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So, if you like the idea of having a little ecosystem to look at in your home/office/classroom/etc, but don’t want to dedicate a whole lot of time, this might be for you. The BLUEiQ has options- you choose which rocks, plants, livestock (shrimp/snails), then just follow the instructions once it all arrives and you’ll have a miniature ecosystem that requires little upkeep- just top up the water when it evaporates.
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Just when you thought you’d be sick of terrariums, these two beauties pop up. I have a sneaking suspicion that the Geometric Terrariums posted a while back are from Score + Solder as well, as they look identical, so if you want to take in the whole collection I’d recommend starting there.
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This might be the best gift ever, unless the recipient is extremely clumsy. It’s a whole ecosystem completely enclosed in handblown glass. With sufficient light and a comfortable room temperature, the shrimp, algae and microbes will coexist peacefully in their own little world without any help. Plus, when the life span of 2 to 3 years is up (some have lived up to 10 years), each EcoSphere comes with a replacement, recharge or upgrade policy.

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Remember the Food Map Containers? This is quite similar, as it gives you an option for a mobile garden. It’s 23.5″ wide and 39″ long (and 7″ deep), so there’s quite a bit of space to plant a variety of kitchen vegetables and herbs, if that’s your thing. Just wheel it out of the way when more patio space is needed, or indoors when winter begins.
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It really can’t get much simpler than this: all the upkeep needed for this moss to stay green is a few sprays of a water bottle. For anyone less than handy when it comes to plants, this just might be your ticket to having a nice little ecosystem, as everything you need is included (bottle, moss, soil, chopstick tools, recycled glass drainage materials) and assembly is pretty easy (see assembly pdf). Might also be a nice gift for a friend/coworker, perhaps?

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This faceted Terracotta pot by Nick Fraser needs to make its way stateside. Normal cylindrical pots are decidedly boring compared to it; plus, a few special herbs on your windowsill might deserve a fancier frock. Comes with a drainage tray.

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Still looking for a vertical garden solution? This system from Florafelt looks super easy to use and has a decent price tag. It’s made from 100% recycled PET plastic felt attached to a rigid plastic panel and you can mount the whole thing to a wall or hang from mounting tabs. The Full 4-Pocket Vertical Planter ($44) is shown above, but other larger sizes are available as well. Check out the Living Wall Kits if you’re interested in a watering system.

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Check out this small plastic Bloccon (“block” + “icon”) watering can by designer Kazuya Washio. A little Lego-ish, isn’t it? It’s pretty small (350ml), so keep in mind it’s appropriate for house plants rather than a large garden.

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Despite the recent terrarium craze, I still haven’t created or bought one for my own home. This rather affordable easy-on-the-eyes greenhouse is tempting me to finally write it into my to-do list this weekend. It’s nice that it’s so simple and spare, as that allows for the plants to be the main focal point.

Small: 9″sq. x 18″h. $49.00
Large: 24″w x 13″d x 20″h. $169.00

If you’re in the market for some sharp looking planters, take a look at these stainless steel ones by Shift Design. The window box is available in a 24″ or 30″ width, while the two tiered Cedar Herb Garden is perfect for (you guessed it) herbs. And, if you want to go all out and cover a wall with plants in stainless steel, there’s a living wall unit that you can line up side by side as your budget allows. See below for details.
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Whoa, Planterworx Planters are on sale (30%-37% off) at Fab.com today. I actually bought one of these after posting it (Element Planter) and I certainly think it’s worth every penny. If you haven’t signed up yet, here’s the invite.

From Fab.com.

I’m loving the new planters from Ikea with the tiny price tag.

Glazed; makes the plant pot waterproof.
Note: It looks like you might have to make a trip to the store to purchase.

Just how great are these terrariums from Assembly New York? A geometric take is certainly refreshing compared to more antiquated versions. Prices start at $134 and go upwards to $340 depending on size. Each is one of kind as they are hand welded, and there doesn’t seem to be an awful lot of stock, fyi.

Hand welded metal and glass terrariums.

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Stocking stuffer alert! These poplar stakes would be a perfect little gift for someone with a green thumb.

From French designers JF Dingjian and Eloi Chafai of Normal Studio, created for the design collective ENO.

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How’s this for a nice pairing with the Oblique Shelf? These modular contemporary planters have just now been made available to the public and are available in different sizes and finishes for indoors or out. Each planter is built by hand and made from recycled material. Take a look below for more pics and colors (pink!).

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