Hey there, plant enthusiasts! Today, I’m taking a journey through time to explore the rich history of terrariums. Let’s get started!
The story begins nearly 200 years ago with Dr. Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward, a London physician and avid nature lover. During a voyage to Jamaica at the young age of 13, Ward’s fascination with plants, particularly ferns and palms, was ignited. As an adult in London, he dreamed of creating a lush wall covered in ferns and moss.
But growing ferns in 19th-century London was no easy feat. Homes were cold, drafty, and polluted due to the Industrial Revolution. Despite his efforts, Ward’s attempts to cultivate ferns repeatedly failed. That is, until a serendipitous discovery in 1829 changed everything.
While exploring his backyard, Ward found a sphinx moth chrysalis. Intrigued, he placed it in a glass bottle filled with soil to observe its transformation. Though the chrysalis didn’t survive, Ward noticed a fern spore and grass growing inside the sealed bottle. This accidental discovery led him to invent the “Wardian case,” an early form of terrarium that created a self-contained ecosystem where plants could thrive.
Imagine the excitement when a fern, a plant Ward had failed to cultivate for years, grew spontaneously inside the sealed bottle! Placing it in a north-facing window outside his study, Ward observed the terrarium flourish without any care or watering for four years. This was groundbreaking, shattering the belief that plants needed air or ventilation to survive.
Inspired by this success, Ward had larger glass boxes constructed with tight seals, diffusing drafts and maintaining a constant temperature while allowing in light. He placed these terrariums all over his home, experimenting with various ferns and other plants.
In 1833, Dr. Ward embarked on a groundbreaking experiment, shipping two large wooden glass boxes filled with ferns to Sydney, Australia. Despite enduring extreme weather conditions on an eight-month voyage, these terrariums, packed with Australian ferns, made it back to London in 1835 with huge success! Over the years, Ward collected an astonishing 25,000 plant specimens.
The term “terrarium,” derived from “terra” meaning Earth and “rium” meaning place, wasn’t coined until later in the 19th century. Until then, these mini greenhouses were known as Wardian cases. With a 95% survival rate for plants shipped in Wardian cases, a new era of plant exploration, transportation, and cultivation began.
This revolution led to the mass cultivation of plants like the Chinese tea plant in India, Chinese bananas in Fiji, and Brazil’s rubber tree in Sri Lanka. Ornamental plant growers flourished across Europe and America, contributing to the diverse plant life enjoyed today.
During this plant boom, Kew Gardens, the renowned Royal Botanical Garden, acquired more plants in 15 years than in the previous 100 years combined! However, this global exchange also brought challenges like botanical espionage and the spread of pests.
In 1842, Dr. Ward published his book on the growth of plants in closely glazed cases, marking the rise of Wardian cases in Victorian homes. Soon, every Victorian parlor in London boasted its own terrarium, and the trend quickly spread to America.
Plants like ferns became the darlings of Victorian England, fueling a demand for exotic plants. Even average folks could commission plant expeditions, sometimes partnering with famous plant hunters like Joseph Dalton Hooker, who was buddies with Charles Darwin!
Rare plant auctions became popular, allowing people to shop for exotic plants from home. Terrariums evolved into aquariums, combining land and sea elements for a unique aesthetic.
Dr. Ward became a botanical celebrity, hosting microscope soirees where observation was the main entertainment. His colleague, Joseph Paxton, built the monumental Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition of 1851, showcasing terrariums and featuring as many as 14,000 plants!
The fern craze lasted about 50 years before giving way to the orchid craze and other botanical trends. As decades passed, the popularity of terrariums waned due to wars and economic downturns.
In the 70s, terrariums experienced a resurgence in America, with books showcasing both timeless techniques and stylish designs. From terrariums, the concept of vivariums emerged, designed for animals like lizards or turtles, mimicking their native environments.
So, while the popularity of terrariums has ebbed and flowed over the years, their legacy lives on in the form of vivariums and the enduring appeal of bringing nature indoors. Whether it’s a terrarium filled with lush plants or a vivarium housing a pet reptile, these miniature ecosystems continue to captivate and inspire. Stay tuned for more adventures in the world of terrariums and vivariums!