Miniature Dish Gardening Made Easy

Miniature dish gardening combines a group of plants in a decorative container to create trendy home decor that spruces up a living space with organic color, interesting textures and unique shapes. Whether the dish garden is a special place for miniature fairies or just a small scale landscape, these containers help to capture one's imagination and they are easy to make. The basics of miniature dish gardening include choosing the location, selecting a right container, deciding on a style, planting the garden and adding the finishing touches.

Location: Determine where you want to grow your dish garden. You will need to select the plant material that can survive in the location you choose. Consider the light, temperature, humidity as well as the available space while choosing the location. Placing your dish garden where it will receive sufficient amount of light for your chosen plants is important.

The Design: Depending upon the look you are going for, landscaping the dish garden can be done in many ways. The style in which the garden is designed will usually depend upon the theme. Different levels of contour can be created by combining low, medium and tall growing plants. Add contrast by varying the texture found in the plants leaves and using complementary color schemes in the plants. From small containers that hold only one miniature plant to large geometrically shaped pots, dish gardens combine a diverse combination of plants.

Gather the Supplies

• Dish or planter preparation: When designing a miniature dish garden, select an appropriate shallow container that is at least two inches deep. Make sure that the planter is large enough to support the plants you plan to grow.
• Good soil and appropriate drainage: To ensure success and enhance life of the dish garden, proper drainage is critical.
• Once the right container is selected, it is necessary that the bottom of the pot has excellent drainage.
• Pieces of broken rocks or pottery can be used to cover the drainage holes to prevent the soil from washing out and keep the roots from sitting too long in the water.
• If it is too difficult to make the drainage holes or in the absence of drainage holes, a thin layer of crushed gravel can be placed in the bottom of the container and is covered with a mesh screen. So that the planting media will go on the top of the screen and keep the plants from getting submerged.
• High quality potting mix, preferably one with excellent drainage, should be used. For example: Succulents and Cacti prefer well drained growing medium.
• Picking up the right plants: When designing a dish garden, the mini gardener has many plant selections; these range from flowering blossoms to colorful, textured foliage that come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
• With so many plants to choose from, begin by purchasing plants that have the same watering, lighting and temperature requirements, which makes the process of maintaining and caring for the plants easier.
• Also, due to the limited space, try to select plants that are slow growing, such as mosses, succulents, ferns, herbs, or cacti.
• Choosing the appropriate accessories: Miniature items such as rocks, crystals, stones, bits of wood, and fairy houses make appropriate additions to a dish garden. Select colors, shapes and sizes that create contrast and interest. Most of the time, it is the decorations and accessories that bring the greatest delight to the miniature fairy gardener.

Preparing the plants: Water the plants before planting. Do this a day before you plant the garden, so that they will be at their best. Remove yellowed or dead leaves and spent flower heads from your plants. Remember to inspect the plants and treat them for bugs.

Planting the garden: Begin by arranging the miniature plants in the container by selecting a design that is pleasing to you. Once the plants are planted, secure that area by putting more soil around each plant. Also, keep adding more soil, as needed, to fill in the empty areas. Gently pack the soil by pushing the soil down evenly around the plants. Water deeply and slowly, so the water can access the roots and soil. Ensure that you don't over water the plants, but give them a good drink.

Finishing touch: When planting is done, add whatever finishing touches you would like to. Including resin figurines, whimsical statues, decorative rocks, furniture, or hard-scape can really bring out the beauty and add that personal touch.

Miniature dish gardens are ideal for adding a burst of color to a home or patio. The key to an easy dish garden is from selecting the correct plants for your container and location to following the simple planting tips, and adding accessories that will enhance your miniature gardens.