Miniature plants?

I'd like to make a "miniature" garden... using little plants in sorta shallow pots. Google results in pages that describe how to do it have been useless. It's like regular gardening, the only difference is, "buy small plants". Well, no DUH... but they don't say what kind of plants are available or suitable.

I'm not opposed to having to prune stuff that might grow kinda fast... and I don't think I really want cactus - Does anyone have any recomendations?

There's a great forum here all about creating miniature gardens but I think you have to be a paying subscriber in order to access it. Here's a link to it, I think you can at least see the first post in the threads and that way you can decide if the info you're looking for is there. If it is what you're looking for and you don't want to sign up for a full year subscription, you can sign up for a couple months for $5 or so to check things out. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/tinygardens/all/

A small plant in a small, natural pot.

Al

aw, Al! What a little darling! What is it, and is it growing in an acorn cap?

Portulacaria afra (mini jade) in a Quercus alba (white oak) acorn cap.

Al

Boy, Al, now that IS a little plant in a little pot! How durn cute...wonder how long you can keep the little plant in the acorn cap! What gave you the idea to do that? VERY INTERESTING. Oh, Plants4MyPots, if you are an Ebay person, there are a couple different people that sell miniature plants...mostly terrerium plants...on there. ChuLin

I saw the large acorn caps lying on the ground & I mused, "I wonder if I could grow a plant in that?" It lasts about 18 months - by then the cap breaks down and the plant is way too big to put in another cap, so I usually plant the whole thing, cap & all & give it to a garden pal.

Al

You guys might already know of this resource for miniatures, but if not, it's a very good one: http://www.miniforest.com/

Ebay sounds like a good idea, ChuLin... but don't terrarium plants have to be covered? Or does terrarium just mean small garden?

Al, I didn't know about miniforest! Thanks for posting it. I've got my eye on some Pink Princess, Dragon's Blood, and mini ferns... but I'll have to wait. Says they aren't shipping anything until September 8th since it's tough traveling for mail order plants in summertime.

Plants4MyPots; I've never had a terrerium, although I tried several times years ago but nothing survived for me! I am not a big fan of them...except to look. I think most terrerium plants can be grown outside of an enclosed container, but the humidity conditions are much harder to keep. I could be totally wrong about that. If I had one of the big old Wardian cases from Victorian times, I'd sure figure out how to do the plants though. I love those cases...just gorgeous! Al, thanks for that site; its great to look at things like that. ChuLin

try dwarf (small-leafed) fittonias. They can be kept pruned to the size you want and grow sideways as opposed to upwards.

The Violet Barn/Rob's Violets also sells plants other than violets. Check out their list for miniature plants: http://www.robsviolet.com/miniature_houseplants.htm If you scroll down the page you can click on the green highlighted name on the left and see a larger image of the cute little plants.

And, this is a list of plants that stay small and are good for either terrariums or little dish gardens. It also lists the size of the plants: http://www.thegardenhelper.com/terrarium~plants.html