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CREATE A MAGICAL MINIATURE GARDEN
Photo
This room shows a tabletop fairy garden.
CREATE A MAGICAL
MINIATURE GARDEN
By Peggy Griffith
OSU Extension master gardener volunteer
Many books are available to show step-by-step instructions. These gardens can be whimsical, ornamental or even comical. It all depends on your imagination and design. Depending on the medium you use, old pottery, planters and even an old suitcase, you can control the size or where you want to place your garden and it can be easily moved when you want a change.
So you’re probably thinking, “Sounds interesting, but how do I go about designing a miniature garden, and what is the cost?” The cost can be minimal. Just take a look around your house and you may find things that you can use to create your garden. An old suitcase can make a wonderful garden. It serves double purpose of protecting your miniature garden as well as displaying it outside. If you have it outside, when the weather gets stormy, you can just close the lid and your garden is protected.
Another way to save money on your decorations and embellishments is to shop clearance sales. Many stores have put their miniature decorations on sale and you can easily pick up houses, bridges or whatever you want to use and for whatever season you wish to design your garden as.
The next step would be to choose the plants that will go into the garden. Succulent plants are always a good choice as they require minimal water. Some of the smaller succulents like sedums can be used as mini-shrubs and come in a variety of colors. Low-growing ground covers can be made from various mosses or even the various types of thyme. For trees, you can use dwarf Japanese garden juniper, Catlin elm, cypress — the selection is endless. Just remember to do your research and try to keep your plants to the same type of watering and sunlight conditions and you will have made your garden easy to manage.
What type of soil should you use? Any soil recommended for use with cactus, palm or citrus works well if you are planning to keep it inside. Don’t forget to add a drainage hole in your container and a saucer to catch the excess water. Next to lack of light, overwatering is the biggest threat to succulent plants used in your garden.
Once your garden is complete, just sit back and watch your garden grow. And who knows, maybe a little fairy will pay you a visit. To learn more, go to: http://go.osu.edu/fairygarden