Providing enough light to your terrarium plants is important to keep them healthy and growing. But how much light does a terrarium need? In this post, you will find out how much light terrarium needs (moss, succulents, air plant etc.), where to place a terrarium for good light and which artificial light you can provide to your terrarium.
How much light your terrarium needs will depend on which plants you have in a terrarium. In general, most terrariums will need bright, but indirect light, to avoid burning plants.
What type of light does a terrarium need?
Your terrarium will mostly benefit from natural bright light that comes from natural filtered sunlight. If for any reason your room is too dark, you can use artificial fluorescent lighting for plants.
Southern sun spots in a house will receive the best amount of bright light during the day. Another great option is Western sun exposure, but make sure not to place your terrarium under direct light in a Western sun facing spot.
When choosing different plants for a terrarium, make sure they have similar lighting needs. You can easily group all air plants together, as they all need bright indirect light. Air plants and succulents will also do great together, as almost all also need bright indirect light. Some mosses prefer bright light, but some tolerate shade.
Succulent terrarium lighting needs
Most succulents (including cacti) in a terrarium require bright but indirect light. The best way you can provide this bright but indirect light would be to put the terrarium in a bright room, near the window. Succulents also prefer fast draining soil and proper ventilation, so choose open terrariums for them.
Don’t place a terrarium with succulents on a windowsill or where the direct light will hit it. It can have some direct sun rays hit it, but not or for long. That’s especially true for mostly enclosed terrariums.
Direct light will create extremely high temperatures in a terrarium, cooking and burning your plants. You should plant succulents only in open terrariums as they need properly ventilated conditions.
In general, most succulent terrariums don’t survive long if you don’t provide good aeration and lighting, as they come from hot parts of the world.
Signs that your succulents in a terrarium are not getting enough light include thin and long stems that are reaching for light. Discolored leaves are also a sign that your succulents in a terrarium are not getting enough light. Too much light will cause leaves to turn dry and brown (tips and body of leaves).
Some succulents that will be great for low light settings are:
- Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
- Panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa)
- Haworthia plants do well in bright light, but can also tolerate low light
- Aloe Vera
- Gasterias
There are many other succulents (including cacti) that can adapt to low light. Unless you specifically need plants that are well adapted to low light, most succulents can go together in a terrarium.
Tillandsia air plant terrarium light needs
Air plants make a great plant choice for terrariums. But please don’t forget about their lighting needs – they also need bright but indirect light to stay healthy.
Place the terrarium with air plants in a very well lit area, that is getting the most light in a day. Don’t place in a spot with direct light hitting the terrarium, or it cause heat buildup and kill the plants.
You can also place your air plant terrarium outside in a shaded area or hang them in a well lit room. All tillandsias need bright and indirect light to thrive. They also enjoy good watering as required, and good air circulation.
How much light does a moss terrarium need?
Moss is often used for closed terrariums, because mosses do well in enclosed, higher humidity containers. But mosses are great to use in different types of terrariums, including open ones.
Most types of moss need bright but filtered light, but some do well in a shaded and low light settings. Moss also needs some bright (but not direct light), so you can have some moss with other plants.
Key to success is to allow your moss get some bright filtered light so that it can photosynthesize to create its own nutrients. But make sure it’s not placed in a hot sunny spot – too much light will quickly dry out and burn your moss.
Also make sure that spot is not too windy or dry – that will dry out your moss. While moss loves warmth and moisture, it also needs proper air flow.
If your moss is in the closed terrarium, place it on a shelf with lots of bright light, but away from any radiators and air conditioning. Open the lid for air exchange – you can even take it outside once a week for a full day (no direct light though).
But make sure that no direct light hits the terrarium with moss, as it needs good ventilation. Try to achieve mid-range lighting, as too little or too much lighting will cause moss to wither.
You can even place your terrarium with moss on a windowsill (late in a day) or take it outside 1-2 times a week for air exchange. None of this applies to dry preserved moss that’s not alive, such as this reindeer moss.
Carnivorous plant terrarium light needs
Some carnivorous plants can also be used for making terrariums. Carnivorous plant love bright light, but make sure not to allow direct light for long periods of time. Otherwise, plants will become dry and can die.
Don’t mix carnivorous plants with other types of plants, as they need different conditions. Carnivorous plants need lots of watering that might be too much for other plants – as well as a rest period in winter. Only plant carnivorous plants in large and open terrariums.
Artificial lighting for plant terrariums
Is your room is not very well lit during the day? If for any reason there’s not enough lighting for your terrarium, you can provide it with artificial lighting.
The best type of artificial lighting for a terrarium is fluorescent or LED lighting like this. Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) are also a choice of lighting for your terrarium plants. Please note that general household bulbs will not keep your plants alive and growing.
Make sure that you put the light further away from your terrarium. While you want to provide it with light, too much fluorescent lighting will lead to rapid plant growth.
Thank you for reading this post on terrarium lighting needs! If you would like to learn more about terrarium care, please see this resource page.