Tiny gardens in glass

In a world that’s growing faster and louder every day, people are searching for small pockets of calm, a breath of nature they can keep close. In Muscat, that serenity often comes in the form of delicate ecosystems crafted by Rama al Habas, who tends to worlds no larger than a lantern. Inside each glass vessel she creates, a terrarium, tiny landscapes breathe, grow and reshape the idea of greenery for a new generation of nature lovers in Oman.

Rama, a young woman from Damascus who made Oman her home, begins each morning the same way she began her journey four years ago, by listening to her plants. “It all started with my passion for understanding every plant’s needs”, she recalls. “I loved caring for them, studying them and designing small green spaces wherever I could.” What began as a personal hobby soon grew into a creative partnership with her sister, Rawan. Together, they discovered terrariums, miniature ecosystems that blend art, science and imagination. What started as gifts to family and friends quickly evolved into something larger, admiration turned into demand, and demand into a brand that quietly celebrates serenity, beauty and sustainability.

Rama understood something many people in Oman feel but rarely articulate, in modern life, we often lose our connection to nature. “Many people miss that small green touch in their homes, especially with life moving so fast”, she says. So she chose indoor plants that thrive with minimal effort, plants that don’t just fill a corner, but brighten energy in a room. In a country where summers can be harsh and time can be limited, Rama’s vision makes perfect sense. Her terrariums offer an accessible, low-maintenance piece of nature, something that cools the eyes, calms the atmosphere and brings a gentle reminder of the outdoors into even the smallest apartment.

For Rama, beauty is never complete without responsibility. Sustainability guides every choice she makes, not as a trend but as a promise. She uses eco-friendly materials, selects plants that conserve water and designs terrariums that can thrive for years without exhausting resources. In a region increasingly aware of climate change and environmental stewardship, her project resonates deeply. Her closed terrariums, with their self-sustaining humidity cycles, are almost a metaphor for the balance she hopes to promote in Oman, beautiful, functional and conscious.

Rama does not see her pieces as décor, she sees them as living art. Every terrarium is crafted with deliberate detail, from the shape of the glass to the colour of the stones, the curve of a branch, or the placement of soft moss. She mixes natural elements like wood, resin, coloured pebbles and miniature landscapes to build scenes that feel almost story-like. Her philosophy is simple, a balance between beauty and simplicity, the same gentle harmony you feel when walking through the wadis of Qurayat or the gardens of Al Qurum.

Customisation has become a signature of her work. Clients come with requests for personal gifts, home accents, or pieces that fit a special celebration. “I love creating pieces that express the client’s personality”, she says. She studies their taste, the style of their space and chooses each element with intention. From minimal modern terrariums suited for Muscat apartments to rustic woodland designs perfect for a farmhouse in Nizwa, she ensures each creation belongs to its environment, artistically and ecologically.

The biggest challenge in her journey wasn’t creating the terrariums, it was explaining what they are. Many people in Oman had never seen a terrarium before. Rama’s solution was simple, she showed them. She participated in bazaars, shared behind-the-scenes videos online, demonstrated the life cycle of her plants and gradually built trust. Social media became her first platform and strongest ally, helping her cultivate a community, not just customers, who appreciate plants, sustainability and mindful design.