What is a Wardian case?
The Wardian case is a glass box originally used in the transport of living plants over long distances. Created and named for English botanist Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward, during the Victorian era became extremely popular outside the scientific community. Most of them were a glass wall lined with decorative iron shifting and could be built to sit on a table or on a floor stand. This early terrarium was predominantly self -sufficient environments for different plants.
As well as many inventions, the original purpose of the case design was intended for a somewhat different purpose. Ward wanted to watch every phase of larvae transformation into insects and created a container on a glass wall. When the plants began to grow in an insect container, he began to experiment with the idea of growing plants in a closed, self -sufficient container.
found that evaporation and condensation that occurred inside the sealed glass tissue adhered to the level of moisture at a consistent level. The temperature also remained relatively consistencyand found that the opening of the housing or incorrect sealing would in many cases cause the plants to die. This sealed environment was ideal for non -native and exotic plants that could not otherwise survive in a cold English climate.
The consistent environment created by the Wardian case gave botany new opportunities. The trips were long and when they were brought back to Britain and on the continent from other areas, the plants were exposed to harsh conditions that usually could not weather. One of the only options was to bring the seeds back and try to grow plants at home. The Wardian case allowed the botanists to bring back live, adult plants transported safely in its own environment.
Some plants are more likely to prosper in the case of Wardian than others. Grass, ferns, ficus and plants damp, moist conditions tend to be well in glass coverech. Terrarium can be almost any shape, but a typical Wardian case is a square or rectangular glass box with a removable peak that makes it easier to add and remove plants. There are many thematic cases.
Many original Wardan cases were highly decorative, with complicated iron. Cases are still available with a significant Victorian look. Small can be found or made to sit on the table, while larger types have decorative floor stands. They can be made in almost any size and with protection against elements and the use of rusty resistant materials, some can sit outside.