Has anyone ever used the annual vinca for a mini summer garden? I have some that I have over wintered for three years now and the base of the plants are starting to get a woody tree look. I searched around on the net and can not find any pics of shaped vinca shrubbery, but I am thinking it is possible. I also have a geranium that is a few years old that has started to look like a really old tree. I wish it had a different flower color though. It was given to me and the blooms are hot hot hot pink. I mean gotta wear shades pink. It is not really my color, but it has done so well for a few years now that I think it deserves to be somewhere special.

I'm also looking forward to pics of everyones creations this year. Looks like yall got some fun stuff to work with!

Audrey, is it this plant?
Vinca (Catharanthus roseus)

Yes, Tiffany that's the one. I have read they will live to small shrubs, but have not been able to find any pictures of larger specimens. Here they are treated as annuals and are not available until later in the season, so I started digging them out of the garden before winter to use the next year. I have had some in the past that got leggy and I cut them back and they did not make it. I do not know if that was a one time deal or if it is even possible to get the look I want for a mini tree. Another reason I have been saving them is there has been a big problem with nurseries selling ones with fungus and once you have it, I have heard it can stay in your soil for up to five years effecting any new vinca being brought in. It is my favorite annual and the color I have now is a beautiful shade of red, so I decided a few years ago not to risk bringing in new color.

This is all so interesting.

Well, here it is. My first mini garden without live plants as of yet. I hope to add them when the weather warms up. I put this together in about 2 hours all total. Maybe I will want to add or subtract from it later. Should I have gone all the way to the top with potting mix? Is there too much stuff in it? Let me know what you all think. I am planning on this staying outside in kind of a protected place.

I said this is my first Mini Garden but I have made several Fairy Gardens a few years ago. I just wanted to clear that up in case you have seen my Fairy Gardens.

Jeanne, that is the beauty of doing these, is that it is all about what makes you happy that counts. Also the scenes can always be rearranged at any time to depict whatever creative mood you have for the day. If you filled it all the way to the top with soil you will probably need to take out some soil when you add your plants unless starting with smaller plants with small bare roots. For your light weight dinos it helps if you glue there little feet to stones with some weight or you end up constantly picking them back up from wind, critters, and rain. I found that to be the case with some four inch cutting pots I played around with. It took some of the joy of my little scenes away always having to fix them every time I watered. After I glued them to a rock they now stay in place and I am much happier with them.

Thank you Audry. I thought about gluing them but I decided to wait until I put whatever plants in that I want there. I will need to pick plants hardy to Zone 4. I will probably pick these up and keep them inside over the winter. But you are correct about the wind, rain, and animals. I am on a ridge so we always have wind, very seldom a breeze. Thanks for your input. I hope to do more of these with different themes.

Would a 6 to 7 inch Caladium qualify as a mini-garden plant?

Evan I don't see why not. That's exactly what I plan to do with mine. These can be divided to make smaller clumps.

I'll add that to the humboldtii entries. Too cute!

Ooh I miss that plant! I bought it when visiting Glasshouse Works, over a decade ago. Wish I'd saved it (from winter in OH, where the pic was taken, of a planter attached to deck rail. The only reason I didn't bring the whole planter inside. LOL!) If memory serves, the biggest leaves were about 1.5" top to tip. I would definitely add to a mini if I found another.

Evan - Very nice. I have some small caladiums, too, that I had not thought of using in a miniature garden. Thanks for sharing your idea!

I have a question ....

If you grow plant starts or offsets in very small containers, does that dwarf them? I am thinking of planting some plants (that get a little bit bigger than what I consider miniature) in small pots to restrict their growth. (I have done that with waterlilies and it has worked.) And then plant the plant with pot into a miniature scene. So like a pot in a pot scenerio. What do you think? Could plants be kept small this way?

Becky you might have to root prune as well as top prune them but I bet it could be done.

MJ - Yes! I think that root pruning them and growing them in small pots might do it! Cool!

These are all adorable! So cute!

How have they weathered over time?

I want to do one!

I am thinking of putting it in an aquarium that I have in the garage.

I am not sure of what plants to use. Any suggestions?

You can use the search in the plant database here to look for plants. Choose "search by all plant characteristics." Then scroll down about halfway and check the box that says "suitable for miniature gardening." Click search at the bottom of the page, you should get 233 results (as of just a minute ago):
Edit: I tried to paste a link to the completed search but that doesn't work.

Thanks I will give that a try! I appreciate your help!

I just started a outdoor entrance miniature garden to my house! Nothing to fancy! I want to see if the plants will live! I have hen and chicks, spider plants, pray plants and small decorative items inside. Here is a picture:

So cute! In your zone the hens'n'chicks (Sempervivum) are definitely hardy. The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) might survive if winter isn't really harsh and the pot is a bit sheltered & not exposed to rain during the cold weather. The prayer plant (Maranta) will not make it. If you're attached to that one, it needs to come inside for winter for sure, where you are.

6 years ago it was a small area that was all clay, fill and full sun. Replaced the dirt with sand, pea gravel and compost, added various Sempervivums, Creeping Thyme, Lewisia, Delosperma, Sedums and Sea Thrift and Lavender. When my granddaughter turned 3 I added some additions to make it a Fairy Garden.