The World's Oldest Self-Sustaining Terrarium

The World's Oldest Self-Sustaining Terrarium

By Kayla, Founder, Third Orbit Flora

 

In the world of gardening, there's a tale that's been growing for over six decades – it's the story of David Latimer and his amazing terrarium, which holds the title of the world's oldest.

Back in 1960, Latimer had a simple idea: to create a self-sustaining ecosystem inside a sealed glass container. He planted a spiderwort seedling, added some water, and sealed it shut. And that was it. No fancy gadgets, just nature doing its thing.

What happened next seemed magical. The terrarium thrived! It became its own little world, with plants growing, decaying, and regenerating, all within the confines of its glass home. And the most incredible part? It did all this without any help from the outside world, aside from 450 grams of water added about 12 years after it was formed.

Over the years, Latimer's terrarium has captured the imaginations of people everywhere. It's a symbol of resilience, showing us that life can find a way even in the most unlikely of places. It's a reminder of our connection to the natural world, and our responsibility to protect it.

While teaching us about our own world, this terrarium can also teach us how to survive in space! Latimer is quoted as saying: "Plants operate as very good scrubbers, taking out pollutants in the air so that a space station can effectively become self-sustaining. This is a great example of just how pioneering plants are and how they will persist given the opportunity."

Even the smallest things can lead to the biggest discoveries! 

Read more about David Latimer and his terrarium in this great article: https://biologicperformance.com/sealed-bottle-terrarium-garden-watered-once-53-years/ (or type his name into a search engine and explore!)

A collage image of pictures of David Latimer's Terrarium - the world's oldest self-sustaining terrarium. In one photo, David Latimer stands behind the terrarium bottle, with his hands on it, looking at the camera. Two other pictures show the plants inside the terrarium through the glass wall.

David Latimer and the World's Oldest Self-Sustaining Terrarium. Photo Credit.

- Kayla, Third Orbit Flora

 

Main image photo credit: Adobe stock photo of small glass terrariums with plants growing inside of them. 

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