In 1960, David Latimer decided to grow a sealed glass bottle terrarium. He never imagined that it would grow into an incredible research study and be dubbed “the world’s oldest terrarium.”
Over the years, David’s bottle garden was sealed shut but remains healthy and robust as it can be. It has a flourishing plant life even though it has not been watered since 1972.
David established the terrarium by placing a quarter pint of compost and water inside the ten-gallon bottle (custom hand-blown glass makers usually make these). He then added spiderworts seeds with the help of a wire.
After that, he sealed the bottle and put it in a corner filled with sunlight. Then, let nature do its job through photosynthesis ¹.
Photosynthesis releases oxygen and moisture into the air via plants. The water will then build up and drip onto the plants. The leaves will also fall and rot, releasing carbon dioxide, which the plants require for their food.
It is creating a self-sustaining ecosystem. It’s a stunning illustration of how nature can preserve itself.
Latimer opened the terrarium in 1972 to supply the plants with water. However, it has been sealed with no air or freshwater ever since.
The garden has been set in the same room for the past 27 years at the home of the Latimer family (at the time of the interview, it was moved around before that).