The 10 Best Terrarium Plants for Your Miniature Ecosystem

Native to northern Mexico, the southeastern U.S., and the Caribbean, Tillandsia plants absorb nutrients and moisture from the air. For a minimalistic terrarium, combine an air plant in glass with a bit of twisted grapevine or some lava rocks from a hardware or crafts store, says Cain.

The 10 Best Terrarium Plants for Beginners (Easy Care Picks)

A one-size-fits-all approach never works, and try as you might, some just won’t suit.

But similarly, as long as you know where to look, there are effortless (and stylish) options to be found.

So if you’re looking for ideas, you’ve come to the right place. Stick with me for the official ten best easy-care, super-chic closed terrarium plants.

And to make your life even easier, I’ll also show you where you can find them for sale online.

Let’s go, fashionistas!

This page may contain affiliate links that allow us to make a small commission (at no further cost to yourself). 💚 Thank you for helping to support the tribe!

Best Plants for Terrariums

• 1. Small plant size – you’re typically working with limited space, so small plants and miniature varieties are more suitable.

• 2. Easy care requirements – any plant parent knows some plants are significantly more straightforward to look after than others. Being tolerant of different moisture levels and low light is very helpful in a closed terrarium.

So as you’ve probably guessed, on this list, I’ll be sticking to small, unwavering tropical plants that are almost guaranteed to thrive.

Short on time? Here’s a quick introduction to the best terrarium plants:

Next up, we’re deep-diving into each of these terrarium plants (and giving our top recommendations for each!).

The 10 Easiest Closed Terrarium Plants

1 | Nerve Plants (Fittonia)

Let’s channel our inner Julie Andrews and start at the very beginning (it really is a very good place to start).

Known for its striking, contrasting venation and amazing colors, Fittonia is the quintessential terrarium plant and absolutely perfect for beginners.

They’re fabulously striking and super easy to care for.

A Nerve Plant will tell you when it needs more water. A plant with dramatic flair, it will literally faint and spring back to life once it’s had a drink.

Easy to interpret = easy care.

2 | Syngonium

Oh Syngonium, the unsung terrarium hero.

This one is for you if you’re a fan of bold colors, funky leaf shapes, and remarkable variegation (who isn’t?!).

This beautiful species often gets overlooked on terrarium plant lists, and I cannot understand why.

Both stunning and easy to care for, they’re terrarium plant superstars, and it’s time to give them their moment in the limelight.

And with literally 30+ species and likely hundreds of exciting varieties, there’s something for everyone.

You could go for something pretty in pink like the Syngonium podophyllum ‘Neon Robusta’, or a blood-red devilish delight like the Syngonium erythrophyllum ‘Llano Carti Road’.

3 | Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Despite being beloved houseplants, Epipremnum are considered wild, invasive growers in tropical climates. They’re so aggressive they’ve even been banned in some places!

Why is this relevant? Well, they’re very easy to care for in humid conditions and honestly quite challenging to destroy.

If you plant a rooted cutting in a terrarium, it’s almost guaranteed to thrive.

Ultimately, you can put any type of Pothos in a terrarium, but as you can probably imagine, some varieties are more appropriate than others when considering longevity.

The following varieties are slower, more compact growers with shorter leaf internodes (the space between each leaf on the stem), making them much better suited for terrarium life.

• Manjula Pothos – heart-shaped leaves and creamy, half blotched, half speckled variegation.
• Njoy Pothos – small, irregular leaves with patchwork green and cream variegation.
• Pearls and Jade Pothos – a much more speckled version of the Njoy.

Though it’s a faster grower, the new Global Green Pothos also has short leaf internodes too – the plant patent states around 1 inch in length.

4 | Pilea

Known for being easy-to-care-for houseplants, Pilea are even easier terrarium plants.

They fit nicely into two functional categories, depending on what your need for your project:

1 | Larger feature plants with interesting foliage – Pilea involucrata (Friendship Plant), Pilea mollis (Moon Valley Pilea), Pilea peperomioides (Chinese Money Plant) and Pilea cadierei (Aluminum Plant).

These kinds of Pilea will be planted terrestrially as the main event.

2 | Dainty accent plants – Pilea glauca (Silver Sparkle), Pilea depressa (Baby Tears).

These plants are typically the last thing to add to a terrarium. Just pop a few cuttings wherever you’d like to add some texture, and over the coming days and weeks, they’ll root up and settle in.

5 | Ferns

Ferns are great terrarium plants, or rather, more specifically, well-behaved ferns are.

Reliable, honest ferns you’d take home to meet your parents, not booty-call ferns that give you the hot and cold treatment and make you hate yourself.

Don’t act like you don’t know exactly what I mean…

Here are some great options that will treat you right:

• Silver Ribbon Fern – Pteris cretica ‘Albolineata.’
• Lemon Button Fern – Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii.’

• Crispy Wave Fern – Asplenium nidus.
• Fluffy Ruffles Fern – Nephrolepis exaltata.
• Mini Rabbits Foot Fern – Davallia fejeensis.
• Button Fern – Pellaea rotundifolia.

6 | Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila)

Okay, I get a little too enthusiastic about this plant. But you’ll soon understand why.

Ficus pumila is arguably the easiest terrarium plant there is. Planting? No need! All you need to do is carelessly drop a cutting or two in the container, and it will do the hard work for you.

It roots up and grows ridiculously quickly in a humid environment, filling your terrarium with adorable green leaves.

There are three main varieties:

1. The classic.
2. The classic, but with variegated leaves.
3. Ficus pumila quercifolia (with an oak leaf shape).

7 | Peperomia

Pretty much the entire Peperomia genus is terrarium-ready, and there are a lot of them.

With a taste for indirect light and love of humid conditions, it’s such a set-and-forget genus. You know they’re going to be happy in a terrarium, so you can leave them to do their thing stress-free.

Broadly, they can be categorized into vines, foliage, and large, and I’ll give you a few examples for each.

• Vines – the genus is full of trailing vines with perfectly rounded leaves. Plants like Peperomia ‘Pepperspot’ (String of Coins), Peperomia prostrata(String of Turtles), and Peperomia rotundifolia (Trailing Jade) are marvelous.

• Foliage – Pretty feature plants such as Peperomia argyreia (Watermelon Peperomia), Peperomia caperata ‘Rosso’, and Peperomia albovittata ‘Piccolo Banda’ will add an interesting dimension to your project.

• Large – Peperomia with broader, glossy leaves such as Peperomia obtusfolia (Mini Rubber Plant) and Peperomia ‘Ginny’ make a beautiful statement.

I could go on and on, but this is plenty to get you going, and I’m beginning to grow grey hairs.

8 | Selaginella/ Clubmoss/ Spikemoss

Selaginella is a unique genus, and its somewhat weird features make it a perfect choice for terrariums.

Both visually and characteristically, they can easily be mistaken for mosses or ferns. They behave like carpeting mosses, creating a thick mat as they grow, and like ferns, they’re spore-producing.

This can make Selaginella shopping rather challenging. As you can see by the title, they go by many names.

A great place to start is with Selaginella kraussiana (Golden Clubmoss). It has tiny scaled green leaves. Perfect for a dense, lush ground cover.

And if you want a splash of contrasting color, my favorite is Selaginella uncinata (Peacock Fern), which looks similar to the kraussiana, but has dreamy iridescent blue tones.

I’ve honestly never known such a hardy plant.

When I bought a cutting, I pretty much forgot about it. It was on some moist sphagnum moss in a sealed Tupperware box in dim light conditions. When I opened it a few weeks later, it had nearly doubled in size.

9 | Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)

Honestly, the Polka Dot Plant is very similar to the Fittonia that we began this list with, despite evolving on other sides of the planet.

This plant has spots instead of venation and a tricker name to pronounce.

They come in various brilliant bright colors, with many combinations of red, white, pink, and green leaves. Sometimes the spotted variegation can even blur into patches.

And similarly to Fittonia, it’s super easy to care for in a terrarium. It loves a warm, moist environment, so you can’t go wrong with it.

10 | Moss

When it comes to caring for moss, there’s not much to it.

Because moss needs a humid environment out of direct sunlight, the closed terrarium itself will do the hard work for you. Just keep it moist, and you’ll be rewarded with lush green vibrancy.

No roots = no risk of root rot.

There are two main types:

• 1. Sheet moss (e.g., Hypnum Moss) is great for beginners; it’s effectively a ready-made carpet that will cover the ground of your terrarium. Easy!

• 2. Clumpy moss (e.g., Cushion Moss) is gorgeous but more challenging. Not in terms of care, but in that it’s more challenging to place. It has a thick fibrous underside that holds the moss together, which needs to be trimmed off; once it’s off, it’s tricky to hold the moss clumps together as you place them.

Ultimately you can choose whichever moss you fancy, as both sheet and clumpy mosses will thrive. But if you’re going for a clumpy moss, you might need a pair of aquascaping tweezers to make the job easier.

Unless you’re up for a real challenge, stay clear of aquatic mosses like Java Moss – they need extremely humid terrarium conditions that are hard to achieve.

Plants Beginners Should Avoid

Surprised you haven’t seen Prayer Plants, Jewel Orchids, and Air Plants on this list?

Despite being a good fit for closed terrariums, they’re far more sensitive to airflow.

That means you need to keep a closer eye on them and take the lid off every once in a while, which means you’ll need to rebalance the humidity and water content more.

So they are good terrarium plants, just not the most straightforward.

Carnivorous plants have no place in this article either. While some are more suited to terrarium life than others, they’re anything but beginner-friendly (in fact, Venus Flytrap terrariums are almost impossible).

Finally, avoid cacti, succulents (such as a jade plant), and other arid plants like the plague.

Because these guys prefer dry conditions, they’d quickly struggle inside a closed glass container.

Instead, they will need an open terrarium, which isn’t technically a terrarium at all, but we let them off because they’re cool. Feel free to join the dark side if that sounds more like your thing.

It’s Your Turn

What’s been an easy terrarium plant for you? Share your knowledge in the comments! After all, having hands-on experience with these plants reveals which are effortless and which are challenging.

Have any plants surprised you, for better or worse?

Now that you have a list of easy terrarium plants, why not check out our beginner’s guide, How to Make a Terrarium?

Till next time x

About The Author

Rae

Rae is the resident plant propagation champion and small-handed terrarium builder. Hobbies include; Pothos and Margaritas (yes, together).

The 10 Best Terrarium Plants for Your Miniature Ecosystem

Everything you need to know about choosing plants and cultivating your own modern terrarium.

Ann Hinga Klein covers breaking news for The New York Times and writes about people and the environment for a variety of national publications. In her more than 40 years of reporting, she has never met a topic she could not cover. She is currently focusing on the urgent issues of environment and soil health.

Whether you’re a plant whisperer or a green thumb in training, you can create a terrarium that thrives in your care. Modern terrariums have fewer rules and way more options than their Victorian prequels, and they bring the same life, beauty, creativity, and wonder to your space.

How to Make a Terrarium—and Help Your Miniature Ecosystem Thrive

Benefits of Terrariums

Terrariums are mess-free, and closed-top terrariums make it easy to nurture plants that might not otherwise be happy inside, where heating and air conditioning keep household air drier than many tropical varieties require to thrive. Depending on your plants, you might need to water your self-sustaining ecosystem only once a month, maybe less.

A terrarium also allows you to showcase your passions and hobbies in a way that a regular houseplant cannot. “You can really interject your personality within a terrarium design,” says Megan Cain, author of Modern Terrarium Studio. She helps people create living worlds in glass at The ZEN Succulent, neighborhood stores she launched in Durham and Raleigh, N.C.

Love the beach? Add shells or sand-smoothed glass you’ve picked up along the shoreline. Know where your grandma stashes her vintage canning jars? Pick a favorite and create a home for your own little plant world. Enjoy thrifting? Beautiful old glassware adds loads of personality to a DIY terrarium.

Choosing and Preparing a Container for a Terrarium

A container in almost any size or shape will work, whether it’s from your attic, a crafts store, a tag sale, or even your recycling bin. Just make sure it’s smooth and clear and has a thick rim so it’s sturdy enough to hold sand, soil, and rocks without breaking. You can also find artful hanging terrarium containers online and in crafts and gift stores.

Because glass is non-porous and less likely than terra-cotta to harbor fungi or mineral deposits that can harm plants, preparing your container is not complicated. Simply run it through the dishwasher or wash by hand with dish detergent and hot water. If you have any concerns about contamination, you can follow with a solution of 1 part bleach to 15 parts water. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry.

How to Make a Terrarium

After you choose your container, you’ll add the following ingredients in this exact order:

1. Layer of sand
2. Layer of pebbles
3. Layer of horticultural charcoal
4. Layer of soil
5. Plants

Plants will bring your terrarium to life. Great choices will thrive in the same type of environment, provide a variety of heights, and won’t quickly outgrow your container. That said, some trimming and shaping are part of the joy of keeping a terrarium.

The Best Terrarium Plants

Here are some plants recommended by Cain and two other contemporary terrarium designers: Dan Jones of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, who founded a blog and online community called Terrarium Tribe, and Alyson Mowat, author of Terrariums and Kokedama and owner of London-based Alyson Mowat Studio.

Air Plants

Native to northern Mexico, the southeastern U.S., and the Caribbean, Tillandsia plants absorb nutrients and moisture from the air. For a minimalistic terrarium, combine an air plant in glass with a bit of twisted grapevine or some lava rocks from a hardware or crafts store, says Cain.

• Light: provide bright indirect light
• Water: mist two to four times a week; daily if you live in a very dry place

Fern “Asparagus”

This feathery fern makes a good base to build your plant design around, Mowat says. Not actually a fern but a relative of the common garden asparagus, it’s a bit fussy to care for. But with the right soil and care, it can thrive, “and you can almost trim it like a little bonsai tree inside your terrarium,”says Cain.

• Soil: rich, well-draining potting soil
• Light: provide bright indirect light
• Water: keep soil moist and mist daily

Fern “Lemon Button” or “Duffy”

All of our experts praised Nephrolepis cordifolia, a dwarf variety of the Boston fern, for its lushness and versatility. A compact, easy to grow plant, it also gives off a pleasing, faint lemony scent. “Plus, it can be easily divided to create a selection of small, slender ferns that can slot in anywhere,” Jones says.

• Soil: loamy, well-draining potting soil
• Light: provide dappled shade
• Water: keep soil moist and mist daily

Jade

“Jades are meant to bring love and prosperity, so I love throwing them into each of our designs,” Cain says. A bonus: jade loves the indirect sunlight that is perfect for terrariums. Just avoid over-watering this succulent, which will cause leaves to yellow and fall off.

• Soil: loose succulent potting soil or potting soil mixed with sand, perlite and vermiculite
• Light: provide bright indirect light
• Water: keep soil moist but not saturated

Moss “Cushion” or “Bun”

Leucobryum glaucum was a favorite among our experts for its round, cushion shape and vibrant green color. “I consider it the verdant jewel in the crown of your miniature landscape,” Mowat says. “It adds a touch of natural beauty and completes the overall composition.”

Jones gives cushion moss high marks for versatility, noting that it can be torn into mini chunks that you can sculpt into your terrarium design. Mist regularly with a spray bottle to keep it moist, and consider a closed terrarium to help it thrive.

• Soil: loose, sandy soil
• Light: provide bright indirect light
• Water: keep soil moist but not saturated and mist often

Nerve Plant

Known for their intricate veined leaves, Fittonias love terrarium life and come in a variety of cool color combinations. Fans of indirect sunlight, they thrive when tucked in among larger plants.

• Soil: well-draining tropical potting mix or potting soil blended with peat moss
• Light: provide bright indirect light
• Water: keep soil moist but not saturated and mist often

Orchid “Jewel”

“Ludisia Discolor, with its simple white flowers, is particularly stunning,” Mowat says. “However, its true allure lies in its velvety leaves, often adorned with reddish or golden threads.” Easy to care for, the Jewel orchid can tolerate extremely low light and appreciates even moisture and high humidity, but you’ll want to avoid misting, which can cause fungal infections. Instead, keep your terrarium moist at the sand level.

• Soil: orchid potting mix or potting soil blended with perlite, vermiculite, sphagnum moss, and shredded bark
• Light: provide low to medium diffused light
• Water: water when soil is just dry to the touch

Peperomia

One of Martha’s favorite houseplants, this genus has more than 1,000 species. “There are just so many varieties that you can fit the aesthetic of your home or find something unique to give as a gift,” Cain says. “Some look completely as if you’re looking out at Jurassic Park.”

Jones’s favorite is String of Turtles, which can be trailed down driftwood branches or through mossy hills in your terrarium. “As long as it’s nice and humid, it’ll happily grow wherever you plant it,” he says.

• Soil: well-draining potting mix
• Light: varies from bright indirect light to shade
• Water: allow soil to dry between waterings

Pilea “Silver Sparkle”

The tiny, silver leaves of Pilea glauca add contrast to an otherwise green tropical terrarium, Jones says. “It’s as simple as dropping a few cuttings directly into your terrarium and watching it take root wherever it falls.”

• Soil: tropical potting mix or any moderately rich, well-draining soil
• Light: provide bright indirect light
• Water: keep soil moist but not saturated and mist often

Spiderwort

Tough, tropical Tradescantia plants are easy to grow. They tolerate a variety of sun exposures and form dense mats, putting down roots wherever they touch the soil. “Their trailing nature makes them perfect for creating a cascading effect within your terrarium,” Mowat says, and many of the light-foliage varieties have dramatic, dark purple undersides.

While it prefers consistently moist soil, spiderwort can handle occasional dry spells and will perk up again with watering.

• Soil: well-draining potting mix
• Light: varies from bright indirect light to shade
• Water: keep soil moist but not saturated

Where to Purchase Terrarium Supplies or Pre-Made Terrariums

You can purchase a premade terrarium at a garden center or greenhouse or online. Some sellers create themed terrariums made for daydreaming, like tropical beaches, country pastures, and rocky creeks, and will ship them right to your door. And while premade terrariums come with their own moss and plants, creators will often help you choose additional plants that work well in the mini worlds they have created.

You’ll find what you need to make your own terrarium at garden centers and crafts stores or a one-stop shop like Cain’s (search “DIY terrariums” online to find one near you). You can also order kits and accessories online. Go natural with a hand-blown glass bowl nestled in a teak-wood root or channel the Victorian era with a mini conservatory. For a little magic, tuck an imaginary world among your terrarium plants. You’ll find twig fairy houses, tiny toadstools, miniature gnomes, and fanciful woodland animal figurines in gift shops and online.

To help your terrarium thrive, be sure to use the right soil for your plants. Garden centers sell special mixes, but you can also make your own. Combine general use potting soil with horticultural sand, perlite, and vermiculite to create the extra drainage succulents need; for a tropical terrarium, add long-fiber sphagnum moss to improve water retention while preventing soil compaction.

Different Types of Terrariums

There are two main types of terrariums: open and closed.

Open Terrariums

Lids are optional on open terrariums, which often feature succulents that “thrive on neglect,” Cain says. Even tropical terrariums can do well without being enclosed. “You just might have to add humidity by misting it or watering it a little bit more,” she says.

Closed Terrariums

If you go with a closed terrarium, clean it regularly to remove water spots and prevent algae buildup that can block light.