Terrariums or miniature gardens in a glass container are for those who want to grow a green patch in limited time and space

Starved of some refreshing sight of greenery in the city's concrete jungle?
Unable to set up a garden due to limited space in your apartment?

Radhika Anand offers a unique option — terrariums or miniature gardens in a glass container for those who want to exercise their green thumb in the limited time and space available.

Terrariums are miniature, self-contained eco-systems, which do not need watering because the plants release moisture through their leaves. This moisture condenses on the glass and flows back to the soil. “This ‘rain effect’ allows the terrariums to go on for weeks without watering,” Anand explained. Paradoxically, neglect can easily become the best way to care for them, as they need only a little sunlight and nothing.

“Although the concept is old, the terrarium, in its modern form, was developed “accidentally” in 1827 by a British doctor to protect his green plants from pollution,” Anand added. For her, it was a chance encounter with terrariums during a visit to Japan — famous for bonsai and ikebana (innovative flower arrangements) — that spurred her interest in the subject.

“I was simply stunned. It was a fascinating way to decorate a room. When I came back from Japan, I first tried to grow plants in a bottle. While some survived, others simply started to decay after a couple of days. After lots of research and learning, I finally managed a successful terrarium,” she said. It took her a “perplexing” year to understand and experiment with all the possible permutations and combinations before grasping the intricacies.

Anand initially used to make small gifts for family and friends. Then her children asked her to put a stall in their school fete. “I was overwhelmed by the response. There I hit upon the idea that the hobby could turn out to be a big business opportunity,” she said. For Anand, terrariums compensate for the lack of natural greenery in the urban environment, especially for working couples who do not have enough time to manage plants or live in apartments and do not want gardeners to invade their privacy.

Almost any glass vessel can serve as a terrarium. The cost of setting it up starts from Rs 500 and can go up to thousands depending on the plant variety, the glass quality, area and creativity, she said.

Apart from filling her Surajkund home, her creations can also be seen in the Army headquarters, Apollo Hospitals, various corporate firms, the Meridian hotel offices in Abu Dhabi and one even occupies a pride of place in the Delhi Secretariat.

Now working on an environment awareness project for the government and conducting workshops in almost all schools in Delhi, she said bottled plants are a part of the project, which includes creating awareness about pollution and water conservation.” The response from students had been “overwhelming,”

she added.

Meanwhile, Anand, who has even written a book on the technique, continues to experiment. “Plants do well in areas near the coast such as Mumbai, Bangalore and Kerala, but in a dry climate such as Delhi, it is a bit difficult. So I keep experimenting with different plants,” she said.

However, she has no plans to expand her business outside Delhi. “I do not have showrooms in any other city. People know about me as some Delhiites have taken my terrariums to various places. Those interested contact me and we find ways and means to send it to them,” she said, adding that she is catering to Bangalore and Mumbai as of now.

“I do not intend to open showrooms because there is no mass production and the whole thing involves a lot of creativity. I would personally have to be there to give the finishing touch. My hands are full, so no plans as such,” she said.

However, she has no plans to expand her business outside Delhi. “I do not have showrooms in any other city. People know about me as some Delhiites have taken my terrariums to various places. Those interested contact me and we find ways and means to send it to them,” she said, adding that she is catering to Bangalore and Mumbai as of now.

“I do not intend to open showrooms because there is no mass production and the whole thing involves a lot of creativity. I would personally have to be there to give the finishing touch. My hands are full, so no plans as such,” she said.