Creating and designing miniature gardens in glass containers

An arrangement of plants collected in a glass container—an aquarium, bottle, or jar—looks very original and striking. This is a rather unique room decoration that requires skill, artistic taste, and imagination. Typically, heat-loving, mainly tropical plants that require elevated temperatures and air humidity are placed in such a mini-greenhouse.

For compositions under glass, small-sized plants with similar requirements for maintenance conditions are selected.

By decorating the "interior" of a glass cover with pieces of wood and beautiful stones, one can, much like with bonsai, recreate fragments of a natural landscape in miniature.

When organizing a mini-garden under glass, a mixture of pebbles and fine charcoal is poured onto the bottom of the container, followed by a layer of coarse-grained (preferably pure quartz) sand, and then a nutrient soil mixture with the composition necessary for the chosen plants.

The soil is pre-treated (sieved, subjected to seed treatment and steam treatment). The soil, along with the drainage, should fill the aquarium (or another vessel) to a quarter of its height. The soil must be loose and breathable (when squeezed lightly in the fist, the soil remains held together in a clump; with stronger pressure, it crumbles). It is recommended to add a little sand to soil that is too heavy (clayey, soddy). The sand will ensure better drainage and the passage of water and air to the roots of all the composite plants.

The plants can be small or medium-sized, depending on the size of the aquarium in which such a composition is being created.

Often, small cacti are used to create a mini-garden. For them, a soil mixture is prepared from equal parts of clay-sod soil, humus, and sand. In the soil

In a glass "room," one can also place plants growing in small pots. The plants and the containers for them must be small; the pots are arranged and secured at different levels, and the spaces between them are decorated with the shoots of climbing plants (if any are present in the composition), pebbles, or moss.

The location for a mini-greenhouse should be the brightest and most open. Plants in an aquarium must be sprayed with water regularly, and the soil should be loosened periodically (this is not necessary for cacti and succulents).

More experienced gardeners may try to create a mini-garden, for example, in a bottle. This is a very complex procedure, but nevertheless, if successful, it will bring the gardener immense pleasure.

Technique for decorating a mini-garden in a bottle

To grow a "bottle garden," one must possess knowledge and experience.

Soil is poured into a clean, pre-prepared container. A paper funnel is inserted into the narrow neck; gravel and charcoal, 4-6 cm high, are poured in through it, manipulating the funnel (in a circular motion) so that the substrate settles in an even layer, and then dry soil is added. The plant, held by tweezers, is placed into the soil and tamped down slightly with a wooden stick. The plant is moistened with a thin stream of room-temperature water.

The container is opened and closed from time to time. When the container is closed, vapors form inside, which settle on the walls and roll down in the form of drops, moisturizing the soil. If there is an excess of moisture, the container is opened to allow the excess moisture to evaporate.

If a plant fails to establish itself in such an atmosphere, it is removed by hooking it with a wire loop and pulling it out of the soil along with the root. Plants must be selected according to the height of the container. In any case, tall plants are still preferable for such compositions. They are interesting in their own right, and their appearance is quite unusual. APPENDIX WORK CALENDAR IN PROTECTED GROUND

In regions with a warm climate, preparation for growing and vegetable cultivation begin in December. For northern regions, all deadlines are shifted two weeks later than described; in southern regions — two weeks earlier. |

A plan is drawn up for planting vegetable crops in protected ground for the year. In greenhouses, tomatoes are sown for transplants, as well as leaf lettuce. Onion sets, parsley, celery, and table beet are planted.

Cucumber plants planted in December are irrigated, tied up, given top dressing, and shaped.

Greenhouse frames are repaired. At the end of the month, the construction of the first hotbeds begins.

Seeds are purchased and their germination is checked. Organic and mineral fertilizers, ash, and poultry manure are stocked.

The placement of vegetable crops in open ground is planned, taking into account the placement of previous crops.

Inspect the vegetables and potatoes stored in the basement or cellar, and remove any rotting produce.

Check the condition of pickles, fermented vegetables, and marinades.

In greenhouses where cucumbers are grown, maintain high air humidity by watering the walkways, underneath the shelves, and the heating pipes. Pollinate flowers by hand or with the help of bees. Enrich the greenhouse atmosphere with carbon dioxide by placing shallow containers with diluted manure or poultry manure inside. Provide top dressing to the plants. Begin harvesting the first cucumbers.

Sow seeds for transplants of tomatoes (for spring greenhouses), cucumbers (for heated greenhouses), celery, peppers, eggplants, cabbage, and lettuce.

Stack manure for the hotbed to prevent it from heating up prematurely.

Deliver and store the necessary quantities of organic and mineral fertilizers. Set up ice boxes for short-term storage of transplants and freshly harvested greens.

Inspect the vegetables and potatoes placed in storage.

In protected ground, the spring cycle begins with intensive care of the main crops and the preparation of transplants for all rotations. For fruiting cucumbers, ensure a regular schedule of top dressing and irrigation, carry out pollination, pinching, and plant training, and add fresh soil mixture. Simultaneously, transplant tomatoes to their permanent location and sow seeds for peppers, eggplants, and new batches of cucumbers. From the middle of the month, the assortment in the transplant area is expanded with greens, leaf cabbage, and onions, and at the end of the month, seeds of late-maturing cabbage cultivars are sown.

• Cabbage for transplanting — 5–6 leaves
• Cabbage transplanting dates — late April — early May
• Age of cucumber transplants for hotbeds — 30 days

To prepare hotbeds, stack and heat manure in pits, and organize the bulk transport of organic matter to fields and gardens. Prepare seed material of carrots, parsley, and celery for sowing, and at the end of the month, begin vernalization of early potato tubers. During this period, it is important to finalize plans for layouts, planting methods, and the placement of crops across the plots.

Technology of operations in greenhouses and open ground

As soon as the snow melts, loosen the soil immediately to retain moisture, apply mineral and organic fertilizers, and form beds. For transplanting early white cabbage and cauliflower, wait for the formation of 5–6 true leaves and ensure the plants undergo mandatory hardening. Transplant the hardened plants in late April or early May.

Sow a wide range of vegetable and legume crops in open ground:

• peas, broad beans, and common beans;
• carrots, parsley, parsnips, and table beets;
• radishes, lettuce, and onion sets (from seed).

In unheated greenhouses and hotbeds, complete the transplanting of cucumber seedlings (30-day-old seedlings are planted into vacated hotbeds at the beginning of the month) and early tomatoes. From the second half of May, transplant seedlings of pattypan squash, summer squash, and pumpkins into open ground, and also conduct direct sowing of cucumbers. Continue the full range of care operations for plants in greenhouses: top dressing, ventilation, tying up, pinching, adding soil, and pest control.

The harvesting schedule for the spring-summer period is as follows:

• lettuce from autumn sowing (August-September) — early spring harvest;
• leaf lettuce, early carrots, and bunching turnips — from late May;
• early beets — from late May to July;
• summer spinach — as it matures.

Throughout the period, ensure regular irrigation, carry out timely weeding, and add organic residues to the compost. Pay special attention to phytosanitary monitoring, controlling for the appearance of pests on cruciferous crops.