Creating terrariums is exciting, but the first question you are probably asking yourself is ‘which plants should I choose for my terrarium?’ Well, in this post, we will talk about choosing the best plants for open and closed terrariums. This list will include around 60 best plants for open and closed terrariums – including ones that can grow well in small spaces and survive high humidity and temperature fluctuations.
Best plants for open terrariums
Air plants, or Tillandsia
The air plants are epiphytes that don’t need soil to thrive. These plants attach themselves to a host for survival. They absorb water through their leaves. Air plants are best for open terrariums for several reasons. One of them is that you will need to water your air plant quite often – around twice a week (apart from misting).
The best way to water air plants is by dunking them in water – which will be too hard with a closed terrarium. Taking out the plant few times a week will ruin the design. Another reason why air plants are better for open terrariums is because they don’t like humidity or being wet. After dunking them in water, you must dry the plant before returning it to a terrarium.
There are different types of air plants that you can use. Air plant are impressively beautiful with their long leaves emerging for them plant’s center. Some of the best Tillandsia for terrariums are:
- Tillandsia xerographica
- T. ionantha
- Houston
- Guatemala
- Tectorum
- Scaposa
- Aeranthos
- Stricta
- Capitata, or ‘Peach’
- Caput-medusae
- Streptophylla
- Hondurensis
and many others…
You can buy a single air plant or a small collection like this, for your open terrariums. Read a full guide on Tillandsia care here.
Succulents
Succulents are ideal plants for open terrariums. Be careful with watering succulents to avoid overwatering them. Succulents appreciate bright but indirect light and drying out between watering. Make sure to have an at least small to medium opening in the terrarium with succulents. Some of the best succulents for terrariums are:
- Jade plant (Crassula ovata). Jade plants have thick leaves and are naturally found in deserts. These plants need bright light and low humidity. There are different types of Jade plants – don’t choose ones that can grow to reach 4 feet or more! Choose smaller types, such as ‘Mini Jade’ or ‘Hobbit’. Jade plants need full sun, proper ventilation and infrequent watering.
- Tiger Jaws, or Faucaria Tigrina – a beautiful plant with star-shaped rosettes and spiky leaves.
- Hens and chicks (Sempervivum). Hens and chick are pretty succulent plants that have the main hen plant and surrounding chicks. You can use hens and chicks together, or separately. Only plant them in an open terrarium because they will rot in higher humidity containers.
- Aloe Vera, or medicine plant – a very popular plant that has spiky leaves.
Jade plant
- Kalanchoe tomentosa, or Chocolate Soldier
- Flapjack plant, or Kalanchoe luciae
- Graptopetalum, or Ghost Plant
- Mountain Aloe
- Haworthia, or Zebra plant – with beautiful leaves that have stripes on them.
- Paddle Plant, or Kalanchoe thyrsiflora
- Burro’s Tail, or Sedum morganianum – has leaves that look like beads
- Gasteria
- Lithops are beautiful small round plants that look like stones. Read about Lithops care here.
Cacti, or cactuses
Cacti look amazing in terrariums, but they need to be dry. These plants won’t survive in closed terrariums with high humidity and bad airflow. With cactus terrariums, make sure to have a medium to large opening in the container. Only choose small cacti, because many of them get very large when fully mature.
Baby tears, or Soleirolia soleirolii
Ledebouria
Begonia rex
Polka Dot plant, or Hypoestes phyllostachya
A very beautiful plant that has comes in different color spotted leaves. These plants love moisture and do well in humid environments.
African violet
Strawberry begonia (Saxifraga sarmentosa)
Strawberry begonias are pretty little flowers that are perfect for open terrariums. Be careful as they need open terrariums and no water on their leaves. Otherwise, the plant will start withering.
Croton
Croton plants can help you create amazing terrarium designs. However, these plants get quite tall so you will need to prune them. Make sure to plant them in open terrariums. Wardian case terrariums will suit this plant.
Best plants for closed terrariums (or better those with small openings):
While you can create a fully closed terrarium, it is always a good idea to have an at least small opening in the container. Fully closed terrarium will make it hard to take care of plants, can fog up and still cause rotting roots. The most popular containers that make beautiful designs are small round glass orbs, like this.
Bromeliads
There is a big variety of Bromeliad plants, and some of them love humidity and warmth. Some of the best bromeliads for the terrariums are:
- Cryptanthus, or Earth Star. It is an ideal plant choice for a closed terrarium. They like humidity and
Neoregelia
warmth. There are different species of Cryptanthus that you can plant in a terrarium. Choose ones that don’t grow too fast or get very big.
- Neoregelia – another beautiful plant for a closed terrarium. It has a beautiful flower that is pink/violet in color.
- Aechmea fasciata, or Silver Vase plant – an amazing plant with pretty flowers. It is a good idea to plant this plant in a terrarium with a small/medium opening.
Syngonanthus chrysanthus, or Mikado plant
This plant has long stems that end with small creamy-white round flowers. There are perfect for humid environments and will suit tall terrariums, such as Wardian cases.
Orchids
Orchids are popular beautiful plants that will also fit well in Wardian cases. Make sure to have sphagnum moss around its roots.
Carnivorous plants
Most carnivorous plants live in wet conditions, in a nutrient-poor soil. This is why carnivorous plants trap insects and digest them to get nutrients. These amazing plants do well in humid conditions and very bright direct light.
You can grow carnivorous plants in both open and closed terrariums. The only problem with carnivorous plants in closed terrariums might be feeding – your plants might have an issue catching bugs. You can choose a terrarium container that has a small opening, or feed your carnivorous plants yourself. Some best carnivorous plants for terrariums are:
- Venus flytrap – can be a good candidate, but will require winter dormancy.
- Nepenthes, or The Tropical Pitcher plants. They might not be the best for small terrariums, as they get quite big. You can plant them in large terrariums, but you will need to provide right temperatures. There are two types of Nepenthes – Highlanders and Lowlanders. Depending on the type, you will need to heat the terrarium and maybe cool it at night.
- The American Pitcher Plants, or Sarracenia. They are not the best plants for terrariums, as most of them get large and need winter dormancy. But you can pick Sarracenia such as S. purpurea (purple pitcher plant) or S. rubra for a terrarium. Pick very young plants and make sure to provide them with winter dormancy.
- Sundews, or Drosera. They need bright light, but you must remove them for a winter dormancy.
- Sun Pitchers, or Heliamphora. They love high humidity, but need cooler temperatures and temperature drops at night time.
- Cephalotus Follicularis. Note that they need cool temperatures in winter.
- Butterworts, or Pinguicula
- Bladderworts, or Utricularia
- Dewy Pine, or Drosophyllum lusitanicum, but only in an open terrarium. The need good ventilation and very bright light.
You can find care sheets for different carnivorous plants on this page.
Ferns
Most ferns are tolerant of high humidity and are quite sturdy. Ferns add volume to any terrarium. Some of the best ferns for terrariums are:
- Bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus)
- Dwarf Holly Fern
- Heart Fern, or Hemionitis arifolia
Nerve plant, or Fittonia verchaffeltii
Nerve plants love high humidity, so will thrive in a closed, or better a terrarium with a small opening. They don’t like wet soil, so you will need to keep checking on its soil moisture regularly.
Mosses
Mosses make amazing additions to closed terrariums. There is a big variety of mosses that you can use, for example moss balls or Golden Club moss plant.
Artillery ferns
Artillery ferns, or Pilea microphylla, are beautiful plants that are easy to grow and care for in terrariums. They love humidity and bright, but indirect light. They also shoot their seeds with a popping sound!
Button ferns
Creeping Fig
Creeping fig likes high humidity and indirect light. It is a very hardy plant but you will need to prune it regularly as it is growing quickly.
Pothos
Pothos plants like high humidity and bright indirect light. They also prefer warm temperatures of around 70 degrees, so make sure to keep them away from cold windowsills in winter. But you will also have to prune its leaves regularly, so consider a terrarium with a small opening.