There are plenty of people who love plants but simply don't have green fingers. Or people who want easy house plants because they don't have much time to care for them. Stekkie now has a mega trendy solution for this in the form of this cool mini ecosystem. You see them more and more these days, but I have never come across eye-catchers like these beautiful ecosystems by Bart. And then he also has a great story!
Table of contents
I 'met' Bart digitally on Instagram and after a telephone conversation I became so enthusiastic about his story that I wanted to take a look at the mini ecosystems that he makes himself in his Greenhouse in Breda. No sooner said than done, and two weeks ago the time had come. Lotte and I went to the old prison in Breda where Bart is located with his company. Looking for some green energy.
Because what can make a person happy with greenery in the house, right? I do anyway. Bart's Greenhouse in Breda is therefore a wonderful place to stay. Amidst all the green ecosystems you can feel the energy bubbling. And Bart goes the extra mile with his enthusiasm 😉 . Lotte and I are therefore warmly welcomed and he tells us everything about the origin of Stekkie, how such a mini ecosystem actually works and how they make them.
The story behind Stekkie is just great to hear. About twice a year Bart himself travels to Italy with his bus to pick up old wine bottles. These get a second life as holders of a mini ecosystem. He chugs back to the Netherlands with a full bus. They are not ordinary wine bottles by the way, but beautiful 'jug-shaped' bottles in all sizes. For example, at Stekkie you can get an ecosystem in sizes S, M, L and XL. You will not find any easier living room plants!
And then the process starts at Stekkie.shop in which sustainability is an important aspect. This is reflected in the use of the second-hand bottles, but also because the plants used come directly from the grower. The ecosystems may seem a bit pricey, but when you see how much work goes into making such a mini ecosystem, you'll beep differently. I certainly do.
Of course, every bottle must first be completely cleaned and that is a process in itself. Then they work with care on filling the bottle and the creation of the ecosystem. Besides the fact that filling is not an easy task with that narrow neck, the bottle is first left in the Greenhouse for a few weeks to acclimatize and to check daily whether the contents of the mini ecosystem are still in good shape. If it appears during those three weeks that a plant is not doing well, or that there is still some soil in the bottle where it should not be, this is professionally removed and dissolved. In fact… it seems that some kind of 'operation' is being carried out by employee Ruth who is letting the ecosystems all pass through her hands.
I think it's a beautiful sight, all those rows of ecosystems one above the other, from mini to maxi. Do you want to know how such an ecosystem with plants actually works? Then you can also visit the Stekkie website. There you will find all the information about ecosystems, also known as biotopes.
In addition to the 'normal' ecosystems that Bart started with, he has now come up with more creative versions. Including a mini ecosystem with a lamp in it. How cool are those! The lamp gives off a soft warm light, so that the plants in your mini ecosystem also stand out well in the evening. This light can do no harm to the lamps, so it is purely intended for decoration.
So you can come to Stekkie for all kinds of variations of an ecosystem. To complete the range, he has also devised a DIY mini plant terrarium. This terrarium is not completely closed, so you sometimes have to give a little water. Furthermore, it looks a lot like a mini ecosystem and with the DIY manual you can get started yourself. Also nice!
Stekkie's mini ecosystems contain a number of different types of plants. Bart has told me extensively which ones, but with the blush on my cheeks I have to confess that I don't know them all anymore! I recognized the coffee plant right away, but that is of course because I also have it at home. I do know that there is moss in it and a bit of bark next to the tropical plants they use. Logical too, because such a mini ecosystem can actually be compared to a tropical rainforest.
The big difference is that your ecosystem at home is not threatened and it is completely maintenance free.
Whether you have a mini ecosystem with a lamp, or you choose one without a lamp, they are both maintenance-free. You don't have to water, you don't have to hoe, and you don't suffer from all those nasty mourning flies that you find in normal house plants. In order to enjoy it for a very long time, there are a few important tips that you should keep in mind:
Since two weeks now, such a beautiful mini ecosystem has been showing off on our coffee table and we enjoy it every day. You can of course place it in all kinds of places in the house, but one thing is certain. These eye catchers deserve a special place in your home and they are excellent plants if you have cats 😉 .
