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When choosing plants for your terrarium, you need to ensure that all your plants will thrive in the same kind of environment. For example, if you are building a terrarium with a lid in a closed container, you could put moss and ferns together because these plants love humid and moist environments. Here’s a couple of terrarium friendly plants that I use in my terrariums.
If you are building an open air terrarium, then you would plant all succulents including cactuses because they need very little water.
Terrarium plants will also need to be miniature plants and we’ll need to ensure that their root systems do not take over.
Here is a list of Terrarium Friendly plants for an enclosed terrarium to get you started:
Hypoestes or Polka Dot Plant
(Hypoestes phyllostachya)
This is a compact plant with variegated foliage in pink, silver or red varieties. Hypoestes enjoy bright, indirect light and their colours can vary from pink, red and silver.
Ivy or Hedera
(Hedera algeriensis)
Ivy makes a great terrarium plant because it’s pretty hardy. If any of the leaves touch the inside of the glass, and become too moist, they might start turning yellow and brown. Remove any dead leaves as part of your terrarium maintenance.
Spider Plant or Chlorophytum
(Chlorophytum)
Spider Plants have long spear shaped leaves. They are easy to grown in nearly any condition but may outgrow a terrarium, so might need to be pruned back after a few months.
Peace-in-the-home
(Soleirolia soleirolii)
Peace-in-the-home is a small plant with pretty little bright green leaves. This low-growing plant prefers bright light and consistent moisture.
Club Moss
(Lycopodium clavatum)
Club Moss prefers cooler temperatures, low to moderate light, good air circulation and moist, rich soil. If planting in a terrarium with a lid, please remove the lid at least once a week to allow for proper air circulation.
