The bottle garden – beautiful plants with little work

Time is money, as we all know. Therefore, as a rule, all those people avoid extra work who already have a lot to do. Taking care of plants is one such activity. You have to water them, nurture them and care for them so that they blossom in their full glory. It is a tightrope walk. For on the one hand, we would like to create an environment in which beautiful things from nature can be found. But on the other hand, with every additional plant, the effort increases. If you are struggling with this, we have a great alternative. It is the bottle garden.

What is a bottle garden?

Nature has many wonders in store for all of us. After all, our planet consists of a perfectly sophisticated ecosystem. The best way to admire this is to get yourself a bottle garden. This is one or more plants that are placed in a glass that is sealed airtight. Only very rarely do you pour a little water into it. But as long as the lid stays on, the plant will take care of itself for a long time. All those who buy a bottle garden with plants in a glass will thus be able to enjoy a beautiful sight in the long run, while at the same time having hardly any trouble with care. How can this be? How does it work?

How does a bottle garden work?

No, it is not a trick. It is a completely natural process. Remember that the glass is closed. That means nothing comes out and nothing comes in. All those minerals and all the liquid that a plant needs is basically produced by itself. That is why it is called the cycle of life. In the beginning, substrate is added so that the basic supply functions.

Plants live by breaking down certain carbon compounds. They use CO2 from the air to do this. This process releases water and oxygen. That is why the planet needs a lot of greenery to live. Bacteria in the soil feed on the dead plant parts. They recycle the stuff so that oxygen becomes CO2 again. At the same time, the minerals from the compost are absorbed by the soil, where they are then returned to the roots. New plant parts are then formed with them.

Basically, the plant takes care of itself almost forever. In fact, it is usually a few years. The container contains a perfectly balanced ecosystem that would theoretically last forever. However, since such a container cannot be exactly 100% leak-proof, it is necessary to add water from time to time. A few times a year are sufficient. The work is kept to a minimum.

What are the advantages of a bottle garden?

For you as a user, there would be two advantages:

You have a small piece of nature in front of your eyes in your home or office etc.. Exactly the same as with normal houseplants. The only difference is that they are in a glass.

With regard to care, almost no time is required.

Which plants are suitable for the bottle garden?

Suitable plants are those that tolerate a warm, humid climate and take a little longer to grow. Mosses and ferns do well. There are also some small trees that grow solidly. For example, gingseng or bonsai.

Does a plant garden have disadvantages?

Not really any disadvantages. The only difference is that you don’t contribute to the indoor climate at all. Plants help against the dry heating air in winter because they release water. But in glass, this moisture cannot be released to the outside. That is why they are nice to look at. For the indoor climate, however, it would be better to use a humidifier.