Open terrariums are a fun and creative way to display plants in your home. Unlike closed terrariums open terrariums allow for more airflow and less risk of mold or rot. This makes them ideal for showcasing arid plants that prefer dry conditions like cacti and succulents. But open terrariums can also house tropical houseplants as long as you provide the right care.
When choosing plants for an open terrarium, you want varieties that will thrive in the warm, humid environment inside the glass vessel. You also want a mix of textures, colors, and shapes to create an eye-catching display Here are 15 of the best plants to consider for your next open terrarium project
Succulents
Succulents are practically made for open terrariums Their thick, waxy leaves allow them to retain moisture in arid conditions Popular succulent choices include
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Echeveria – Rosette-shaped succulents with ruffled, colorful leaves. ‘Perle von Nurnberg’ has purple-pink leaves.
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Sedum – Trailing succulents like S. morganianum ‘Burrito’ and S. rubrotinctum ‘Aurora’ cascade beautifully.
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Crassula – Jade plant (C. ovata) is a common choice, but C. perforata has unique hole-filled leaves.
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Haworthia – Small, vertical succulent with zebra-striped leaves. Great texture contrast.
Cacti
Miniature cacti make excellent open terrarium specimens. Look for varieties that stay under 6 inches tall like:
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Rebutia – Petite cacti with vibrant red, orange, or yellow flowers. R. minuscula is a popular option.
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Mammillaria – Pincushion cacti with tubular bodies. M. bocasana ‘Fred’ is a cute fuzzy cultivar.
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Gymnocalycium – Globular cacti that produce large, colorful flowers. G. mihanovichii is one species.
Air Plants
Air plants like Tillandsia require no soil and do well mounted in open terrariums. Some air plant picks:
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T. ionantha – The most common air plant with fuzzy, squiggly leaves.
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T. xerographica – Dramatic, silvery foliage on these larger air plants.
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T. bulbosa – Bulbous base with curly thin leaves sprouting out.
Tropical Foliage Plants
Open terrariums can also house tropical houseplants as long as they get enough humidity. Consider:
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Ferns – Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) and rabbit’s foot fern (Davallia fejeensis) add delicate greenery.
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Philodendrons – Heartleaf philodendron (P. hederaceum) or velvet-leaf philodendron (P. hederaceum ‘Micans’) are hardy choices.
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Peperomia – Radiator plant (P. caperata) and watermelon peperomia (P. argyreia) work well.
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Calathea – Eye-catching patterns on the leaves like C. zebrina or C. ornata.
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Nerve plant (Fittonia albivenis) – Vivid pink veined leaves make a colorful statement.
Trailing Vines
Let vines spill gracefully out of the open terrarium for a natural look. Some top trailing plant picks:
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Pothos – Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) or neon pothos (E. aureum ‘Neon’) trail far.
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String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) – Cascading succulent beads.
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Burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum) – Plump succulent leaves on trailing stems.
When planting your open terrarium, use a well-draining cactus/succulent soil mix for the arid plants. Tropical plants will appreciate a moisture-retentive indoor plant soil. Add gravel or decorative pebbles as a top dressing. Site your finished terrarium in a spot with plenty of sunlight.
The beauty of an open terrarium is you get more flexibility in plant choices. Go for a fully arid theme with cacti and succulents or mix in some tropical foliage for contrast. Follow basic care guidelines for your chosen plants, and your mini garden will thrive on display.
Terrarium Plants with Height – Asparagus Fern
A bit like the Parlour Palm, the Asparagus Fern has a tree like structure, but it looks much softer. I think this makes it an elegant choice for a terrarium. An Asparagus Fern looks very lovely on its own, as quite a statement plant – or in combination with lower growing plants. Furthermore, with its love of humidity it’s fine in a closed terrarium.
An open terrarium has none of the humidity of its closed counterpart. In fact, it’s essentially a differently shaped plant pot! However, with its high sides and limited access, it may be tricky to water (or get at) whatever is in the terrarium. That’s why cacti and succulents – desert plants that thrive in dry conditions, are slow (and low) growing and don’t need a lot of TLC are good for open terrariums.
Cacti are not plants for the impatient. They’re very slow-growing. But this means they’re brilliant for terrariums as they won’t crowd out the space quickly. If you are going to use them, you could have them on their own, or maybe combine with them with succulents. Just make sure your terrarium has a large opening as they cannot bear a humid environment. They need plenty of air flow.
If you can access your terrarium and are a beginner, you could consider an air plant. Air plants don’t need soil. They extract moisture and nutrients from the air. So you can simply pop an air plant in a terrarium on its own or put on a stone, pebbles or a bit of wood. You will need to remove the air plant once a week to water it by misting it or dunking it into a bowl of water, but that’s about it!
Haworthias are such handsome plants and could combine well with a cactus in a terrarium as they need minimal watering. You can get them in lots of shapes and colours. For instance there’s the zebra-like, stripey beauty Haworthia fasciata or Haworthia cooperi, which has delectable, white and green tear- shaped leaves. Whichever one you go for, as long as your terrarium gets bright but indirect light, and your plants will be very happy.
Crassula Ovata (Jade plants) are popular choices for open terrariums as they can make quite a statement. You can even shape them like a miniature tree if you are skilled in the art of Bonsai (I’m not). But a word of warning they like frequent watering, so don’t combine them with cacti as the poor old cacti won’t thrive.
Plants for Closed Terrariums
In theory a closed terrarium can last for years. That’s because you are creating a self-sustaining ecosystem. The warmth from the sun means moisture from the plants evaporates. This condenses on the sides of the container, and runs down the walls back into the soil. Equally while the soil provides initial food to get things going, longer term, debris from the plants as leaves rot, provide ongoing nutrients for the plants.
While this is the theory, and there are examples of terrariums which have survived decades without human interference, my hunch is that it’s probably quite a hit and miss affair. After all, the environment in the glass container can warm up pretty radically if it’s in too much sun. Furthermore, some plants may romp away too much and start dominating things. Other plants may get too humid and rot.
So to give your closed terrarium the best chance of success, you at least want to start out with some plants which work well in such a closed environment. A space with minimal airflow.
My son gave me a terrarium with a cork lid. So I can keep it closed if I want or have it open. I’m still not sure which way I’ll go with it, I’ll probably panic that the whole thing is overheating when it mists up and will chicken out and lift the lid!
But I want to have the option to keep it closed. So I first explored terrarium plants for a closed environment. From my research the consensus seems to be that good, safe options are:
- Ferns
- Moss
- Ivy
- Fittonia
- Syngonium
- Chamaedorea elegans (Parlour Palm)
- Begonia
- African violet
- Asparagus Fern
Let’s look at a few of these…
I was really interested to see that Begonias are so good for closed terrariums. But then again, I guess it makes sense. After all, begonias are tropical plants that thrive in humid environments.
Beyond them being perfectly suited to the environment, the beauty of choosing a Begonia as one of your closed terrarium plants is that they come in a wide variety of colours and sizes. At my garden centre a sweet little variety called Begonia foliage rex caught my eye. But you can get some with variegated leaves, and so forth. I guess the major thing is to check it won’t get too big.
Like the Begonia, the Fittonia (Nerve Plant) loves the high humidity and moderate light conditions of a closed terrarium. Handily it’s compact too, so won’t outgrow its space too quickly.
Although the most popular vein colour is silvery-white, you can also readily find varieties with veins in red, pink, white, and green. So you can create an array of looks with Fittonia and it will work brilliantly with all sorts of other plants.
I’m an absolute sucker for ferns. I have loads of them in the woodland style area of my garden but they’re mostly huge. So knowing I could have a dainty little variety in a terrarium intrigued me. The tiny, frilly leaved Nephrolepis called Fluffy Ruffles absolutely won me over. I also love Asplenium antigum below.
African Violets come from the misty, high-altitude jungles of Tanzania and Kenya. So they bloom and grow better in moist air, something a closed terrarium has in abundance. However, if you are going to put an African Violet in a terrarium, choose a small variety and make sure your plant’s leaves can’t touch the walls. As all that moisture running down the walls, will create mould on the leaves it touches and run down them, like a funnel, and collect at the centre of the plant, rotting it.
Now, a quick caveat here. I’ve read some people saying they haven’t found African Violets very easy to grow in a closed terrarium as they need more air flowing around them. So I’d be tempted to have one in a container which has an easily removed lid, so you can let a bit of air in every now and then.
A Syngonium is quite an ordinary, almost bog-standard houseplant. But in a terrarium I feel it becomes elevated to something a bit more special. I think that’s because its large leaves catch the eye as its greenery thickens over time. Syngoniums are a great plant to use in a terrarium because they grow upwards rather than out – they don’t bully other plants in the confined space. I’ve read that they’re happy in both closed and open terrariums – so are top terrarium plants in my book.
Confession time…I hate spider plants. I think it’s because I associate them with all those endless baby spider plants you end up with and which no one wants. However, I believe they’re pretty good closed terrarium plants and this variety (laxum) has lovely contrasty leaves with a white stripe around the edge of lush green leaves.
10 Terrarium Plants | Best Plants for a Closed and Open Terrarium
FAQ
What plants are best for an open terrarium?
- Saintpaulia ionantha (African Violet) …
- Tillandsia (Air Plants) …
- Pilea cadierei (Aluminum Plant) …
- Syngonium podophyllum (Arrowhead Vine) …
- Pilea microphylla (Artillery Plant) …
- Asparagus setaceus (Asparagus Fern) …
- Soleirolia soleirolii (Baby’s Tears) …
- Begonia maculata (Polka Dot Begonia)
How to plant an open terrarium?
- In your clean and dry container, layer up your pebbles to about 2-3cm. …
- Next add the charcoal. …
- Layer on the potting soil. …
- Your biggest plant goes in first. …
- Place in other stones, or maybe some moss or sand to cover up the soil if you want to.
- Put in any finishing touches.
What kind of plants is best for a self sustaining terrarium?
Plants like Fittonia, Pilea Involucrata, and Ficus pumila are excellent choices for their beauty, durability, and suitability for the humid, low-light …Jul 16, 2024
What plants not to put in a terrarium?
Holly and mistletoe are common in homes around the holidays, but they’re not a great decoration for reptile or amphibian terrariums. The leaves and berries of holly and mistletoe are poisonous and cause digestive distress that can lead to vomiting and diarrhea.
What plants can live in an open terrarium?
This is the classic open terrarium aesthetic. Succulents, cacti, and air plants are perfectly suited to life in open terrariums. Essentially, plants that don’t like humidity and consistent moisture. They tend to have similar care requirements, so it’s easy to put them together in an interesting mix of textures and shapes.
How do I choose the best terrarium plants?
Choosing the best terrarium plants will depend on whether your terrarium is open or closed. Open terrariums are ideal for plants that prefer dry conditions. Succulents, air plants, and cacti thrive in them. Closed terrariums have their own mini climate. They are best suited for moisture and heat-loving plants like ferns, mosses, and orchids.
What can you grow in a terrarium?
Succulents, ferns, and air plants are ideal to grow in your terrarium. If you do not have enough time, space, or energy to raise indoor plants, gardening under glass is for you. Terrariums, with their bed of mosses, leafy plants, vines, and barks, can add life to your home decor. You can also gift self-made terrariums to your loved ones.
Are open terrarium plants a good choice?
Open terrarium plants are a great choice for those looking to add foliage to a setup that doesn’t require a lid. Many of these types of plants are capable of thriving in arid conditions. They also come in a variety of vibrant colors, offering a unique opportunity of adding a pop of color to any space.
What are some terrarium plant ideas?
Terrariums can make indoor spaces more lively and inviting. They are also quite versatile in size—you can either go big or stay minimalistic with them. So, if you are a newbie, here are some terrarium plant ideas to help you get started: Use a diverse array of glass vessels like cloche, open globes, bulbs, and jars.
What are the best succulents for an open terrarium?
One of the best succulents for an open terrarium is hens and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum), which form small rosettes and offshoots. Hens and chicks are not the only succulents that look great in a terrarium. Mix this type with other small desert plants, like ‘Mini Jade’ or ‘Hobbit’ jade plants (Crassula ovata), which can be toxic to animals.