Milwaukee Terrarium Company from artist-designer Liza Redlin specializes in terrariums, kokedama, and other unique works of living art. The company emphasizes high-design live terrariums that are healthy, well-constructed and build to last. The terrariums make beautiful home decor and unique gifts.
Meet and Shop Milwaukee Terrarium Company Chicago Artisan Market in Ravenswood on Sat- Sun, April 22-23, 2023 at 4325 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago (Artifact Events Bldg.). Discover top Chicago & Midwest artisans in food, fashion, home goods + art.
Milwaukee Terrarium Company sells:
• Succulent Terrariums
These gorgeous glass gardens are filled with eclectic mixes of vibrant, hardy succulents. These low-maintenance open-air terrariums are the perfect way to bring the zen beauty of nature into any environment.
• Tropical Terrariums
Enclosed terrariums are filled with lush, moisture-loving plants like ferns and mosses. These self-contained ecosystems create magical, verdant little rainforests that are entirely self-sustaining.
• Seasonal Designs
Harvest-time, Halloween, winter or spring, the specialty seasonal terrariums are the perfect complement to any celebration. Bring a lovely, live gift to the party or create a stunning holiday table-scape.
Basic Terrarium Care
Terrariums are generally very easy to maintain, making them perfect for anyone who’s “not a plant person.” And with the proper care terrariums can last indefinitely – at least until they outgrow their containers. The Milwaukee Terrarium Company terrariums have plenty of room to grow so you can enjoy them for months or even years before they need to be thinned out or repotted.
Light and Water
The succulents found in open terrariums like bright, indirect light and are incredibly drought-tolerant, requiring minimal water. The tropical plants used in closed terrariums can thrive with a bit less light (as long as they’re still a few feet from a window) and eventually “water themselves” after an initial adjustment period.
Important: Never put a terrarium in direct sunlight for a prolonged period of time, since the glass magnifies heat and can ‘cook’ the plants. Always protect closed terrariums from direct sun. Succulents can handle some direct sunlight as long as they’re pretty dry. If there’s too much moisture in the container the hot sun will create steam and damage the plants.
Pruning
All terrariums require pruning from time to time to keep them healthy and looking great. Gently remove any brown, wilted or fallen leaves as they die, since too much dead organic matter can affect the health of the living plants. If you need to pull dead leaves off of a plant, be very careful to not uproot the entire plant. Use your fingers or a chopstick to gently hold the plant in place and remove the dead leaf with your other hand.
Succulent Terrarium Care
• Watering – Depending on their size, succulent terrariums usually need only a few teaspoons of water every one to two weeks. The general rule of thumb is to wet the soil thoroughly, and then let dry completely between waterings.
Use dechlorinated water for both types of terrarium. This is critical for closed terrariums, but it can make a big difference for succulents too. You can buy distilled water at the store but collecting rainwater or boiling and cooling tap water works just fine.
Spray bottles are great for slowly and evenly moistening the soil, but avoid misting the entire surface of the plants. A small squirt bottle, baster, or small watering can with a long narrow neck works too.
• In dry environments, check for dryness every 1 to 2 weeks.
• In humid environments, check for dryness every 2 to 4 weeks.
Remember: Succulents are desert plants, so always err on the side of less water. If the leaves are yellowing, you’re over-watering.
• Light – Succulent terrariums prefer bright, indirect light. When succulents get too little light, they may lose a bit of color or grow long and start bending towards the light (know as becoming ‘leggy’). This won’t hurt the plants – they’re incredibly hardy – but your terrarium would definitely benefit from more light.
Tropical (Closed) Terrarium Care
• Watering – The tropical plants in closed terrariums love moisture. The water inside a closed terrarium evaporates from the soil and plants, condenses on the glass, and falls back down, making the terrarium relatively self-sustaining. You’ll know the terrarium has the right amount of water when condensation appears on the glass in the morning and evening hours, and the glass is clear during the day.
If you’re not seeing condensation, use a spray bottle to add water – a little at a time – until you’re seeing a regular morning and evening pattern. If you’re seeing condensation during the day, remove the lid – just for an hour or two at a time – until the glass is consistently clear during the day.
Most tightly closed terrariums can sustain themselves almost indefinitely once you’ve got the right amount of moisture inside.
• Light – Closed terrariums don’t need quite as much light as succulent terrariums in order to thrive. Just keep them within a few feet of a bright window with indirect light. Just like succulent terrariums, if the plants start to become pale or grow leggy, move them to a brighter spot or use a supplemental LED light.
Milwaukee Terrarium Company
Milwaukee, WI
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More things to do in Chicago:
• Oak Brook Artisan Market – 2-Day Outdoor Market in Oak Brook, IL
• Chicago Artisan Market – Best of the Midwest in Fulton Market and Ravenswood
