What began in 2014 as a quiet evening hobby at a kitchen table has blossomed into a lush, thriving sanctuary in the heart of East London.
This week, The Plum Edit team visited London Terrariums to chat with founder Emma Sibley at her studio, exploring how a passion for miniature glass ecosystems transformed into a beloved urban botanical brand.
The story of London Terrariums is a testament to the power of slow, intentional growth. From their humble beginnings setting up stalls at Bermondsey Market to finding a permanent home in Shoreditch and Bethnal Green, Sibley and her team have carefully cultivated a unique space.
The studio itself is far from a traditional garden centre; Sibley defines it as a green concept store. The thoughtfully curated space blurs the boundaries between indoor living and the wild outside, filled with self-watering planters, botanical homewares, and the intricate glass terrariums that started the entire movement.
The enduring appeal of a closed terrarium lies in its quiet resilience and low-maintenance charm. During our conversation, Sibley explained the fascinating history behind these self-sustaining miniature worlds, which trace their origins back to a accidental 19th-century invention known as the Wardian case.
Originally created by Dr. Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward in Victorian London, these sealed glass containers allowed delicate exotic plants to survive long sea voyages by protecting them from harsh salt air and pollution. Plants inside the sealed vessel release oxygen during the day and absorb it at night, maintaining a balanced internal atmosphere. As soil moisture evaporates and plants photosynthesise, condensation forms on the inner glass walls, raining back down to hydrate the roots automatically. A well-balanced closed terrarium can thrive undisturbed for months, or even years, without needing additional watering, making it ideal for busy city lifestyles.
For Londoners living in flats without a private garden or patch of grass to call their own, these glass vessels offer a accessible, tangible way to bring a living piece of nature into their homes.
Watch our full studio walkthrough and interview with founder Emma Sibley below:
Beyond retail, community engagement lies at the core of the London Terrariums ethos. Sibley and her team regularly host popular hands-on workshops where participants learn the delicate art of soil layering, plant selection, and landscape design inside glass.
One of the most rewarding aspects for the team is watching complete beginners, who may have never potted a plant before, become thoroughly absorbed in the history, chemistry, and art of crafting miniature jungles. The workshops emphasise that plant care should be an accessible, creative hobby. Sibley actively encourages foraging for moss and repurposing old glassware, proving that a thriving micro-ecosystem can live just as happily inside a repurposed jam jar as it can in an elaborate glass dome.
While the core of the business remains intimately connected to local plant lovers, the creative ambitions of London Terrariums have expanded far beyond the shop floor. Over the years, the studio has taken on impressive, large-scale installations that test the boundaries of botanical design. Including an installation with Anya Hindmarch, a monumental two-metre-tall bespoke terrarium installation created for British fashion designer Anya Hindmarch, demonstrating how living plant art can integrate into high-fashion retail spaces.
Sibley has also worked with the Victoria and Albert Museum to develop a specialised series of large carboy terrariums, highlighting historical glass vessels transformed into living historical exhibits.
Despite these prestigious milestones, the heart of London Terrariums remains firmly rooted in local community and creative discovery. The back of the studio houses a welcoming botanical library filled with independent design magazines, plant care guides, and radical gardening zines.
This curated collection celebrates the stories of fellow makers, urban foragers, and community gardeners, offering a quiet corner where visitors can sit, read, and share ideas.
Whether you are looking to build your very first miniature ecosystem in a workshop, pick up a self-watering planter for your home office, or simply browse independent botanical zines, London Terrariums provides an inspiring, welcoming retreat for anyone wishing to bring a little piece of the natural world back home.
Image credits: London Terrariums
