A Bottle Garden Sealed for Decades
In 1960, a British man named David Latimer planted a spiderwort cutting in a large glass bottle. He added compost and a small amount of water, then sealed it shut. Aside from a single watering in 1972, the terrarium has remained closed, thriving for more than sixty years in complete isolation.
The Creation of a Self-Sustaining World
Latimer used a 10-gallon glass carboy to build his terrarium. He placed in it compost, the cutting of Tradescantia (commonly known as spiderwort), and water, before sealing it with a cork stopper coated in petroleum jelly. Inside the bottle, photosynthesis produces oxygen, while water cycles through evaporation and condensation. Bacteria in the soil recycle nutrients, allowing the plant to survive without outside help.
A Life Powered by Sunlight
The terrarium’s only external input has been indirect sunlight. Latimer kept the bottle about six feet from a window, occasionally rotating it to ensure even growth. Light enabled the plant to photosynthesize, powering the cycle that sustained the ecosystem. The sealed garden demonstrates how a simple plant and microbes can maintain balance when conditions are stable.
Recognition and Longevity
By the 2010s, Latimer’s terrarium had gained attention as one of the world’s oldest closed ecosystems. Journalists and scientists visited his home to study and photograph the sealed bottle garden. In interviews, Latimer explained that the last time he opened it was in 1972, when he added a small amount of water. Since then, it has continued to flourish without intervention. As of 2025, the terrarium has survived for over 65 years, making it the longest-living example of its kind.
In 1960, British man David Latimer planted a spiderwort cutting in a glass bottle, added compost and water, and sealed it.
Aside from one watering in 1972, the terrarium has remained closed, thriving in isolation for over sixty years…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/kEHmcYRKbr
— Fascinating True Stories (@FascinatingTrue) August 18, 2025