May

Environmental Projects

Requirements

A 5 litre clear plastic drinks bottle. A small amount of gravel, moss, leaf mould (or woodland soil) and some bits of charcoal. Charcoal prevents the soil mixture from becoming sour. Gardening 'tools', consisting of 4 pieces of bamboo cane, about 30 cm long. Use thin wire or a rubber band to attach a teaspoon to the first bamboo, to make a trowel; a cork to the second bamboo to make a tamper; a small blade to the third bamboo for cutting; and cotton wool or a piece of sponge to the fourth bamboo to make a cleaner.

Native woodland plants such as violets, very small ferns or primroses. Avoid taking plants from the wild. Order them from a specialist nursery or get them from an established wild garden. Mossy sticks or stones for effect.

Using a Plastic or Glass Bottle to make A Native Woodland Garden in a bottle

This project is supported by the Department of the Environment Environmental Partnership Fund.

A native woodland garden in a bottle is an ideal introduction to the study of a woodland floor and the processes of evaporation and condensation. It will also focus observers on plant requirements, such as light and shade. The flowering cycle of woodland plants, whereby they all bloom in spring before the leaves in the canopy layer block out the light, could also be explained.

Creating the Garden

Insert about 2 cm of gravel first, using the spoon. Mix some charcoal with it, to keep the soil or compost fresh. Put in about the same depth of leaf mould or woodland soil next. Insert the plants. Use the cork tamper for this. If the sides of the bottle get dirty, wipe them clean with the sponge or cotton wool.Then insert the moss and sticks, to create the effect of a woodland floor. Finally, add about half a cupful of water. Use the spoon tool for this, to ensure that all parts of the leaf mould or soil receive moisture.

After Care

Do not put the lid on the bottle, as gases tend to build up inside a closed bottle. Do not allow the leaf mould to dry out. Place the bottle garden in a shady area of the classroom for observation. Cut off leaves with the blade as they decay, and remove. References Elsie Proctor: Looking at Nature. A. and C. Black 1969 Anne Swithinbank: House Plants . Gardeners' World - October 1996 Young Gardeners' World Page . Gardeners' World, July 1995

Primrose

Violet

Text:Paddy Madden Illustrations:Eileen Fleming Editor:Marian Rollins Design:Taran Pyper

May

Environmental Projects

Requirements

A 5 litre clear plastic drinks bottle. A small amount of gravel, moss, leaf mould (or woodland soil) and some bits of charcoal. Charcoal prevents the soil mixture from becoming sour. Gardening 'tools', consisting of 4 pieces of bamboo cane, about 30 cm long. Use thin wire or a rubber band to attach a teaspoon to the first bamboo, to make a trowel; a cork to the second bamboo to make a tamper; a small blade to the third bamboo for cutting; and cotton wool or a piece of sponge to the fourth bamboo to make a cleaner.

Native woodland plants such as violets, very small ferns or primroses. Avoid taking plants from the wild. Order them from a specialist nursery or get them from an established wild garden. Mossy sticks or stones for effect.

Painted Net Leaf

Using a Plastic or Glass Bottle to make A Tropical Garden in a bottle

This project is supported by the Department of the Environment Environmental Partnership Fund.

A tropical garden in a bottle is an ideal way to study evaporation and condensation. It could also stimulate pupils to study rain forest habitats and compare them with forests and woodlands in temperate zones.

Creating the Garden

Place approximately 2.5 cm of pebbles in the bottom of the bottle, for drainage. Add a few pieces of charcoal, to keep the compost fresh. Add about 7.5 cm, in equal parts of John Innes No.1 compost and a soiless compost. Keep the sides of the bottle clean with the sponge or cotton wool. Make small holes and insert the plants. Place a tall fern in the middle. Remove some of the root ball of a plant if you have difficulty inserting it. Use the tamper to backfill the holes. Water and clean the side of the bottle by gently trickling warm water down the sides.

After Care

Do not put a lid on the bottle. Ensure a reasonable amount of light, but keep it out of direct sunlight. The plants will thrive at ordinary room temperature. Water only if the compost appears to be dry. Always trickle water down the sides of the bottle, when watering. Add a half-strength liquid feed occasionally, during the summer. Cut off rotting leaves with a blade attached to a bamboo stick and remove dead leaves regularly using two sticks.

References

Elsie Proctor: Looking at Nature. A. and C. Black 1969 Anne Swithinbank: House Plants . Gardeners' World - October 1996 Young Gardeners' World Page . Gardeners' World, July 1995

Aluminium Plant

Maidenhair Fern

Text:Paddy Madden Illustrations:Eileen Fleming Editor:Marian Rollins Design:Taran Pyper