The rough-hewed basins not only mimicked the rocky environs in which alpines typically grow, they were porous, allowing for the quick drainage such plants require.

WSJ: Trough Gardening: A Challenger to the Terrarium Craze?

I'm not alone, judging from the swarms of poker-faced gardeners I've spotted at some nurseries loading up their cars with almost laughably small plants, especially the alpines that flourish in hypertufa.

WSJ: Trough Gardening: A Challenger to the Terrarium Craze?