Context
Plant Terrariums – Climate Protection in miniature

Miniature ‘green world’ cared-for and decorative as well

Case Study

In building supply and plant stores they are displayed in different sizes, individually or in groups: Plant terrariums, plants in bowls, vaulted by a semi-open (acrylic) glass ball.

Green nature in miniature: made tangible, easy to care for and decoratively displayed. priced from 4 to 400 Euros.

With modern look and small format, they can be placed anywhere like small nature souvenirs or ‚devotions’- as a pretty eye-catcher, which makes its’ space ‘green’ while looking neat and orderly.

In-door ‚ecosystem’ in miniature: Closeness to and being protected from nature at once.

Image: An indoor ‘ecosystem’ in miniature. Growth on a small scale manageable, shielded,  protected from the vagaries of the outside world.

Capturing a world topic in a sheltering bubble is an old motife.

Capturing a specific world topic on a small scale can be found in terrariums of all kinds as well as in snow globes or in the 70s ball armchairs.

  • Modernes Naturstück: Als Dekor und als Natur-Mahnmal
  • Pflanzenterrarien mit eigener Klima- und Wachstumstechnologie
  • Schneekugeln: Spielzeugformat, in Variationen vom Idyll bis zur Moment-Kapsel
  • Kugelsessel: 70er Jahre Stil für Offenheit und Rückzug
  • Menschen unter der Schutzglocke – Abschirmungswunsch gegen Gefährdungen

Perspectives

Impact directions between ‘climate’ caring and traditional home plant decoration

Strong opposing tendencies are typical for the format of this kind of ‘miniatures’:

Typically, a little plant bowl can be a growth starter or growth control. As long as it stays small, it remains a ‘caring’ decorative product. If the sheltered plants outgrows the small format, one must carefully “repot” them.

Psychologically, it is a comforting image of cute natural offspring. While us and nature ‘outdoors’ are exposed to many ‘climate’ threats which idyllic cocooning hardly shelters from.

Whether the “climate protection” theme becomes a conscious purchase driver depends on both, the store promotion and the customer target groups.