How Martha Stewart's Gardener Makes Gorgeous Terrariums Out Of Stunning Dishware

Martha Stewart often blogs about the botanical feats of her head gardener, Ryan McCallister. For example, while sharing photos from her greenhouses on The Martha Blog, Stewart explained how he propagates begonias to grow more beautiful plants. McCallister's Instagram stories also impart plant pointers and projects such as a terrarium made from a glass cloche and a bowl-like base. Glass cloches are typically used to cover low-growing plants in outdoor gardens. Like greenhouses, they create warm, humid environments that let sunshine in while keeping frost and pests at bay. These conditions are also ideal for indoor plants, which can be arranged in appealing ways beneath the dome.

The stars of McCallister's cloche terrarium are jewel orchids (Ludisia discolor) grown for their colorful striped leaves. The orchids' red stems and varying heights also create visual interest, and green moss provides a contrasting texture and hue. The base's wooden look adds another natural element to the scene. 

You can create a cloche terrarium of your own with a product like the Ivolador Glass Display Cloche Dome. Its 7-inch-high dome is tall enough for many types of terrarium plants anyone can care for, and its 4-inch-wide base fits a pinch bowl you can use as a plant pot. To complement the wooden base of the cloche, try an RSVP International Olive Wood Pinch Bowl, an Edhas Acacia Round Condiment Bowl, or another wooden dish that's roughly 3 inches in diameter and at least 2 inches deep. This should be big enough to accommodate your plants' roots.

To riff on Ryan McCallister's glass-cloche terrarium, start by creating a suitable habitat for jewel orchids. You can grow them in low to moderate light and well-drained potting soil kept constantly damp. Closed terrariums cater to this moisture preference since their lids prevent water from escaping the ecosystem. Hot glue your bowl to the cloche's wooden base, then fill it with soil, plant your orchids, and decide what else your terrarium needs.

Want to go a slightly different direction? Choose another houseplant with showy leaves. Terrarium-loving polka dot plants (Hypoestes phyllostachya) are ideal for adding a splash of color. So are many varieties of coleus plants, which come in a range of dark and unusual colors. You can make cuttings from coleus growing outdoors and use them to grow new plants indoors. If you'd like to include moss, you have lots of choices. Two types that do well in terrariums are silvery threaded moss (Bryum argenteum) and club moss (Selaginella kraussiana). An even more straightforward way to add textural contrast is by incorporating small stones or bits of tree bark. Birch bark is one safe and attractive choice. 

Also, consider other terrarium-friendly plants whose light and water needs are similar. Aluminum plants (Pilea cadierei) and artillery ferns (Pilea microphylla) can be good cloche companions for jewel orchids. No matter which plants you choose, water your garden before enclosing it in its dome. Then, place it where it will get enough sunlight. After that, sit back and enjoy the magical little world you've created. Or, if you're feeling inspired, create another terrarium from an empty candle jar.