Mini indoor gardens prove ideal for flats

In 1842, a fern spore placed in a glass jar by a botanist grew and germinated into a plant resulting in the world’s first terrarium. It was popularised during the Victorian era and has become a household favourite in the city today. Closed or open, terrariums are glass containers containing soil and plants and are ideal for confined spaces because they’re small in size. Like succulents, they require low maintenance and using mosses, orchids, ferns and air plants or small plants like zamia makes them ideal for tropical climates. Terrariums can be decorative or ornamental making them great gifts too; they can be customised according to various themes like beaches, magical gardens and so on.

The preferable way to choose plants for your home is to ascertain which can grow in the room of your choice, that don’t take up too much space, require less in maintenance and are useful. For instance, Sansevieria trifasciat (viper’s bowstring hemp) has been scientifically proven to purify air and release oxygen at night, which helps reduces stress. It’s better to understand climatic conditions too while creating your garden and determine what will grow well in your region. Some great flowering plants to grow in Chennai are ixora, allamanda, jasmine, bougainvillea and periwinkle. Medicinal plants like betel leaf, Mexican mint (karpuravalli) and ajwain are suitable too. Sprinkle some unused tea powder and powdered egg shells in all pots along with store-bought vermicompost to create the best fertiliser.

Dating back to over a thousand years is this Asian art form that uses specific cultivation techniques to produce small trees in containers that mimic the shape and scale of full size trees. While Rajendra Reddy, who is an expert on bonsais feels they’re meant for slightly experienced gardeners — because it requires extra care — learning to routinely prune these stunted trees can prove to be a cathartic experience. With an increasing availability of books on bonsai, training centres and specialised bonsai plant stock, soil components, tools, pots and other accessories, it has become a seasoned hobby for urban gardeners.

Like bonsais, Ikebana too needs to be learnt — by visiting exhibitions or attending introductory workshops that happen regularly in the city. They make for visually appealing centerpieces because right from miniatures in perfume bottles to life-size presentations in old utensils or scraps like thermacol blocks, any material can be used as the base. Subsequently, leaves, flowers, twigs, fruits and vegetables, even car spares and wires can be arranged in these containers following the principles of the art form. One need not invest much to create an arrangement, validating the purpose of Ikebana, which is to show that there’s beauty in everything.

Of late, cacti and succulents have become a popular feature in indoor gardens in Chennai due to their adaptability to the climate. These hardly plants don’t need direct sunlight and can be kept indoors. They’re great for beginners and first-time gardeners because they need watering once in four-ten days. According to experts, they have become the pick of the day as they are drought-resistant too. Miniature and variegated aloe vera and haworthia are ideal choices and these unusual plants provide relief from regulars like tulsi or hibiscus, making them great to experiment with for a quirky indoor garden.