The 10 Best Terrarium Plants for Your Mini Ecosystem

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. 

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, a terrarium and succulent expert.

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.

Follow our instructions for making a terrarium, and then you can select your plants.

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 Terrarium Tribe, and Alyson Mowat, author of Terrariums & 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. It is not actually a fern but a relative of the common garden asparagus, and 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. Avoid over-watering this succulent, which will cause leaves to turn 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