photograph copyright by Kindra Clineff
You’ve found that little glass venue of your dreams. The next step is purchasing plants to grow in your crystal kingdom. In their role as a little slice of nature contained, terrariums need something growing inside. No. Wait. That’s not sufficient. A terrarium needs something thriving inside. Actually, it needs a mini garden.
A lot of confusion swirls around appropriate plants for terrariums. I blame the magazines. How many times have you seen color glossies showing adorable little succulents tucked into terrariums? Maybe they lasted until the photo shoot was over. Maybe not. Trust me, succulents won’t work in a terrarium over the long haul. Succulents like dry, arid conditions. For the same reasons, cacti are doomed and so are most herbs and alpines.
What are the qualifying traits? Terrarium-worthy plants share an affinity for specific growing conditions. Here’s what they prefer:
- They like high humidity
- They prefer to grow in low light
- They should remain dwarf
What are the easiest plants for a terrarium? Even if you have two brown thumbs, you will have success if you start with:
- Ferns
- Selaginella mosses
But as you become more adept, there are many other miniature tropical plants qualified for the job. Here’s a partial shopping list:
- Rhizomatous begonias (miniature)
- Members of the African violet family such as chiritas, African violets, streptocarpus, episcias
- Ivies (miniature)
- Muehlenbeckia complexa – maidenhair vine
- Peperomias (dwarf)
- Ficus pumila ‘Minima’ (creeping fig)
- Miniature orchids
- Paphiopedalums — miniature lady’s slipper orchids
- Masdavallias
- Bromeliads
- Tillandsias — air plants
- Tetranema — Mexican foxglove
- Carnivorous plants
- Viola hederacea — Tasmanian violet
- Marantas – prayer plants
- Neoregelia
- Pileas
- Coleus
- Fittonia — nerve plants
- Cyclamen
- Mini hostas
- Helxine — baby’s tears
Thinking of trying something else? Ask me if it works! I’ve been making terrariums for many, many years — chances are that I can give you advice on whether a certain plant will work or not.
I am keen to try Tricyrtis hirta (The toad lily) I know that in my garden it loves deep shade, have you ever tried it? Would you say its worth a go?
Wow, Edward. That’s a REALLY good idea. If you’ve got the room in a terrarium to accommodate its height/girth, it’s worth a go. I’m doing a woodland plant terrarium-making workshop at Broken Arrow Nursery in Hamden, CT next weekend. I think we might give tricyrtis a try. THANK YOU for the heads up. [Note to self: Do a woodland terrarium post on this blog.] Note to Edward = Stay tuned…
My church has an annual Fall Festival in Sept. I added canned items to my table and have been flooded with quart size canning jars which are more expensive to fill and sell so thinking terrariums might be a seller and fit in since I also have a plant sale where people bring cuttings and share their gardens. Suggestions?? Need to keep it as inexpensive as possible so we make as much as possible and I’ll be buying the supplies/plants. Thanks
What a super great idea, Sharon = Now you’re cookin’. Of course, not all plants are apropos for terrariums — especially not all garden plants work. Look for shade-loving plants such as mini-heucheras and tiarellas (foamflowers). Mini hostas and ferns also work. Mosses love terrariums. Remember to put a layer of pebbles/charcoal on the bottom. Good luck with it!