From mini terras to hanging ones, this Chennai woman is upping the terrarium game

Nanditha Sashidharan has always been about cupcakes and baking. A popular baker in the city under the moniker The Sugar Hut, the 37-year-old never imagined a couple of years ago that she would be doing something more than just baking. After dabbling with a lot of pots and plants, she finally started TerraTree- where by using odds and ends like used windchimes, clocks, bowls and other such second hand trinkets she built terrariums. She invested in beautiful plants, both flowering and non-flowering, and various accouterments. Soon enough she was using everything that she could get her hands on, thanks to her borderline obsession with growing plants in bottles. After realising she has quite the green thumb and a terrace with almost 60 percent of garden cover, Nanditha decided that she was going to do justice to her obsession with transforming everything into a garden! What did not participate in her reverie, however, are her four extremely naughty cats,

“When one thinks about plants, we think about we think it needs to be watered regularly and needs a lot of sunlight,” says Nanditha. “Not with terrariums. Terrariums require patience and have a process that you need to follow that does not forgive skipping steps. You start with layering your jar or bottle with types of sand, charcoal, gravel, and stones and so on.” The perfect terrarium, she says, can only be made with loads of patience. “Haste is your biggest enemy. It needs care, patience and love while assembling. For that truly unique look, add a few customisations.” Nanditha makes it a point to ask her clients what their likes are so that she can incorporate a bit of that into the terrarium. “If they like cats, I will add a ceramic kitty into it. I want them to have a one-of-a-kind terrarium in their house.”  

I never imagined a couple of years ago that i would be doing something that required tons of skill and patience. when we moved to our new place, i was thrilled that the apartment was 60% terrace. To do justice to it, i felt i should fill it up with plants and transform it into a garden of sorts with a coffee table, chairs windchimes and so on. What did not participate in my reverie are my four extremely naughty cats.

Nanditha gets all her raw materials from nurseries in Chennai. However, succulents are not always readily available she says. “Once I joined social media groups, fellow 'Terrarians' informed me that Bengaluru, Pune and Thailand are great sources for succulents and cacti. The plants can be sent by post and they make it to you almost completely intact. Coloured sand and pebbles are available at most aquarium stores.” Once Nanditha started uploading pictures online, the requests came pouring in. It can take hours to assemble a terrarium and Nanditha says that there are no shortcuts. The brand now has hanging terrariums, live terrarium paper weights,  candle holders with sea motifs, terrariums using a photo frame, shadow box, a wooden jewellery box, little jars that are used to make keychains, and even magnets in little ceramic pots with live plants that need almost no looking after.   

TerraTree is almost ready and sales have already commenced. “I intend on working from home now, but if demand grows I may need to find somewhere to sell the terrariums as my house, for the moment,is similar to a flower shop the day before a big wedding,” says Nanditha with a laugh.

Steps to make your own terrarium:

Place a row of pebbles at the bottom of the vase or bowl you are using. This ensures that the water drains properly.

Add about 2 inches of the requisite soil.

Choose the plant that has the longest root and with a spoon make a hole in the soil. Insert the plant, root first, into the hole and gently pack the soil around the plant to ensure it is secure.

You can add another layer of white or coloured sand. Add little props like figurines, large stones, glass nuggets and mirrors.

Starting price Rs 500