Terrarium Plants: How to Choose & Use! (Setup to Success)

Terrarium plants are a surprisingly broad topic.

After all, there are countless ways to build a terrarium, and the type you choose will dictate your available plant choices.

Tropical, arid, open, closed, low light, full sun – you name it, there’s a terrarium for it!

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process of selecting the perfect terrarium plants for your setup. So, whatever you want to build, you’ll have the right plants.

Ready? Let’s get started.

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Choosing Terrarium Plants

Okay, let’s begin with the fundamental question. 

Do you want plants for an open terrarium or a closed terrarium? 

Everything else naturally follows from this critical distinction. I’m afraid there’s no mixing and matching between these two very different groups of plants.

So, I’ll break each one down, along with a few terrarium plant ideas for each.

  • Closed terrarium plants are tropical plant species that thrive in the hot and humid conditions of a sealed terrarium, e.g., miniature ferns, tropical vines, and orchids.
Rainforest terrarium with pilea and ferns
The lush green foliage of our closed rainforest terrarium.
  • Open terrarium plants are typically arid species that enjoy low moisture and humidity environments with good airflow, e.g., mini cacti and succulents. However, smaller houseplant species can work too (separately from arid plants).
We used a range of succulents and air plants in this open terrarium.

As you might imagine, tropical and arid plants go together like chalk and cheese. You’ll never have a good time trying to combine them.

One cannot thrive in the same conditions as the other.

So that’s why we decide the kinds of plants and terrarium we want upfront. Trust me; it makes the whole process much easier.

With that out of the way, we’ll deep dive into these different types of terrarium plants (and, later, where to buy them online).

Starting with the classic closed terrarium.

Closed Terrarium Plants

A closed terrarium is essentially a miniature rainforest in a glass container.

It’s the authentic terrarium experience in form and function. Thanks to a functional water cycle, microclimate, and finely-tuned ecosystem, you can grow a whole world of exotic plants from the comfort of your home (albeit a small world).

So naturally, you’ll want small, humidity-loving, slow-growing tropical plant species. That’s the essence of a closed terrarium plant.

planted fish tank terrarium
We’ve packed a wide variety of plants into this small tank.

These kinds of tropical understory plants also tend to be forgiving in low light, so that’s a bonus.

To achieve a natural-looking scene, you’ll need to choose plants from at least a few (preferably all) of the following closed terrarium plant categories.

After all, these are the best kinds of plants for terrariums:

  • Ferns – Sword Ferns, Maidenhair Ferns, Button Fern.
  • Foliage Peperomia, Calathea, Begonia, Pilea, Jewel Orchids.
  • Vines Selaginella, Ficus pumila, Syngonium.
  • Epiphytes Tillandsia Air Plants, Neoregelia, Anubias.
  • Moss – Cushion Moss, Mood Moss, Hypnum Moss.
planted tropical terrarium with moss
The vibrant mood moss really makes the white Polka Dot Plant pop!

๐Ÿ‘‰ Need moss? We have wide range of live terrarium mosses available on our store!

Of course, how this looks is entirely up to you.

Want to highlight the ornate foliage of the Nerve Plant or the beautiful flowers of the African Violets? Sure! Prefer the wild growth of the Creeping Fig and Golden Clubmoss? Great!

Want to recreate your favorite T-Rex scene from Jurassic Park… Just me?

Whatever your tastes in plants, ideas (and films), there’s a wide range of plants to choose from.

I’d also recommend choosing small-leafed plants where possible for your DIY projects. After all, you can easily trim stems and vines, but giant leaves, not so much (Monstera, I’m looking at you).

Like the wonderful String of Turtles plant heresuper easy to use.

Besides, choosing smaller plants means you can fit more of them in.

Small / Miniature Terrarium Plants

Honestly, finding small terrarium plants isn’t so hard.

It’s finding plants that start small and stay small that can be a challenge. 

You’d be surprised how many of those perfectly petite plants at the garden center are just baby big plants! (Yes, I’ve made that mistake on several occasions). 

Pink Aglaonema
Whilst (outrageously) beautiful, this Pink Aglaonema will end up much too big.

It’s not so much a problem for open terrariums. Still, it can get out of hand in our closed miniature gardens. Fully rooted plants do not come out without a fight, and things can get ugly…

Want some truly small terrarium plants? They come in a variety of forms:

  • Dwarf varieties of large terrarium plants, e.g., the ‘Fluffy Ruffles’ Sword Fern.
  • Jewel Orchids and Jewel Alocasia, e.g., the Lightning Jewel Orchid.
  • Miniature vines, e.g., Peperomia prostrata and Pilea glauca.
  • Miniature flowering plants, e.g., Begonia foliosa or Biophytum sensitivum.

All of these are fantastic small plant ideas for closed terrariums.

lemon button fern in terrarium
The little Lemon Button Fern is such a versatile terrarium plant.
macodes pelota held above terrarium
The Lightning Jewel Orchid is a stunning miniature foliage plant.

Terrarium Plants for Beginners

The ideal terrarium plants for beginners come in all shapes and sizes.

What they share is their adaptability, versatility, and ease of care.

Basically, they’re a range of plants almost guaranteed to thrive in a tropical closed terrarium (and look good doing it). Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Nerve Plant – A true terrarium staple, the ornate foliage of the Fittonia is synonymous with modern terrariums. Though it can be a little dramatic when underwatered, it’s perfectly suited to tropical terrarium life.
fittonia in terrarium
Just look at those leaves!
  • Selaginella – Somewhere between a moss and a fern, Selaginella brings the best of both worlds to a terrarium. The green foliage of this creeping vine is full of texture and color, and it’ll quickly form a dense mat over any surface it can grow.
  • Polka Dot Plant – These vivid speckled beauties are a great pop of color in any terrarium scene. They do great in warm temperatures and a humid environment, so they’re ideal terrarium plants.
  • Ficus pumila – Nothing can stop this prolific plant from working its way around a terrarium. Just pop in a few cuttings and watch them go!
ficus pumila in terrarium
This Ficus pumila is currently growing over rocks and branches.
  • Pilea – The Aluminum Plant and Friendship Plants are both great examples of miniature foliage plants that thrive in tropical conditions. Their bold, variegated leaves and vivid colors are simply stunning.
  • Cushion Moss – This bouncy verdant moss is super easy to work with, helps you sculpt the scene to your desires, and loves the moist conditions of a closed terrarium (even though it’s technically a temperate moss).
cushion moss clump in front of terrarium
How can you not fall for its mossy charms?

Just be mindful of other recommendations you may find for beginner terrarium plants for sale.

Honestly, despite what people say online, carnivorous plants are not beginner-friendly. At all.

Then you have the likes of Prayer Plants, which – while suited to humid conditions – are very temperamental and sensitive to low airflow. The same goes for Maidenhair ferns.

Need more inspiration? See our full list of top picks.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Check out our Best Terrarium Plants for Beginners.

Next up, we’re switching gears and diving into open terrarium plants.

Open Terrarium Plants

Open terrariums are a modern take on the terrarium concept.

Without a lid/seal, they won’t trap moisture or humidity like a closed terrarium. So, instead of your typical tropical terrarium plants, they’re best for growing arid and low-humidity varieties.

You know, the kind that typically thrives on neglect?

cactus terrarium in sunlight
Cacti like these make great open terrarium plants.

That said, the amount of different arid species for sale online is vast. They vary in care a little, but they all need full sun (low-light areas will not cut it) and good airflow.

I’d try to find smaller varieties if you can. Though these plants tend to grow slowly, some chunky numbers can get surprisingly big. 

Here are some great ideas for arid open terrarium plants.

  • SucculentsEcheveria, Haworthia, Sedum.
  • Cacti – Hedgehog Cacti (Echinocereus), Gymnocalycium.

Despite the relative ease of care with arid plants, these kinds of open terrariums will need to use some unique materials and construction methods.

That’s because arid plants really can’t handle being wet for long.

Consistently moist soil is a surefire way to turn these plants into soggy mush. So, arid open terrarium layers and substrates must be well-optimized for drainage

On the flip side, arid plants aren’t the only kinds of plants you can use. You can also think of open terrariums as artistic planters. In that, anything you can grow in the house can thrive in an open terrarium.

  • HouseplantsPhilodendron, English Ivy, Spider Plant.
  • Air PlantsTillandsia bulbosa or Tillandsia Ionantha.

Open terrariums provide a unique opportunity to grow (slightly) larger-leafed varieties or long vines that can trail beyond the barriers of the container. Just don’t combine tropical houseplants with arid plants – that rule still holds up.

Whereas Air Plants are just horticulture on easy mode!

Air Plant Terrariums are as easy as they come.

That’s a Wrap!

Thanks for sticking with me on this wild journey through the world of terrarium plants!

We’ve covered just about every main plant type, but the list of individual terrarium plant species is vast (and ever-growing).

What’s your favorite tropical species? Let me know in the comments.

Next up, why not check out our beginner’s DIY Terrarium Guide?

2 thoughts on “Terrarium Plants: How to Choose & Use! (Setup to Success)”

  1. Excellent article. Thanks so much for all the information throughout the site!
    Esp. found the articles on mosses helpful.
    And the photos are terrific!
    Thanks
    Kate

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