Exploring the Best Plants for Your Terrarium

Terrariums are enchanting miniature worlds that bring a touch of greenery and natural beauty into your home. They’re perfect for those seeking a low-maintenance gardening experience or anyone who wants to enjoy the sight of lush foliage in tight indoor spaces. While setting up a terrarium might seem straightforward—just add soil, plants, and decorative elements—it’s important to carefully consider the types of plants you include. The right choices can result in a thriving, self-sustaining micro-ecosystem, while the wrong picks can lead to frustration and frequent replacements.

In this guide, we’ll explore the most popular and successful types of plants used in terrariums. From moisture-loving ferns and mosses to hardy succulents and stunning carnivorous varieties, you’ll discover a wealth of options. By understanding their needs and characteristics, you’ll be able to create a terrarium that’s not only visually appealing but also easy to care for.

1. Ferns: The Classic Terrarium Staple

Key Characteristics:

• Love humidity and consistent moisture
• Thrive in lower to medium light
• Soft, feathery foliage that adds texture and lushness

Popular Choices:

• Button Fern (Pellaea rotundifolia): With its round, button-like leaflets, the Button Fern is an elegant option for terrariums. It remains relatively compact and appreciates the humid, sheltered environment.
• Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum spp.): Known for its delicate, lace-like fronds, the Maidenhair Fern is a favorite for closed terrariums. It requires consistent moisture but will reward proper care with graceful, arching foliage.
• Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus): Featuring broad, leathery fronds that form a rosette, the Bird’s Nest Fern adds a bold look. While slightly larger, it can still work in a terrarium if there’s enough room and humidity.

Why They’re Great for Terrariums:
Ferns are ideal for closed or partially enclosed terrariums due to their love of moisture and humidity. They bring a soft, woodsy aesthetic reminiscent of a forest floor, making them a go-to choice for those seeking a lush, tropical feel.

2. Mosses: The Green Carpet of Your Miniature World

Key Characteristics:

• Thrive in high humidity
• Prefer low to medium, indirect light
• Offer a plush, green “ground cover” look

Popular Choices:

• Sheet Moss (Hypnum spp.): Common and easy to source, sheet moss creates a beautiful green carpet at the base of your terrarium. It’s great for helping maintain humidity and adding a natural forest-floor effect.
• Cushion Moss (Leucobryum glaucum): With its rounded, pillow-like form, cushion moss adds a whimsical touch. It prefers the damp, shaded conditions typical of closed terrariums.

Why They’re Great for Terrariums:
Mosses are incredibly versatile and help stabilize moisture levels. They also provide an attractive, unified green background, making other plants pop. Moss is perfect for creating layers, adding textural interest, and ensuring your terrarium looks like a true slice of nature.

3. Tropical Plants: Bringing the Rainforest Indoors

Key Characteristics:

• Prefer warm, humid conditions
• Thrive in low to medium light (indirect)
• Often have colorful or variegated leaves, adding visual interest

Popular Choices:

• Peperomia (Peperomia spp.): These small, compact plants feature thick, ornamental leaves that come in a range of colors and patterns. They’re well-suited for terrariums due to their preference for humidity and dappled light.
• Nerve Plant (Fittonia spp.): Fittonias are known for their striking, vein-patterned leaves in shades of white, pink, or red against a green backdrop. They love moisture and warmth, making them perfect candidates for closed terrariums.
• Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya): With splashy spots of pink, red, or white on bright green leaves, Polka Dot Plants bring a vibrant pop of color. They thrive in warm, humid environments and appreciate consistent moisture.

Why They’re Great for Terrariums:
Many tropical houseplants naturally live in the understory of rainforests, making them adapted to lower light and constant humidity. In a terrarium, they replicate their natural habitat easily, resulting in healthy growth and minimal fuss.

4. Carnivorous Plants: Unusual and Fascinating Choices

Key Characteristics:

• Prefer bright, indirect light (some varieties can handle more direct sun)
• Require consistently moist, nutrient-poor substrates
• Known for their unique leaf structures designed to trap insects

Popular Choices:

• Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula): This iconic carnivorous plant captures insects in hinged traps. While not always the easiest choice, a humid terrarium environment can help meet its moisture needs. Venus flytraps need good light, so a spot near a bright window or supplemental grow lights is essential.
• Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes spp.): Pitcher plants have modified leaves forming cup-like pitchers that trap insects. They love high humidity and can do well in larger terrariums with ample vertical space. They need brighter light and careful watering to thrive.

Why They’re Great for Terrariums:
Carnivorous plants add a touch of drama and intrigue. Not only are they conversation starters, but a terrarium can also provide the ideal humidity and constant moisture they crave. Just ensure they have the proper soil mixture (no fertilizers) and consider supplemental lighting if natural light is limited.

5. Succulents and Cacti: Desert Vibes in a Glass Vessel

Key Characteristics:

• Prefer brighter light, often direct or strong indirect
• Require well-draining soil and infrequent watering
• Typically thrive in lower humidity, making them better suited to open terrariums

Popular Choices:

• Haworthia (Haworthia spp.): Compact rosettes of thick, fleshy leaves make Haworthias a popular choice. They’re hardy, forgiving, and look beautiful in open terrariums with decorative stones or gravel.
• Echeveria (Echeveria spp.): Known for their stunning rose-like rosette shapes, Echeverias come in various colors and textures. They require plenty of light and minimal watering, making them ideal for open terrariums or glass bowls.
• String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus): This trailing succulent with pearl-like leaves can add visual interest when allowed to cascade over the edges of a terrarium bowl. Just ensure it receives enough bright light.

Why They’re Great for Terrariums (When Done Right):
While succulents and cacti aren’t typical terrarium stars—due to their dislike of high humidity—they can flourish in open terrariums. The key is excellent drainage, minimal watering, and strong light. These low-maintenance beauties are perfect for those who don’t want to fuss over moisture levels.

6. Air Plants (Tillandsia): Soilless Wonders

Key Characteristics:

• Do not require soil; absorb moisture and nutrients through their leaves
• Thrive in bright, indirect light and good airflow
• Need regular misting or occasional soaking to stay hydrated

Popular Choices:

• Tillandsia ionantha: A popular variety, ionantha species feature tight rosettes of leaves that blush red before blooming. They’re compact and can be tucked into terrariums, attached to driftwood, or placed on a bed of moss.
• Tillandsia xerographica: Known as the “king of air plants,” xerographica boasts silver-green leaves that curl gracefully. It’s larger and can serve as a focal point in an open-style terrarium.

Why They’re Great for Terrariums:
Air plants add an otherworldly charm. They can be suspended or placed atop decorative elements, freeing you from the constraints of soil-based planting. Since they prefer good airflow and occasional misting, they work best in open terrariums or those with removable lids for easy watering.

7. Moss Terrariums: A Minimalist’s Green Retreat

While moss has already been mentioned as a terrarium ground cover, some hobbyists enjoy creating terrariums composed almost entirely of moss. This minimalist approach emphasizes texture, shades of green, and a serene, forest-like atmosphere. Simply combine various moss species with stones, bark, or miniature figurines for a captivating, low-maintenance display. This style is perfect for anyone who loves simplicity, wants a calming element on their desk, or prefers very low-light conditions.

Plant Selection Tips

1. Consider Your Terrarium Type:
Closed terrariums maintain high humidity and stable temperatures, making them ideal for ferns, mosses, and tropical plants. Open terrariums allow better airflow and lower humidity, catering to succulents, cacti, and air plants. Matching your plant choices to the environment ensures better long-term health.

2. Size Matters:
Terrarium plants should remain small or grow slowly. Overly vigorous plants can quickly outgrow the limited space. Opt for dwarf varieties or naturally compact species to maintain the desired look without constant pruning.

3. Light Requirements:
While most terrarium plants prefer indirect light, consider each species’ needs. Succulents and cacti, for example, need brighter light than ferns or mosses. If your terrarium’s chosen spot is dim, supplement with a grow light to keep your plants happy.

4. Proper Substrate and Drainage:
Even if plants differ in their preferences, good substrate practices remain key. Use appropriate potting mixes, such as a peat-based mix for tropical plants or a gritty, well-draining blend for succulents. For closed terrariums, a drainage layer of gravel or charcoal can help prevent root rot. Match the growing medium to your plants’ natural habitats.

5. Group Plants with Similar Needs:
When choosing multiple species, ensure they share similar environmental requirements. For instance, pairing a fern that loves humidity with a succulent that prefers arid conditions is a recipe for disappointment. Selecting plants with comparable light, moisture, and temperature needs simplifies maintenance.

Conclusion: Curating Your Perfect Miniature World

A terrarium is more than just a container filled with plants—it’s a carefully balanced ecosystem that thrives when you select species compatible with its conditions. By choosing plants that share similar humidity, temperature, and light preferences, you set the stage for a terrarium that’s both beautiful and sustainable.

Whether you’re drawn to the lush greenery of ferns and mosses, the vibrant colors of tropical foliage, the intriguing shapes of succulents and cacti, or the unusual appeal of carnivorous and air plants, there’s a perfect combination waiting for you. Start with a clear vision of the atmosphere and aesthetic you’d like to create, and then select plants that will flourish in that environment.

With patience and proper care, your terrarium will become a miniature living masterpiece—an ever-evolving testament to nature’s ability to adapt and enchant, right in the comfort of your own home.