Top 10 Plants To Grow In A Terrarium

Terrariums add a unique touch of cuteness to any home. These miniature plant ecosystems grow in sealed containers, making them mostly self-sufficient. They're perfect for plant lovers with limited garden space, and you can customize them however you like. 

Here are ten plants that thrive in terrarium conditions:

AIR PLANTS

The Air Plant is a unique and easy-to-care-for houseplant requiring no soil! The Air Plant is perfect for a terrarium of succulents and other plants without complicated water needs. This plant will add a ‘desert’ element to your terrarium. Air Plant Lighting Needs: The Air Plant requires filtered sun. This means your Air Plant should only be placed in direct sunlight for one hour daily. Ensure your plant receives indirect sunlight through a thin curtain for the remainder of the day. 

Air Plant Water Needs: Since your Air Plant has no soil, watering this plant is a one-of-a-kind process. 

To water your Air Plant:

1. Place it in a water bowl and allow it to soak for up to 3 minutes.
2. Once the 3 minutes is up, put your Air Plant upside down to allow the remaining water to drip off the plant.
3. Repeat this process about once a week. 

RULE OF (GREEN) THUMB

Terrariums create a self-contained ecosystem, allowing plants to thrive in a sealed environment.

GOLDEN POTHOS

The Golden Pothos is also known as the Pothos Devil’s Ivy. This plant has heart-shaped leaves that sport bright green leaves with gold, cream, and yellow variegation. In addition to its low maintenance, the Golden Pothos propagation is one of the easiest to undergo, allowing it to be easily added to any terrarium. Once added to your terrarium, regularly prune your Golden Pothos to ensure it doesn’t overtake other plants in your miniature garden. Golden Pothos Lighting Needs: The Golden Pothos light needs include indirect sun. Indirect or filtered sun is when sun exposure is filtered through a sheer curtain to protect your plant from direct sun rays. 

Golden Pothos Water Needs: The Golden Pothos only requires ½ a cup of water or until the first inch of soil is moist every ten days. When the soil feels dry one to two inches below the surface, it is time to water your plant. Allow adequate drainage to prevent root rot. 

BUTTON FERN

Button Ferns are popular among plant parents for their ease of care and relative rarity. Hailing from New Zealand, this drought-resilient plant appears delicate, with tiny green leaves resembling buttons. If you find one of these in your local plant store, it’s worth the purchase. 

Button Fern Lighting Needs: The Button Fern plant requires indirect or filtered sun. Filtered sun exposure is when sun exposure is filtered through a sheer curtain or cannot have the sun’s rays directly hit the leaves of your plant. The ideal location for your plant, if it requires bright indirect light, will be about 5 feet away from a southern or western-facing window. This will provide a touch of direct sunlight for no more than 1 hour a day before that direct exposure is again obstructed. 

Button Fern Water Needs: Button Ferns grow best if watered weekly, leaving time for the soil to dry in between. Be sure not to over-water your plant as this can cause root rot and yellowing of leaves.

RULE OF (GREEN) THUMB

Succulents and air plants are popular choices for low-maintenance terrarium gardening.

STRING OF PEARLS

The String Of Pearls is the perfect household plant. They are a vining plant that grows adorable-looking little spheres along the length of the vine. The little spheres look delicate, like a string of pearls which is how they got their name! This succulent is perfect for a terrarium due to its beautiful appearance, low maintenance, and minimal watering needs. 

String of Pearls Lighting Needs: Native to Southwest Africa, the String of Pearls is used to dry, desert-like conditions where it grows as a ground covering. Therefore, the perfect sun exposure for this plant is filtered sun. Filtered sun is when the plant receives indirect light most of the day through a western or southern-facing window.

String of Pearls Water Needs: As with most succulents, the String Of Pearls doesn’t like to be overwatered! Make sure you have a pot that drains water at the bottom. You should water your String Of Pearls whenever the pot of soil is completely dry.

DONKEY TAIL PLANT

Due to its thick and cascading appearance, the Donkey Tail Plant is also known as the Burro’s Tail or Horse’s Tail. If you’re looking for a hanging plant to liven up your terrarium or add some vertical decoration to the tiny garden, the Donkey Tail Plant is for you. These succulents are easy to care for and make an excellent choice for plant parents of all experience levels. 

Donkey Tail Plant Lighting Needs: The Donkey Tail Plant prefers partial shade light. Partial shade is achieved when your plant receives between 3-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. These hours of sun exposure should occur during the early hours of the morning; this will relieve your plant from the intensity of afternoon sun! You should place your plant in an eastern-facing window to give it the partial shade it needs to thrive! 

Donkey Tail Plant Water Needs: Like most succulents, the Donkey Tail Plant does not require much water. It is best to water your plant with about ½ a cup of water (or until the top inch of soil is most) every other week, allowing the soil to dry completely before watering again. The minimal water needs of the Donkey Tail Plant make it perfect for the terrarium setting. 

RULE OF (GREEN) THUMB

Proper drainage and aeration are crucial for preventing excess moisture and ensuring plant health.

SEMPERVIVUM RUBY HEART

The Sempervivum Ruby Heart, known as ‘Hens and Chicks’, is a beautiful, low-maintenance succulent. The Sempervivum Ruby Heart boasts bright red and pink leaves when matured. This succulent has a unique quality where its leaves become more vibrant in the cooler weather, but beware if your Sempervivum Ruby Heart begins to bloom and flower. Once your Sempervivum Ruby Heart blooms, it will die soon after. If you’re looking for a succulent with a splash of colour to add to your terrarium, the Ruby Heart is a great pick! 

Sempervivum Ruby Heart Lighting Needs: Native to Europe and West Asia, the Sempervivum Ruby Heart thrives in direct sun. Direct sun is the most intense form of light that your plant will receive from indoors as it will be directly exposed to the sun’s rays in this spot. The ideal location for your plant will be in front of or within 2-3 feet of a southern or western-facing window. This will allow direct exposure to the sun’s rays! 

Sempervivum Ruby Heart Water Needs: Sempervivum’ Ruby Hearts’ don’t require much watering. Like most succulents, these plants are drought-tolerant and can withstand long periods without water. Watering your plant with about 1 cup of water or until the top inch of soil is moist every two weeks during the spring/summer growth season will be sufficient. In the colder months, the Sempervivum’ Ruby Hearts’ does not need to be watered as often and reducing in winter should be adequate.

JADE PLANT

Want to add some good luck to your terrarium? The Jade Plant, also known as the Money Plant or the Lucky Plant, is the perfect low-maintenance succulent that is said to bring luck to its owner. Although native to South Africa, the Jade Plant is recognized as a symbol of wealth and fortune in many cultures, such as Japan and China. This resilient plant requires a lot of sunshine and minimal watering, making it the perfect addition to a drier climate terrarium. 

Jade Plant Lighting Needs: The Jade Plant requires indirect sun! Indirect Sun or Filtered Sun is when sun exposure is filtered through a sheer curtain or cannot have the sun’s rays directly hit the leaves/flowers of your plant. The perfect location to ensure your Jade Plant receives as much sun as possible is in front of or about 2 to 3 feet from a western or southern-facing window. 

Jade Plant Water Needs: Like most succulents, the Jade plant stores water in its leaves and therefore does not require a frequent watering schedule. Only water your Jade Plant once every two weeks or until the top 2 inches of soil are completely dry. Water your Jade Plant with ½ cup or until the top inch of soil is moist.

RULE OF (GREEN) THUMB

Terrariums provide a unique opportunity to control humidity and temperature for specific plant species. 

PADDLE LEAF ANTHURIUM 

The Anthurium coriaceum, also known as the Paddle Leaf Anthurium, gets its name from its long, paddle-shaped leaves with a matte-like finish! These plants are beautiful and fuss-free, making them perfect for a terrarium. However, due to its need for air circulation, the anthurium coriaceum can only be added to a terrarium with an open top. No matter what kind of plant parent you are, this is a fantastic plant to add to your indoor garden! 

Paddle Leaf Anthurium Lighting Needs: The perfect conditions for an Anthurium coriaceum are indirect or filtered sunlight. Indirect or filtered sun is when exposure is filtered through a sheer curtain, or the sun’s rays cannot directly hit your plant’s leaves. The ideal location for your plant, if it requires bright indirect light, will be about 5 feet away from a southern or western-facing window. This will provide a touch of direct sunlight for no more than 1 hour a day before that direct exposure is again obstructed. 

Paddle Leaf Anthurium Water Needs: The Anthurium coriaceum will need watering regularly during its growing season (it often lasts three months during the spring/summer season). Your Anthurium coriaceum will need a drink when its top one-two inches of soil has dried. Water your plant with 1 cup or until the top inch of soil is the most. Plant your Anthurium coriaceum in a terrarium with drainage holes to avoid rotting their roots!

ALOE VERA

Aloe Vera is a classic houseplant that can be found in the majority of plant lovers’ homes. Low maintenance with vast medicinal benefits, including healing burns and cuts and increasing white blood cells, the Aloe plant is the perfect addition to your terrarium. 

Aloe Vera Lighting Needs: The Aloe plant requires total sun exposure. Full sun exposure is when your plant receives direct sunlight for at least 4 hours daily. The perfect location for your Aloe is near a southern or western-facing wall. 

Aloe Vera Water Needs: The Aloe plant has basic water needs and should only be watered every 20 to 28 days. The Aloe Plant will suffer if watered too often, so be sure only to water your Aloe plant once the soil starts to dry.

RULE OF (GREEN) THUMB

The transparent walls of terrariums enable easy observation and make them excellent educational tools for understanding plant growth.

GHOST PLANT

The Ghost Plant, also known as the Mother-of-Pearl plant, gets its namesake from its pinkish-grey appearance. This succulent has become quite popular among gardeners and crafters due to its unique appearance. The Ghost Plant is perfect for a terrarium, but keep it from another Ghost Plant to ensure sufficient air circulation. Similar to other succulents, the amount of light exposure can affect colouration. Keeping your Ghost Plant in a shadier location will create a bluish-grey colour - a sunnier spot will produce a blush hue. 

Ghost Plant Lighting Needs: The optimal sun exposure for the Ghost Plant is partial shade. Partial shade is achieved when your plant receives between 3-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. These hours of sun exposure should occur during the early hours of the morning; this will relieve your plant from the intensity of afternoon sun! You should place your plant in an eastern-facing window to give it the partial shade it needs to thrive! 

Ghost Plant Water Needs: Ghost Plants only need watering once every two weeks. Use about ½ a cup of water until the top inch of the soil is moist. Ensure the soil dries out between watering and only water around the plant, not in its centre.

Deepen Your Roots with Flora

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