- The limited edition terrariums are to here to bring a slice of the countryside indoors this winter – available at TheBar.com
- A growing trend amongst Gen Z and Millennial, terrariums have racked up over 3 million hashtags on Instagram alone*
- Almost half of us consider ourselves ‘plant parents’, but three in five Brits find it much harder to feel connected to nature in winter months1
- For those looking to make their own, terrarium expert, Emma Sibley shares her top tips to transform your empty bottles
As the festive season gets into full swing, Chase Distillery has launched the ultimate Christmas gift – limited edition terrariums, crafted out of reused vodka bottles, so the nation can bring a slice of nature indoors this winter.
A growing trend in the UK, with over 3 million Instagram hashtags*, terrariums are fast becoming a household staple, and almost half of UK adults (48%) now consider themselves to be ‘plant parents’.**
In a recent study, over half of Brits said the main benefit to owning a houseplant was it allowed them to bring a slice of nature indoors (57%), whilst other top benefits included feeling more relaxed when surrounded by plants (57%), making the home feel more green, and improving the home’s ambiance (both 55%).
With winter weather and dark days providing less of a reason to get outdoors than in summer months, new research has revealed 3 in 5 of us (60%) find it more difficult to feel connected to nature in winter. Chase Distillery’s affinity with the wild and the Herefordshire countryside sees its new launch help to bring the outdoors in this Christmas, with a vibrant gift to brighten urban homes and bring a slice of the countryside into home spaces.
The stylish limited edition vodka bottle terrariums*** are available as a gift with purchase for over-18s to order at TheBar.com. Purchase one of four selected Chase products here and receive a terrarium free of charge within your bundle – that’s two gifts for the price of one! Selected flavours include Pink Grapefruit & Pomelo Gin, Rhubarb & Bramley Apple Gin, Marmalade Vodka and English Rhubarb Vodka.
Featuring low-maintenance, vibrant plants such as Fittonia and Ivy, the terrariums’ natural condensation produced by the enclosed plants means they require minimal watering, which will come as a welcome relief to the 43% of Brits whose biggest barrier to owning houseplants is forgetting to water them.
Charlotte Gibbon, Category Marketing Director at Chase Distillery said: “There’s so much to look forward to throughout the festive season, but dark nights and downpours can make it a tough time of year, especially in cities where some can feel more cut-off from nature. Chase’s connection to the countryside has inspired this launch, with an on-trend gift that’ll perk up interiors this winter, whilst inspiring others to use their empty bottles.”
According to the research, 44% of Brits are planning to make their own cocktails at home this Christmas. For those who like to get crafty, Chase has teamed up with terrarium expert Emma Sibley, and award-winning landscape designer Tom Massey to share a step-by-step guide on how to make your own terrarium (and look after it) using an empty Chase bottle.
Build-your-own Chase terrarium
Emma Sibley, founder of London Terrariums and author of Little Book of Houseplants, Cacti and Big Houseplants commented: “During winter when we’re less inclined to get outdoors, houseplants can really transform the feel of your home, putting you more in touch with the wild. The low-maintenance nature of terrariums means they’re perfect for those who want to add an aesthetic accent without all the commitment of a larger plant – and making your own is easier than you think, especially with any leftover bottles post-celebrations!”
What you’ll need:
· 1x empty Chase bottle
· Small pebbles or stones
· Activated charcoal
· Peat free compost
· Long tweezers
· Long, thin stick or skewer
· Cork patter
· Selection of small, humidity-loving plants such as Fittonia, Ivy, Asparagus Sprengeri and Bun Moss
All tools and kits can be found on londonterrariums.com/collections/diy
Step 1 – First thing’s first – you’ll want to select your plants. You’ll want to ensure they’re slow-growing and low-maintenance due to the enclosed space they’ll be living in.
Step 2 – Take your empty bottle, and fill it with small stones or pebbles about 2-3cm deep and then sprinkle over the activated charcoal. This’ll help to prevent bacteria from growing.
Step 3 – Now layer in the soil – be sure there’s enough in there for the plants’ roots to embed deep enough.
Step 4 – Starting with the largest of the plants, use your stick or skewer to create a small hole in the soil. Tweeze the plant into the bottle and nestle it into the hole, flattening the soil around the edges to stabilise. Repeat this step until all plants have been potted.
Step 5 – Give it a spritz of water into the neck of the bottle and pop the cork in. Then all that’s left is to find the perfect space for your terrarium to live!
Terrarium TLC – Emma’s top tips
1. Pot the perfect plants: With over half (53%) of Brits admitting they worry about how to keep their houseplants alive, terrariums are a great alternative to open-air plants. I’d recommend plants such Fittonia and Ferns which are quite thirsty plants so are perfectly suited to the humidity in a closed Terrarium.
2. Get the light right: Choosing the prime location for your terrarium is key – generally you want to avoid direct sunlight, but also ensure it’s not placed in a dark space – an open location with indirect sunlight tends to be best.
3. Avoid extremes: Although your terrarium has its own enclosed microclimate, they can be affected by extremes of temperature so don’t leave them on a heated floor or on top of a radiator, but also avoid leaving them out in the coldest winter.
4. Prune, trim and groom!: Your terrarium plants will grow… they’ll grow slower than if they were outside of a terrarium but you may need to get in there with some extra long scissors and tweezers and give them a little trim from time to time.
5. Condensation is key: A happy plant will give off a light condensation on the inside of the glass. If you notice too much moisture you can always take the cork off to let it dry out a little, or if you’re worried it’s looking a little dry you can always give a little spray of water.
Chase Distillery is inspired by the Herefordshire countryside, and their award-winning premium gins and vodkas are the ideal Christmas gift for friends and family – check out the full range here.
Please drink responsibly. For further information, visit https://www.drinkaware.co.uk
