Tricks: Glass Houses

Jennifer Polanz

Terrariums are incredibly popular right now, with lots of different applications for them. They can hang via glass globes, set as decoration on a counter or even stick to metal surfaces via magnets. They’re a great entryway for hesitant gardeners and fit into the Pinterest-y lifestyle movement well. They also are an excellent opportunity for retailers to offer terrarium workshops, bringing new people into the garden center, and you can really be creative and have some fun with them. Think Hobbit holes (like the one pictured), dinosaurs or even Lego figures. They appeal to adults and kids alike.

Here are a couple of ways to look at displaying terrarium-based products.

Glass Fusion
One of the things that makes terrariums so cool are the different shapes and sizes that can be planted up. The Great Outdoors in Austin offered such a unique mix of glass a customer would be hard pressed to not find something that appealed to them. (pictured above)

Step-by-Step
This display at World Market walks customers through the process of picking out a glass vessel, interior accents and then planting it up. However, a garden center can add a table of plants and even more miniature garden accents to create the ultimate terrarium.

Make it Special
I really like how Redenta’s Garden in Dallas, an urban garden retailer, offered a list of rare tillandsia that could be purchased. If a customer was looking for something truly unique, they would jump at the chance to have a type of plant no one else could find. GP