We've been cold, wet and cloudy, it's been a very dreary January. Remarkably my miniature gardens in troughs outside look fantastic. Zero degrees didn't kill them, they look like it was a piece of cake. So I decided I needed a pick me up for inside. Off to the nursery to get miniature tropical plants and make 2 terrariums. If you are inclined to killing your indoor plants, terrariums might be the thing for you. Especially now when there are so many new varieties of slow growing, miniature plants. The key is to have the right plants for your light and then to seal the top so it waters itself. Now a south window will be a bit much, but east or even north work fine, your little glass vessel doesn't become a humid oven when the sun is out.

Little spikemosses, miniature peperomia and the new Syngonium 'Pixie' are great starters, especially for an east exposure. As a part time employee at Merrifield Gardens, I like to use their terrarium soil, it's dark (no perlite) and not too rich, which helps keep your miniature plants miniature. The glass container can have a top, or you can just stretch plastic wrap over the opening. With a little water to get them started (and I mean a little water), you can watch the whole thing get all misty inside, which is so cool in January when the world seems so dry and dead.

The terrarium craze has been going on for awhile, just like the miniature gardens for outdoors. What's so great is that it brings a world of miniature ornaments. Little tables and chairs, miniature bird houses, even weather vanes become the perfect accessory. I was given a box of miniature Japanese bridges and huts, apparently used for bonsai, but they are perfect for terrariums.

When your glass mists up, just rub off a part of the glass so you can look inside and imagine your in a tropical rain forest. Maybe the best part of all, you don't have to water it. So if you do decide to venture off to some warm, tropical isle, all is good at home.