Arielle's Terrarium (here and below) from The New Bohemians. Photos by Dabito.
One of the most popular plant images from The New Bohemians, this crazemazing terrarium from Arielle's beachfront home is extra stunning thanks to the unbelievably cool Victorian aquarium it's housed in, but even if you're working with a modern day aquarium, or other glass enclosure, you can easily put together your own little desert oasis.
GET THE GREEN: A diverse collection of Cacti, Succulents, and Sansevieria (aka Snake Plant).
WATER: Water this collection weekly from late spring until late fall, making sure to saturate each little pot. During winter months, water each cactus just once a month. Some, especially the succulents, may prefer a bit more, so give them an extra hit if they look droopy or sad.
SUNLIGHT: Direct sun at some point in the day, in a bright, sunny room. If your curtains are closed until noon, it should be a room that gets afternoon sunlight.
PLACEMENT: These plants photosynthesize in a special way that allows them to absorb CO2 and release O2 during the night, so if you have a sunny bedroom, this would be an ideal spot! They're also dramatic in an entryway or sunny hallway, and you can move the whole collection outside during hot summer months.
EXTRA CREDIT: Remove spent leaves and flowers from succulents to keep them looking fresh. Plan on repotting them as pots fill up, possibly yearly for the succulents- you can also break off stems that are too tall and replant the tops. New roots will form, and they won't look so leggy. Use a very long necked watering can so that each plant can be watered individually, without you risking getting poked by the many sharp spines. Tape is the best way to remove spines from fingers should you get pricked- gently apply tape to your skin, press down on the affected area, and slowly pull out the spines.
WORD OF CAUTION: Because some succulents and cacti are toxic to animals, please check the ASPCA site before bringing any plants into a home with pets. Sansevieria is toxic to dogs and cats if ingested.
Plant-o-Pedia excerpt from The New Bohemians with thanks to Stephanie Bartron.