthus Aculis : It makes a compact rosette of leaves of mild-green in
above portion and with white marking beneath.
Selaginella Krassiana : Moss-like growth and branching, prostrate stem,
ideal for covering the surface of the terrarium or bottle garden compost. Eg.
S. martensii- ‘club moss’.
Pellionia Pulchera : Creeping plant with dark leaves.
Morenta Cenconcura : Very good, slow growing having attractive foliage.
Fern: Silver ferm and several small types with smell leaves are ideal as
Adiantum raddianum, A. hispiodium, Pellaca rotundifola etc.
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Landscaping Fitonia verschaffetti var.argyroneura : This small form is best having bright
green leaves with white veins.
Dracaena Sandariana : A slender, fairly slow growing plant with narrow
leaves with white spots.
Chamadorea : A small palm with slender stem and narrow foliage, an ideal
dominant plant for mixed group of terrarium or bottle garden. Eg C. elegans
‘Bella’, Parlour palm.
Acorus Gramineous Variegatus : A tufted grass like plant with creamy
variegated leaves and tolerant to a fair amount of water in the soil.
Hypoestes phyllostachya: Polka- dot plant’
Sinningia Pusilla (miniature Gloxinias) : Small flowering plants can be
planted, and replaced when they have faded.

5.2.1.6 Tools and equipments for Terrarium

Following tools and equipments for preparation of a terrarium are required:

1) Terrarium structure (glass cases).
2) Gravel.
3) Charcoal.
4) Peat based potting mixture.
5) Miniature trowel.
6) A cane with a cotton reel to push firmly, on one end and a wooden lath
(danda) of 1 inch length, pointed at other end.
7) Small plastic tools-a spade one end and a fork at the other.
8) The cotton reel is used to firm down the soil.
9) Lath (danda) one end flat, used to push the soil and pointed end to make the
hole in the soil to accommodate the plants easily.

5.2.1.7 Preparation of Terrarium

When a suitable container has been selected for terrarium, place a layer of gravel,
about 1 to 2 cm high on the bottom and cover it with a thin layer of broken
charcoal, for the proper drainage of water. On top of it, put a thick layer about 3
to 5 cm of peat-based potting compost mixture prepared for terrarium (1-part

130 Terrarium
fibrous loam + 2-part peat +1-part of coarse sand). Firm, the compost mixture Terrarium, Bottle Garden
and Tray landscape Garden
with cotton reel fixed at the end of a thin bamboo cane. Now miniature landscape
can be carried out inside the terrarium with the help of stone pieces or slate
strategically placed to mark a garden like appearance or effect. Do not used
wood, as this will rot quickly and can spread fungus infection to the plants in a
terrarium.

5.2.1.8 Climate for Terrarium

The terrarium requires, warm-filtered sun light. A warm room is one keep at
temperature of 15-21°C, the range preferred by many popular house plants, but
all plants can tolerate a slightly higher or lower, level for a short time. A normal
heating system prevents temperature falling below 15°C.

A room receiving filtered sun may face south east (or west for south east or south
west) but direct sun light is baffled by translucent blind or curtain, a tall building
or leafy tree out side the window. This type of arrangement of climate known as
mini-climate-2 which a terrarium need for better development and maintenance.

5.2.1.9 Plant Grouping

The grouping of plants would be easier if a dominating plant is positioned at one

side and at least one trailing plant is selected for the front. Not too many plants
should be introduced, about time or six are enough.

5.2.1.10 Planting of Terrarium

To start planting from outside of the terrarium and avoid dropping of soil on
those already planted. Push the roots ball through the aperture, then hold plant
by its leaves, push it gentle and left it drop. It can then be pushed into the hole
with cane cover the roots with terrarium mixture and use the cotton reel to make
the plants firm in the soil eg.

A) Small Terrarium or A Pagoda

If you choose a small terrarium like small “Pagoda” such as in this pagoda
grouping one species together-like hypoestes phyllostachya-plant will make
an effective, unchuttered display.

B) Large size Terrarium

In such type terrarium plantation has been described below:

1) First of all line the terrarium with 2 cm of grand spread lumps of charcoal
over it and then fill with 5 cm of peat-based potting mixture. Place
some of the plants you have chosen inside the terrarium and plant your
group. Make a depression in the potting mixture ready for the first
plant.
2) Plant, the tallest plant like Parlour palm, spreading the roots out
horizontally and gently packing potting mixture around the roots. Plant
another palm at the back of the terrarium of the left side. Then, below,
place a begonia next to a club moss.

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Landscaping 3) Put another club moss in the front of the terrarium and a spreading
club behind the larger palm to give the arrangement more bulk. Then
fill the remaining spaces around the palm with Palka-dot plant and
decorate any bare area of potting mixture with gravel.

5.2.1.11 Irrigation of Terrarium

After planting of the terrarium, moist the surface of the soil carefully without
disturbing the plant. It can be done by-mist spray plants and potting mixture and
close any aperture in order to make the atmosphere more humid. A long base is
ideal for directing the water down inside to clean glass walls. The glass may be
closed over after a short time (5-6 minute). The stopper should be replaced when
the condensation has cleared. Further, watering may not be necessary because
the vapors given by the inside plants transpiration are recirculated and the
terrarium garden becomes self maintaining.

Plants have been known to flourish in the terrarium for several years with no
extra water added from the time of planting, if the mouth of terrarium is covered.
If the mouth of terrarium is open, a small cup full of water or less according to
the size, every month or so in summer is desirable.

5.2.1.12 After care of the Terrarium

1) Dead leaves from the terrarium should be removed by cutting them with a
piece of Razor blade wired to a cane.
2) Keep the terrarium out of direct sun light but make sure that it is good in
indirect light.
3) In case of large mouth terrarium same principle is applied, but with less
trouble then in a bottle garden.
4) Terrarium need to be cleaned regularly to remove build ups of condensation
or algae from the inside surface of the glass. This can be easily done using
a small sponge attached to a bamboo stalk.

Check Your Progress Exercise 1

Note : a) Space is given below for answers.
b) Compare your answer with that given at the end of the unit.
1) What is a Terrarium ?
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2) Describe the function of a terrarium.
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3) Write down the names of any five plants used in a terrarium plantation. Terrarium, Bottle Garden
and Tray landscape Garden
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4) How will you maintain terrarium ?
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5.2.2 Bottle Gardens

Bottle gardens provide optimum growing condition for plants which like a humid
atmosphere, since the moisture given off by the leaves of the plants inside
condenses and run back into the soil. Any type of bottle is suitable, provided
plant can be passed through the neck of bottle. If you will use a bottle made of
colored glass, you should keep it or move it into bright light then would be
normal for the plants inside to compensate for this, to carry out essential function
by inside plants.

Bottle Garden

5.2.2.1 What is a Bottle Garden ?

When a landscape or garden developed inside a bottle is known as bottle garden.

For this purpose any type of bottle can be used provided plants can be passed
through the neck of bottle, to develop garden inside generally. A transparent
white glass bottle is used to develop a bottle garden, because through transparent
glass proper light will pass inside the bottle, so that plants planted in the bottle,
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Landscaping can do their functions normally. If a dark color glass bottle is used to develop
bottle garden, than you should keep bottle in bright light to carry out inside
plants, their function of life cycle.

Bottle Garden

5.2.2.2 Function of Bottle Gardens

Principal function of bottle garden is same as in case of terrarium gardens. The

plants planted inside the bottle do not require frequent watering, as the moisture
developed inside the bottle from the transpiration of inside plants leaves and
soil, again become available to the inside plants for their functions.

5.2.2.3 Selection of Plants for Bottle Gardens

Choice of plants for bottle gardens is very limited, those plants should be selected
which do not require pruning and with slow growing habits. As it is difficult to
prune and remove plants from the bottle gardens. Always transplants such plants
in bottle gardens which have slow-growing habit. If you want your garden to
look attractive for a year or more, follow this process. Tempting as it may be to
plant Saintpaulia hybrids (African violets), it is not a good idea since, once the
flowers fade, they can look very dull. It is best to create a colorful effect by using
plants with variegated leaves and to build an interesting group with contrasts of
shape and texture. Some plants for bottle garden are suggested below:
Adiantum Raddianum Microphylum - Maiden hair fern.
Fittonia Verschaffeltii.
Fittonia Verschaffeltii - Argyroneura “Nana” little snakeskin plant.
Adiantum Hispidulum - Australian maiden hair fern.
Selaginella Krassiana.
Chamaedora sp.
Acorus Gramineous “Variegatus”. etc.
6.2.2.4 Tools and equipments for Bottle Gardens

The following tools and equipments are required for bottle garden development:
1) Glass bottle
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2) Funnel Terrarium, Bottle Garden
and Tray landscape Garden
3) Circular paper
4) Sphagnum-moss
5) Clay pellets
6) Peat-based potting mixture
7) Miniature trowel
8) Charcoal
9) Spoon
10) Fork
11) Spool
12) Sponge
5.2.2.5 Climatic Conditions for Bottle Gardens

Climatic conditions for bottle gardens are similar as for terrarium.

5.2.2.6 Planting of Bottle Gardens

To plant a landscape garden in a bottle, select such type slow growing plants
with variegated leaves, which do not require pruning, as it is difficult to prune
and remove plants from the bottle garden.

When you are going to plant a bottle garden follow the following principles after
selecting a suitable bottle for gardening.

1) Cut a circular of paper the same size as the planting area of the bottle selected
for gardening and experiment the design of garden, until you are happy
with it. Place the taller plants at the back and the low-growing ones in the
foreground.

2) Pour a 3 cm layer of clay pellets into the bottle through a funnel made of
stiff paper. Add a handful of charcoal, and fill the bottle 5-7 cm of damp
peat-based potting mixture. Build up the potting mixture at the back and use
the spoon to smooth out the surface.

3) Make a hole for plantation of first plant. Take a Maiden hair fern and stick
the fork into the root ball and lower it into the hole to plant it in the media of
bottle garden. Cover the root ball with potting mixture and firm down the
mixture around it. Put another Maiden hair fern at the back and then add an
Australian maiden hair, to vary the out line. Leave about 3 cm between
them to allow room for growth.

4) Place the little snakeskin plant in the foreground. Then, to give the
arrangement a focal point, plant a snakeskin plant in the centre. Finally,
decorate any bare area with sphagnum moss, and pour in a cup of water by
directing against the glass. You can cork the bottle but it will make the
glass-mist up more quickly. Now your bottle garden becomes ready to display
in the house.

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Landscaping 5.2.2.7 Irrigation of Bottle Gardens

After planting of the bottle garden, moist the surface of the soil (inside the bottle)
carefully without disturbing the plants. It can be done by mist-spraying on the
plants and on potting mixture of bottle garden. Now you can cork the bottle, but
it makes the glass of bottle mist up more quickly. Further watering of bottle
garden may not be necessary because the vapors given by the plants of bottle
garden are re-circulated and the garden become self-maintaining for their
irrigation.

Plants have been known to flourish in the bottle gardens for several months
without extra water added from the time of planting. If the mouth of a bottle
garden is open, a small cup of water or less according to the size, every month or
so in summer is desirable.

5.2.2.8 After care of Bottle Garden

1) Keep the bottle garden out of direct sunlight, but make sure that it is receiving
good indirect light.
2) Bottle garden also need to be cleaned on regular intervals to remove the
condensation or algae from the inside surface of bottle glass, to receive
proper light for photosynthesis and respiration etc. It can be easily done
using small sponge attached to a bamboo stalk.
3) Dead leaves or flowers from the bottle garden should be removed by cutting
them with a piece of razor blade wire to a cane. If these dead leave will not
be removed, that can bring fungus on rotting, inside the bottle garden and
this will harm the bottle garden plants.

5.2.3 Tray Landscape Gardens

This type of gardening is most suitable for multistory residences or small houses
and even for large house. Generally, indoor plants, cacti and succulents etc. are
ideal plants to carryout this type of gardening. The ideal places in a house for
decoration of a tray landscape garden are drawing room, table, corners, dinning
table side etc. Generally these types of gardens have no drainage hole for water
and can be kept on any shining surface without fear of spoiling through seepage
of water.

Tray Garden with Foliage Flowering Plants Tray Garden with Cacti and Succulents
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5.2.3.1 Selection of Tray for Landscape Gardening Terrarium, Bottle Garden
and Tray landscape Garden

To develop such type of gardens, selection of a right type of tray is very important,
keeping in mind whether it has to be placed. You can select a wooden tray or
plastic or metal tray or bread tray or potting tray or unbreakable glass tray etc.
for developing a landscape gardening.

5.2.3.2 Preparation of Media or Soil for Tray Gardens

For tray gardens, potting mixture consist of an initial thin layer of gravel and few
charcoal chips, followed by compost consisting of equal part of good garden
loam, peat, leaf mould and soil. A slop should be kept from centre to periphery
with the help of compost on the surface of sand, gravels, small stones or pebbles
can be arranged to perfect the top soil, from washed off, while watering these
gardens. The ideal mixture for a tray garden of Cacti or Succulent, should consist
2 - part each of soil, fine leaf mould, sand or crushed brick, and 1 - part each of
old lime scraped from wall and crushed wood charcoal.

5.2.3.3 Selection of Plants for Tray Gardens

The other important part to develop such type of gardens is selection of planting
material. It should be done with extreme care. The plants have same identical
condition should be planted in each tray garden. For example, if you are going to
develop a tray garden of a Cacti and Succulent, do not plant any foliage type
plant, it require different type of climatic condition than Cacti and Succulents.
Cactus need sunny and dry growing condition, and therefore, if these are grouped
in same tray with shade and moisture loving foliage plants such as Fittnia-
verschaffetti or Pepromia argyreia the result will be disastrous. Generally, indoor
plants are grown in such type of gardens with their identical nature. They needs
light which some times may be in the diffused form. Besides indoor plants Cacti
and Succulents are also ideal for tray garden, but plant both types, in separate
containers instead of putting them together. A desert scene can be created in such
type of gardens by planting suitable Cacti or Succulents amidst small pieces of
stone and pebbles. Some extra space should be left for the growth of these plants
in your tray garden, to avoid over crowding. It would be ideal to include a few
flowering species of cacti to develop such type Cacti and Succulent garden.

5.2.3.4 Grouping of Plants for Tray Gardens

To develop a flourishing and attractive tray landscape garden, plants should be

grouped as follow:
Group – A : Cacti and Succulents: some are as :
i) Cacti : Heleocerous, Brozicactus, Notocactus, lobiria, mamillaria and
Parodia etc. are some flowering cacti suitable for dish or tray garden, the 1st
two tall species are ideal for back ground. Ferocactus, Opentia, Echinacactus,
Cereus, Cephalocereus and Trichocereus, Cephalocereus and Oreocereus
are non flowering attractive form.
ii) Succulents : The tall flowering succulents like Crassula, Colyledon,
Euphorbia splendens, Gasteria, Kalenchoe Sedum, Aloe variegata etc. are
most suitable for tray garden in flowering forms while Nawarthiag Agav
and Echerearia are smaller species (dwarf type) of flowering succulents to
develop such type beautiful garden in a tray. 137
Landscaping Group – B : For large size arrangement in tray, the following combinations are
ideal.

i) Combination - 1 : Aralia egantissima, Dracaecna, Sanderiana, Hedera

nelix, Santipaulia, Pepromia variegata and Syngonium podophyllum etc.

ii) Combination - 2 : Aphdandra squarrosa, Dracaena, Sanderiana, Ficus

benjamina, Pilea muscosa, Pepromia argyreria and Zebbrina pendula etc.

Group – C : For smaller size, tray garden arrangements, ideal plants are
Chlorophytum, Comosum, Vittatum, Begonia rex, Pepromia rotundifola and
African violet etc.

5.2.3.5 Plantation of Plants in Tray Gardens

At the time of plantation of a tray gardens, the tall plants species should be used
a back ground while the small one can be put in the front to develop natural and
contrasting effects in your tray garden. When you are using foliage plants, a
hedge should be planted on periphery with some slow growing bushy foliage
plants, then plant other plants as mentioned above. You can also use some small
artificial structures like, hut, animal, water channel etc. for land scaping of your
tray garden.

Another idea in such gardening is to insert glass or metallic florist tubes into the
compost for display of cut flowers, which enhance the beauty of the garden. A
florist’s tube is nothing but a narrow hollow glass tube or metal which can hold
water to enable the cut stems of bloom to draw water and keep the bloom fresh.
No doubt, if you develop such type of special structures of gardening inside your
house you will feel the pleasure of nature.

5.2.3.6 Protection of Tray Garden from Enemies

Sometimes insects or some diseases can spoil your indoor landscape gardens.
Spray with light dose (1 ml/litre water) of any insecticide or fungicides once
after every 3-4 weeks and your garden will remain free from insects or diseases.

5.2.3.7 After care of Tray Gardens

Remove dried leaves from time to time so that your garden looks nice.
Irrigate properly from time to time when it is required for garden.
Clean the dust with mist-sprayer or air or by hands.

Check Your Progress Exercise 2

Note : a) Space is given below for answers.
b) Compare your answer with that given at the end of the unit.
1) What are tray and bottle gardens ?
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2) Why Cacti and Succulents should not be used together with foliage plants Terrarium, Bottle Garden
and Tray landscape Garden
in tray gardens ?
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3) What are the media or soil mixtures to plant a tray garden with Cacti or
Succulents?
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4) What are the ideal plants for a small size tray garden to plant ?
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5.3 LET US SUM UP

In this unit, we have studied about the development of terrarium, tray and bottle
gardens. We have also discussed tools and equipments used for these gardens.
We have discussed methods, selection of plants, media used to develop these
gardens. You have also studied plantation methods and irrigation plane of these
gardens and their care after plantation.

5.4 KEY WORDS

Root ball : The mass of potting mixture interspersed with roots
seen when a plant is taken from its pot.

Evergreen : A plant which retains its leaves throughout the year.

Terrarium : It is a glass structure of any step and size in used to

develop a landscape garden inside it.

Bottle Garden : When a landscape garden is developed in a bottle is

known as bottle garden.

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Landscaping
5.5 FURTHER REFERENCES
1) Roger Grounds : Ward Lock’s Gardening in Colour.
2) M.L. Chaudhary, K.V. Prasad and A.P. Singh : Practical Guide for Home
Gardening. John Brookes: Pocket Encyclopedia House Plants.

5.6 ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

EXERCISES
Check Your Progress Exercise 1
1) It is a beautiful landscape developed inside a glass case is known as terrarium.
2) The function of a terrarium is a closed feature, hence moisture developed
from the transpiration of leaves and evaporation from the soil, again becomes
available to the plant for their function. This way by keeping the plants in a
enclosed container, draught is excluded and high humidity can be maintained.
3) The five plants used to develop a terrarium are Dracaena, Sandariana,
Pellionia pulchera, Fitonia verschaffetti, Salaginella krassiana and Begonia.
4) To maintain a terrarium, the following points are essential to maintain a
terrarium–
i) Keep the terrarium far away from direct sunlight but make sure that it
is good in indirect sunlight.
ii) In case of a large mouth terrarium, same principle is applied but with
less trouble than a bottle garden. Terrarium needs to be cleaned regularly
to remove build-up condensation or algae from the inside surface of
the terrarium glass. This can be easily done using a small sponge
attached to a bamboo stick.
iii) Remove all dead leaves and dried flowers from the terrarium, otherwise
these will bring fungus on rotting which harm terrarium plants.
Check Your Progress Exercise 2
1) When a mini-landscape is developed on a tray, it’s known as tray garden
and when this beautiful landscape is developed under the bottle, it’s known
as bottle garden.
2) Cacti and succulents need sunny and dry conditions and therefore if they
are grouped in the same tray with shade and moisture loving plants, the
result will be disastrous. Different type of climate loving plants should not
be planted in the same terrarium for its long life of terrarium.
3) The soil mixture for a tray garden of Cacti or Succulents should consist of 2
- parts each of soil, fine leaf mould, sand or crushed brick and 1 - part each
of lime scraped from wall and crushed wood charcoal.
4) The ideal plants for a small size of tray garden are Cholorophytum,
Comossum, Vittatum, Begonia-rex, Pepromia rotundifoli and African violet.

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