The History of the Terrarium

Terrariums have been around for many years, and have recently made a comeback in interior design trends. Available in a variety of shapes, styles and colors, the possibilities of homes for tiny succulents or decorative gardens are endless.

The original terrarium was invented by English botanist, Dr. Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward in 1842. He made the discovery of the terrarium by accident when he was raising moth pupa in a sealed glass jar. Ward noticed that moss and ferns were thriving in the environment he had created for the moths. He decided to experiment more with placing plants that were not native to England in a similar sealed glass and observed how the greenery thrived. After excessive experimentation, he wrote a short paper about his discovery called ‘The Growth of Plants Without Open Exposure to Air’ followed by his book ‘On the Growth of Plants in Closely Glazed Cases’ both works published in 1842.

The Wardian cases quickly become popular among the botanist of Britain and Europe. Wards discovery of the terrarium not only opened the gates for international botany, it also allowed scientist to better understand different ecosystems and to observe plants, and small animals, in an environment closer to their natural ones. Before this discovery, it would take months of traveling and studying to accomplish.

(PICTURED: Common Fern-Shade with Ornamental Stand & Terrarium with Ferns and Ivy, 1870, from the New York Public Library)

As the years went by and the terrarium continued its trend in science and interior design, a new way of using a terrarium came about. This trend is what is commonly known as a dish garden. While it is uncertain of the original date of when dish gardens first started, it is said to have begun in Japan as an artistic hobby. Japanese landscapers would create miniature models of their work in a smaller vase or terrarium. Dish gardens serve the same function as a terrarium, but differ in that the container is usually open. Small figurines or a scenic view are often created within a dish garden.

(Pictured: Examples of a modern dish garden)

The containers for a dish garden can be made of any material, must be large enough to hold a minimum of 3 inches of soil and should be roomy enough to hold three to five plants without excessive crowding. It is recommended to use a 1 to 1.5 inch layer of sand or pebbles. 

Here at Vasesource, we’ve put a modern twist on our terrariums and glass bowls. Wither it is the unique side opening to our LUNA collection or combining elements to create the LOWBOWL, you’ll find the piece that speaks to you for future projects. 

Floral designer Angela Orlando, whose expertise is creating dish gardens, loves our collection of glass bowls, ceramics and garden planters. Drawing from the beautiful landscapes around us, whether it be the forest or the sandy shores, Orlando explains what she is inspired by when creating an arrangement;

“When I create a design, I am inspired by the things I see every day. I always keep an eye out for unique planters and plants you may not see every day. I then work off of the plants being used or the container being used. If the container has a cool look, I will work the plants around that. If I find a unique plant, I want to work around the plant and keep its natural wild style.”

(Pictured: A design by Angela Orlando featuring the LOWBOWL)

(Pictured: A design by Angela Orlando featuring the LUNA9 & Bubble Bowl)

(Pictured: A design by Angela Orlando featuring one of our POD planters)

To view more of Orlandos’ work, you can find her on instagram @ave_garden