There are three ways in which you can enjoy foliage without
tons of upkeep.
1. The first is the cheapest way and that is through
purchasing silks, aka faux foliage. These are fake plants which look like real
ones. When purchasing silks, the price really determines the quality. So I
would not order online. I would visit several stores to see their silk
collection. Dollar stores are the worst for real looking plants. For the local Bozeman area I suggest Country
Flower located at 720 West Main Street.
2. The second way to enjoy foliage without the constant
maintenance is to lease or hire a plant maintenance person. This can be quite
expensive. There are a host of plant maintenance people around. Country Flower
does offer plant maintenance contracts for businesses.
3. The third way to
enjoy foliage with low maintenance and cost is through a terrarium and that is
what this article is about. To start you need to acquire:
Clear container
Soil
Pebbles or coarse sand
Activated charcoal
African Violets & Moss
Water
*You may also need a LONG tamper, 2
grippers; depending on the type of terrarium.
If you can either click the link to
watch a video (about 10 minutes) or read the instructions!
1. Clean your container with 50%
diluted vinegar water.
2. Add a small layer of pebbles or
coarse sand for drainage
3. Add layer of charcoal
4. Add soil
5. Add your plants and moss.
*If you are putting terrarium
against a wall, then put your taller plants toward the back.
*If you are putting terrarium in
center of room, put the African Violet in the center and lay the moss around
the outer edges. Remember the tall plant will be the focal point. In this
particular case, the African Violet is the focal point.
