Which plants to use in a closed terrarium.
If you are searching for Closed Terrarium plants, you most likely already know what a Closed Terrarium is, and how it works.
A bit of context, however, always helps!
A Closed Terrarium, also known as Sealed Terrarium, Glass Terrarium, Vivarium or Bottle Terrarium is a self-sufficient micro-environment. An inclosed, miniature tropical rainforest.
A self-sufficient micro-environment such as a Closed Terrarium needs almost no care, and its beauty makes it an ideal living plant artifact to decorate your home with.
So, how does a Closed Terrarium works?
As the words describe it, a Closed Terrarium, is a sealable glass container for plants that can be periodically opened for watering, pruning and cleaning purposes.
The glass wall(s) of the container allow heat and natural light to access the terrarium, creating very humid air and moist soil. The combination of heat and moisture, creates the perfect conditions for a small water cycle.
The moisture from the soil and the plants evaporates, creating condensation on the glass wall(s) of the container. This condensation falls back into the plants and soil, maintaining the plants always moist. This almost constant supply of water, prevents the plants from becoming dry.
In addition to the water cycle, the transparency of the the glass wall(s) allows the plants to photosynthesize, which is a critical process for the life of plants.
It is however recommended that you open and air your Glass Terrarium periodically for at least 20 minutes! The aeration and watering frequency depends on where you live and where you place your terrarium.
It is recommended you place your terrarium in a bright spot without direct sunlight! In broad terms, you should water your Glass Terrarium when you notice the condensation is diminishing and when the soil feels dry.
If you live in a dry climate, you should open your terrarium once a week. For more humid areas, once a month is recommended. You will learn to know your Closed Terrarium requirements with time…
My apothecary jar Closed Terrarium filled with a Golden Clubmoss, a Buddhist Pine and a Silver Inch Plant. You can find all sorts of Apothecary Jars at a good price on Amazon.
how to build a closed terrarium
Building a Closed Terrarium is quite easy.
I dedicated an entire Blog to this.
Click here to follow the 7 Easy Steps to Build Your Own Glass Terrarium.
It’s important to purchase and prepare all materials and supplies needed before starting the Closed Terrarium layering process.
Closed Terrarium building process. The layering of materials is not simply an aesthetic choice. All materials used, except for the top one, are important and serve a specific function.
the best closed terrarium plants
The ideal plants for a Closed Terrarium need to thrive in the following environmental conditions, and have the following characteristics;
- warm temperatures
- extremely high humidity
- don’t grow too fast
- can handle very little air circulation
- share similar light requirements
- share similar care requirements (some plants need more moisture in their soil than others).
For these very reasons, the ideal plants for Closed Terrarium must be tropical plants, native to the tropical rainforests, or other plants that thrive in high humidity.
Succulents, cacti and air plants are not suitable for Closed Terrariums!
There is too much humidity for succulents and cacti in a Closed Terrarium and not enough air circulation for air plants.
It is also very important you buy small plants that have room to grow inside the Terrarium. Try to find plants in 2″ pots whenever possible!
Let’s explore what are the best Closed Terrarium Plants!
Just a note before we dig into these plants!
I am not going to describe each plants’ care needs as once they are planted inside the glass terrarium they will all need the same level of care and light.
I am only going to describe how they grow and perform inside the Closed Terrarium.
In clock-wise order; Buddhist Pine, Silver Inch Plant, and Golden Clubmoss. (Based on my experience with two Closed Terrariums, I eliminated the Silver Inch from my list of plants for Closed Terrariums. They grow way to fast and scraggly for the Terrariums.)
buddhist pine (podocarpus macrophyllus)
Native to Southern Japan and Southern and Eastern China, this lovely plant is quite sturdy, both inside and outside of a Glass Terrarium.
It definitely thrives in the high humidity of a Closed Terrarium though.
In-fact, I planted it in both my Closed Terrariums.
It is a very slow growing plant, and its resemblance to a miniature Bamboo Tree makes it suitable to stand alone in a Closed Terrarium with other decorative elements, such as rocks, driftwood sticks, or even mosses to make it look like a minimalistic composition.
This is one of my Buddhist Pines and the only one I keep outside Closed Terrariums. I water it once a week and mist it at the same time.
One of the Buddhist Pines I keep in a Closed Terrarium. While the Plumosa Fern and the Aluminum Plant grow, the Buddhist Pine tends to remain the same size for a while.
Glass Cloches are the simplest Closed Terrarium containers to use.
Plumosa fern (asparagus plumosus)
The Plumosa Fern is one of the best Closed Terrarium Plants because it loves high humidity levels!
Native to Southern Africa, this feathery looking plant is not an actual fern.
In-fact, the Plumosa Fern belongs to the Asparagus family!
Since this plant can grow a bit faster than others, I recommend you place it in the middle of your Closed Terrarium Composition. This way, the slower growing plants around it, can still be visible.
In addition, the Plumosa Fern grows long, feathery frond-like leaves. Such leaves will touch the glass wall(s) of your Closed Terrarium pretty quickly if you don’t plant it in the middle of the container.
Not all plants’ leaves do this, but the Plumosa Fern leaves tend to mould once they start touching the wet surface of the Closed Terrarium.
If your Plumosa Fern is planted in the middle of the composition, and its fronds are still touching the glass, I recommend you prune the fronds that are in direct contact with the glass wall(s).
In this picture the Plumosa Fern is placed inside a decorative cache-pot in the open air. It requires a lot of misting to thrive.
Here, the Plumosa Fern is placed inside an open Terrarium. The pot is surrounded by pebble stones that are kept wet with weekly water topping. The roots and the bottom part of the plant are kept in very high humidity.
aluminum plant (pilea cadierei)
The Aluminum Plant is another top choice for Closed Terrarium plants.
Differently from the Plumosa Fern, this plant’s leaves can be in direct contact with the wet surface of the Closed Terrarium and they won’t mould.
Also known as Watermelon Pilea, this evergreen perennial is native to China and Vietnam. It is interesting to know that even though it belongs to the Nettle family, this plant doesn’t sting, nor irritate the skin.
It’s an extremely easy and self-sufficient plant to have inside a Closed Terrarium and it brings so much contrast and texture to any composition.
This Aluminum Plant is simply sitting in its pot on top of a layer of pebbles.
I add just enough water to fill half of the pebbles layer. Everything else is taken care on its own!
This Aluminum Plant is planted inside a Glass Cloche style Closed Terrarium.
The glass tray of the Closed Terrarium is filled with a layering of draining pebbles, activated charcoal and soil where the plants are situated. The top soil is then covered in decorative rocks to complete the composition.
mini orchid (mini phalaenopsis orchid)
Mini Orchids are beautiful Closed Terrarium plants.
The stunning colours, contrasts and patterns of their leaves will bring sophistication and elegance to any Closed Terrarium composition.
This is an eccentric plant and it is best as stand alone plant, not paired with other plants.
Also known as Moth Orchids, these plants are native to India, Taiwan, China and South East Asia.
Mini Orchids don’t grow fast at all, so when you pick a container for your Closed Terrarium you can rest assured it will last a while.
However, there are a few things to keep in mind when using Mini Orchids as Closed Terrarium plants, as they are different from other plants, so please read the following carefully;
- When you first buy your Orchid, it will have beautiful blooming flowers. These flowers will eventually decay and fall off. It’s important you envision a Closed Terrarium composition that looks good when the Mini Orchid is in bloom, and when it’s not! Let’s be honest, an Orchid without its beautiful flowers is not such an attractive plant anymore…But that doesn’t mean it’s dead and that it needs to be replaced! Think about adding mosses and other elements.
- Think about the proportions of your container. Long and tall will suit Mini-Orchids best!
- 70% of orchids, including the ones you buy at the store, are epiphytes, which means that they grow on other plants in nature. That is why you never buy Orchids in pots filled with soil. They generally come in plastic, fenestrated pots filled with sphagnum moss. Never plant your Mini-Orchid in soil! Ideally, you keep it in its store bought pot and place inside a layer of draining or decorative pebbles!
- Orchids need to be watered differently from other plants. That is why many Orchids die so soon. Not many people know how to properly water them. Place one ice cube between the leaves of your Mini-Orchid once a week. (Use this watering tactic for Mini-Orchids in the open air too. Use 3 ice cubes once a week for regular sized Orchids!)
- Do not prune your Mini-Orchid when the flowers are spent! When you prune the stem of an Orchid, it won’t grow back. And with Orchids, you don’t know where new stems and blooms will grow!
Mini Orchid breathing some fresh air. Like other plants in Closed Terrariums, Orchids need some air circulation once a week.
The beautiful flowers of my Orchid through the glass of the Closed Terrarium.
Hey Plant Loving Woman!
Are you a middle age mom?
Do you constantly feel overwhelmed and anxious?
Do you believe in the healing power of nature?
To reveal your #1 Personal Houseplant that best
helps you reduce your anxiety.
bird's nest fern (asplenium nidus)
The Bird’s Nest Fern is an ideal plant for big Closed Terrarium.
It grows faster than many other Closed Terrarium plants but the effect is spectacular, as it grows into a beautiful green fountain-shaped plant!
So, think big! You can combine this plant with other elements to create a scene inside your Closed Terrarium. I’ve seen people adding cute miniature furniture or buildings into their Closed Terrariums…Check out my Blog on Closed Terrarium 101 for some fun ideas!
This Fern grows really well both inside and outside glass containers!
You can appreciate the wavy details of the Bird’s Nest Fern leaves.
The green fountain effect of a big Bird’s Nest Fern.
golden clubmoss (selanginella kraussiana)
The Golden Clubmoss is more of a filler Closed Terrarium plant.
Also known as African Clubmoss, this plant tends to grow horizontally, rather than vertically, making it the perfect filler plant for any Closed Terrarium composition.
Because this plant thrives under the heat and high humidity of a Closed Terrarium, it tends to grow unruly and can take over other smaller plants. Pruning is a good option for this plant.
It is also important to know that the Golden Clubmoss likes the soil quite moist!
So, if many of your plants like the Buddhist Pine and the Aluminum Plant can withstand longer periods of time without water toppings, the Golden Clubmoss can’t!
You will need to make sure the soil in your Closed Terrarium is always evenly moist! Any Closed Terrarium with Golden Clubmoss in it, will require more attention than others.
Golden Clubmoss
Golden Clubmoss placed in a Closed Terrarium.
prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura)
The Prayer Plant is one fascinating plant that absolutely loves high humidity.
Its beautiful veiny leaves will pop inside any Closed Terrarium.
Native to the Brazilian tropical rainforests, this plant is called Prayer Plant as its leaves lie flat during the day, when the sun is out, and fold into a vertical position at night, when the sun goes down, mimicking an evening vesper prayer.
The Prayer Plant is a trailing plant so you need to use creativity and expertise when placing it into a Closed Terrarium.
Buy a small plant and place it along the perimeter of your composition, (still away from the glass wall(s) though). As it grows, this plant will develop long stems from which new leaves are formed. Leaves are always formed where there is a node, which is the swollen part along the them with tiny protrusions.
As these stems with nodes form, try to extend them around the perimeter of your container, so that eventually, as the plant grows, you’ll have a circular plant. Gently push the nodes against the soil as new roots will form here and dig into the Closed Terrarium soil.
Like for the Golden Clubmoss, keep your soil moist at all times!
Lemon Lime Prayer Plant cuttings rooting in water. You can see that the cutting on the right is quite small and it already has roots. This is the ideal size Prayer Plant for a Closed Terrarium.
Lemon Lime Prayer Plant fully rooted in water.
Philodendron Birkin
This gorgeous plant is the mutation of the Philodendron Rojo Congo hybrid.
It is quite easy to manage in the open air, and even easier inside a Closed Terrarium due to its love for warmth and high humidity.
Generally speaking, Philodendrons are trailing plants. However, the Philodendron Birkin is not.
It is a slow growing, compact and dense plant that grows upright with a supporting stem.
While this plant thrives in high humidity, it does not need its soil evenly moist at all times, like the Golden Clubmoss does. It is a good combination with the Buddhist Pine and the Aluminum Plant.
You should know that the smallest and youngest plants of Philodendron Birkin don’t show their variegation. You need to be patient and allow your plant to grow in order to start seeing the variegation on its leaves.
Nerve Plant (fittonia albivenis)
The Nerve Plant is similar to the Aluminum Plant, in a way.
Its colours though, are different, and if you pay close attention, you’ll notice that the pattern in the leaves is also different.
Native to the tropical rainforests of South America, this plant comes with different colour veins; from silver to pink and red.
This plant is a little more finicky than the Aluminum Plant.
It thrives in high humidity and it needs an evenly moist soil but, at the same time it cannot tolerate stagnant roots. This is when the right layering of your Closed Terrarium becomes really important!
The Nerve Plant needs both moist and draining soil. Make sure you have enough perlite mixed with the soil and that the activated charcoal and draining pebbles have enough room without water.
Allow any Closed Terrarium with Nerve Plants to breathe for at least 20 minutes twice per week, by opening the lid of your container.
Photo Credit: Canva
polka dot plant (hypoestes phyllostachya)
This dainty plant is the most tempting Closed Terrarium Plant. Its colours are too beautiful to resist!
Native to South Africa, Madagascar and South East Asia, this lovely plant comes in different colours to choose from.
The Polka Dot Plant doesn’t grow fast and it actually remains relatively small in size.
Its need for warmth and high humidity make it an ideal Closed Terrarium plant.
Like the Nerve Plant previously described, this plant needs the right combination of high humidity, moist soil but good drainage and frequent air flow in order to thrive inside a Closed Terrarium.
Photo Credit: Canva
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Hey Plant Loving Woman!
Are you a middle age mom?
Do you constantly feel overwhelmed and anxious?
Do you believe in the healing power of nature?
To reveal your #1 Personal Houseplant that best
helps you reduce your anxiety.