Choosing the right plants is one of the most important decisions when creating a glass terrarium. A beautiful container and carefully arranged layers can create an attractive display, but the wrong plants may struggle if their light, moisture, humidity, or space requirements do not match the environment.
For beginners, the best terrarium plants are generally compact, manageable, and suited to the conditions your container can provide. Instead of choosing plants based only on appearance, consider how they will grow together and whether they have similar care requirements.
What Makes a Plant Suitable for a Terrarium?
Not every houseplant is suitable for a terrarium. The limited space and unique growing environment mean plant selection requires some planning.
Compact Growth
Choose plants that can remain relatively small or tolerate regular pruning. A plant that quickly outgrows its container can become difficult to manage.
Compatible Moisture Requirements
Plants sharing the same terrarium should generally have similar moisture preferences. Combining plants that require very different watering conditions can make it difficult to maintain a healthy environment.
Appropriate Light Requirements
Consider the light available where the terrarium will be displayed. A plant that needs strong direct sunlight may not be appropriate for a terrarium intended for a location with lower or indirect light.
Manageable Growth
Slow-growing or naturally compact plants are often easier for beginners because they require less frequent intervention.
Suitable Humidity
Some plants perform well in humid environments, while others prefer drier conditions. The type of terrarium you create should influence your plant selection.
If you are still deciding what type of terrarium to create, you can explore the Great Home Garden Terrariums Collection for different styles and terrarium options.
Best Plants for a Glass Terrarium
There are many plants that can work in terrarium environments, but beginners should prioritize compatibility and manageable growth over simply choosing the most visually interesting plant.
Moss
Moss is a popular choice for miniature gardens because it creates a soft, natural-looking ground layer.
It can help give a terrarium a woodland or forest-floor appearance and works particularly well in environments where moisture and humidity can be maintained.
Moss can also be used around other plants to fill small areas without taking attention away from larger foliage.
Ferns
Small ferns can bring delicate foliage and texture to a terrarium.
Their appearance works particularly well in naturalistic arrangements, especially when you want to create the impression of a miniature forest.
Because different ferns have different requirements, check the specific variety before adding one to your terrarium.
Fittonia
Fittonia, often recognized for its colorful leaf patterns, can add visual contrast to a small indoor garden.
Its compact appearance makes it attractive for miniature displays, while its foliage can create a strong focal point without requiring a large container.
Peperomia
Compact peperomia varieties can be useful when you want attractive foliage without a plant that quickly dominates the container.
Their varied leaf shapes and colors also make it easier to create contrast within a mixed planting.
Baby Tears
Baby tears can create a low-growing carpet-like effect around other plants.
Its small leaves can work well in miniature landscapes where you want to soften the appearance of the growing medium and create a fuller ground layer.
Miniature Tropical Foliage Plants
Some compact tropical foliage plants can work well in humid terrarium environments.
When choosing among them, look for varieties that remain manageable in size and have environmental requirements compatible with the rest of your planting.
Small Foliage Plants
Compact foliage plants can be useful when you want a simple terrarium without relying heavily on decorative materials.
Look for plants with interesting leaf shapes, textures, or colors while keeping mature size in mind.
Best Plants for Closed Terrariums
Closed terrariums tend to maintain higher humidity and reduced airflow compared with open containers. This can create an environment suited to plants that appreciate consistent moisture and humidity.
Mosses
Moss can be particularly effective in humid enclosed environments and can create a natural forest-floor appearance.
Small Ferns
Certain small ferns can work well when the environment provides appropriate humidity and light.
Their delicate foliage can also add height and texture to a closed terrarium.
Fittonia
Fittonia can be an attractive choice when you want colorful foliage in a humid miniature garden.
Its patterned leaves can create contrast against green moss or other foliage plants.
Other Humidity-Loving Compact Plants
The best choices will depend on the exact environment inside the container. Before planting, check the individual plant's preferred light, moisture, humidity, and mature size.
A closed terrarium should not be treated as a universal environment for every humidity-loving plant.
Best Plants for Open Terrariums
Open terrariums provide more airflow and generally have less humidity than enclosed designs.
This makes them more flexible for plants that do not need consistently high humidity.
Compact Foliage Plants
Small foliage plants can work well in open containers when their light and watering requirements match the environment.
Succulent-Type Plants
Some succulents can be suitable for open terrarium displays because they generally prefer drier conditions and good airflow.
However, they should not automatically be placed in the same environment as moisture-loving tropical plants.
Small Cacti
Certain small cacti can create an attractive desert-inspired display in an appropriately designed open terrarium.
They generally require different moisture conditions from mosses, ferns, and other humidity-loving plants.
Drought-Tolerant Choices
When creating an open terrarium, consider plants that naturally prefer lower moisture levels rather than trying to recreate a humid environment for them.
The key is matching the plant to the container rather than forcing a particular plant into an unsuitable setup.
How to Choose Plants Based on Your Terrarium Type
Your first decision should not necessarily be which plant looks best. Start by considering the environment you can provide.
For Humid Environments
If you plan to maintain higher humidity, look toward plants that naturally tolerate or prefer moist conditions.
Mosses, small ferns, and other compact humidity-loving foliage plants may be appropriate depending on the specific setup.
For Drier Environments
If you prefer an open terrarium with more airflow and lower moisture, consider plants that tolerate drier conditions.
This can include suitable succulents, cacti, and other drought-tolerant choices.
For Low-Maintenance Displays
If your goal is to spend less time maintaining the terrarium, choose plants with compatible requirements and manageable growth.
Plant compatibility is often more important than selecting a large number of different species.
How Many Plants Should You Put in a Terrarium?
There is no universal number of plants that works for every container.
The right amount depends on:
• Container size
• Plant size
• Growth rate
• Plant shape
• Desired appearance
• Environmental requirements
• Available growing space
A small terrarium may only need one or a few carefully selected plants.
Instead of trying to fill every available space immediately, leave room for growth. A terrarium that looks slightly sparse at first may become much fuller as the plants establish themselves.
How to Combine Different Terrarium Plants
Combining plants can make your glass terrarium more visually interesting, but compatibility should come first.
Match Environmental Needs
The plants should have reasonably similar requirements for moisture, humidity, and light.
Use Different Heights
A taller plant can create structure while shorter plants or moss can fill lower areas.
Combine Different Textures
Pairing delicate foliage with broader leaves or a soft moss layer can create visual variety.
Limit the Number of Plant Types
More varieties do not automatically create a better terrarium.
A small number of compatible plants can often produce a more balanced and easier-to-maintain display than a crowded collection.
Plants Beginners Should Be Careful With
Some plants may be unsuitable for a particular terrarium because of their size, growth speed, environmental requirements, or maintenance needs.
Before adding a plant, consider:
• How large it will become
• How quickly it grows
• How much moisture it needs
• Whether it prefers open or enclosed conditions
• How much light it requires
• Whether it can tolerate the available humidity
• Whether its roots need more space than the container provides
A plant can look perfect in a store or product photograph but still be a poor choice for your particular terrarium.
How to Keep Your Plant Choices Compatible
One of the easiest ways for beginners to avoid problems is to group plants according to their growing preferences.
For example, plants that prefer humid conditions should generally be evaluated differently from plants that prefer dry conditions.
Avoid creating a mixed arrangement simply because several plants look attractive together. A visually pleasing combination is only successful if the plants can comfortably share the same environment.
Once your plants are selected, ongoing care becomes the next priority. Pay attention to moisture, light, growth, and overall plant health rather than following a fixed routine without considering the conditions inside your container.
Can You Grow Seeds in a Glass Terrarium?
Yes, depending on the plant and the type of terrarium you are creating.
Seed-based terrarium projects can be particularly interesting for gardeners who want to observe the growing process from the beginning. Great Home Garden also offers several terrarium-related growing products, including the Wildflower Blooms Glass Terrarium Seed Starting Kit, which combines a glass terrarium concept with seed starting.
Other specialized options include the Desert Escape Growarium Succulent and Cacti Seed Terrarium Kit for a drier, desert-inspired approach.
These types of products can be useful for people who want a more structured way to experiment with growing plants in a miniature glass environment.
How to Choose Plants for Your First Terrarium
If you are creating your first terrarium, keep the selection simple.
Start by answering four questions:
1. Is the terrarium open or closed?
2. How much light will it receive?
3. Will the environment be humid or relatively dry?
4. How much space will the plants have as they grow?
Once you know these answers, choose plants with compatible requirements.
A simple combination of one focal plant, one supporting plant, and a suitable ground layer can often be easier to manage than a crowded arrangement containing many different species.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best plants for a glass terrarium is less about finding a single "perfect" plant and more about creating a compatible growing environment.
Consider the container type, available light, humidity, moisture levels, mature plant size, and growth habits before making your choices. Compact foliage plants, mosses, small ferns, and other suitable varieties can all contribute to attractive miniature gardens when their requirements match the conditions.
Once you understand the needs of your selected plants, you can create a terrarium that is both visually appealing and easier to maintain. For more inspiration and ready-to-grow options, explore the Great Home Garden Terrariums Collection.
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