Wardian Case Ghost

In the early nineteenth century, Dr. Nathaniel Ward made an accidental discovery. He cared very little about plants but a lot more about butterflies, which were his passion. He usually set his caterpillars to pupate on a layer of soil in closed glass containers. One of these containers lay in a corner, forgotten for months. When this container came to light once more, Dr. Ward noted that a small fern was growing inside. He discovered that the moisture from the soil had evaporated, condensed on the inside of the glass and then when cooled, trickled down once more into the soil. As a result, the little fern had enough moisture to develop in a self-contained micro-environment, during the time the container had been set aside and ignored. Using this principal, houseplant terrariums were born. Not only were containers for the transport of precious plants made in artful designs, but “Wardian cases” were also made as big as wardrobes and placed in the salons of European high society. They were usually planted with ferns so they were often called “ferneries.”

We think these little ghosts would have inhabited Victorian “ Wardian cases” at home amongst the ferns and moss. They will be content in the company of your own potted plants, cacti or succulents.