Inside the Glass: The Science, Soul and Springtails of Terrariums with Plant With Cass
For most of us, a jar is just, a jar. For Cassandra, founder of Plant With Cass it’s a living, breathing world. It’s an ecosystem of its own.
“Terrariums are like tiny rainforests,” she explains on The Gardener’s Lodge podcast. “They mimic nature, just in a very small form.”
Cass’s expertise lies in closed-lid terrariums, miniature tropical environment sealed within glass that thrive on the perfect balance of humidity and light “You can make a terrarium out of anything,” she says. “I’ve even made one inside a necklace!”
Her process is part science, part art. “There’s a little bit of a science and an art behind it,” Cass says. Each layer — from volcanic rock and horticultural charcoal to coconut coir and worm castings — is carefully chosen to sustain the micro-ecosystem. “It’s all about getting the soil and substrate right. That’s the start of it all.”
The perfect ecosystem also needs animals to play their part. And yes, her terrariums have their own inhabitants: tiny springtails. “They’re basically the janitors of the terrarium,” she laughs. “They eat decaying leaves and mold, keeping the environment clean.”
Springtails are tiny, wingless, arthropods that are common in damp, moist environments like soil, leaf litter, compost or cass’ tropical terrariums. To the untrained eye they look a little like fleas but do not bite or harm humans or pets. Instead, they are beneficial because they feed on decaying organic matter, mould and fungi.
In Cass’ terrariums they’re populations are kept in check by natural forces, when their food is in decline so is their population keeping the balance perfect.
Cass’s teaching philosophy is hands-on and humble. “People come to my workshops after failing at home,” she says. “By the end, they realise what went wrong. They leave saying, ‘I get it now.’ And that’s the best feeling.”
Beyond the science, Cass says there’s something profoundly calming about watching life unfold in miniature. “It’s this little world that takes care of itself and it reminds us to do the same.”
Listen to the Full podcast with Cass Here