25 Easy Terrarium Plants for Open or Closed Glass

Terrariums are open or closed clear glass containers in which plants are grown. They are a popular choice for growing houseplants because the environment, including the temperature and humidity, can be more closely monitored and controlled, similar to a greenhouse.

Closed terrariums are fully enclosed glass containers whereas open terrariums are mostly enclosed with an open top or side wall. In a closed terrarium without airflow, the air is recycled and the forced humid environment acts as a mini ecosystem that does not require additional water once it's established. Open terrariums receive fresh air to reduce humidity.

Plants for closed terrariums should be humidity-loving and thrive in consistently moist conditions, while plants for open terrariums should be okay with above-average humidity. When planning your terrarium, choose plants with the same growing requirements, including humidity, watering, soil, and light.

Closed terrarium benefits: It's great for humidity-loving plants and low maintenance when established.
Open terrarium benefits: There's no lid, it's easier to access, and fresh air reduces the risk of mold.

Here are easy terrarium plant ideas for open or closed glass terrariums.

Warning

Some plants listed here are toxic to humans and animals, as noted below.

What Types of Plants Thrive in Terrariums?

While terrariums can be filled with several different varieties of plants, these types thrive in the glass-contained environment.

Small Plants

When selecting plants for your terrarium, size is of utmost importance, depending on the dimensions of your container. Be sure to buy plants that are small enough to fit into your terrarium container, preferably without touching the sides of the glass. A good way to make sure they'll fit is to bring your container with you to the nursery or bring measurements.

Dwarf plants that are small and slow-growing are perfect as they will not overtake the tank, causing you to transplant into a larger terrarium. Dwarf conifers, cacti, and succulents are good small-variety options to try.

Humidity-loving Plants

As they are closed off to the open air, terrariums have the ability to maintain a very moist atmosphere. Plants that love humidity such as spider plants, snake plants, lilies, and orchids will thrive in these conditions.

Low Light Plants

Plants that do not require a lot of light and can survive in dim environments will do well in terrariums, as terrariums are indoors and closed-contained. Mosses and ferns will do quite well.

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Artillery Fern

The Spruce / Kara Riley

Artillery ferns (Pilea microphylla) are not actually ferns at all but are members of the Pilea family. They are called artillery ferns because they shoot seeds with a popping sound—and sometimes for quite a distance. Despite that explosive trait, these plants are delicate and have a lovely, interesting texture. Artillery ferns are easy to grow, and they will best thrive with minimal care in a closed terrarium, as this plant loves moisture and humidity.
- Name: Artillery fern (Pilea microphylla)
- Light: Medium to bright indirect light
- Water: Medium
- Color: Insignificant bloom
02 of 25
Aluminum Plant

The Spruce / Krystal Slagle

The aluminum plant (Pilea cadierei), a native of Vietnam, likes low to medium light and warm temperatures. This plant thrives in a closed terrarium, as it favors the humid environment. The leaves of the aluminum plant have almost iridescent white markings that make them shine. This plant grows fairly quickly, so you might have to pinch it back occasionally. The aluminum plant is easy to root as well. Simply take a small cutting and plant it in moist soil.
- Name: Aluminum plant (Pilea cadierei)
- Light: Low to medium light
- Water: Regularly in spring and summer; less at other times
- Color: Green leaves with white markings
03 of 25
Polka Dot Plant

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Polka dot plants (Hypoestes phyllostachya) seem to have a great sense of humor. This plant is cheerful and comes in pink, red, and silver varieties. This terrarium plant is easy to care for and might need to be pinched back if it gets too tall or becomes spindly or leggy. For this reason, the polka dot plant favors the controlled microclimate of a closed terrarium. A closed terrarium will plant growth in check, preventing the need for extra maintenance.
- Name: Polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Water: Regularly in spring and summer; less at other times
- Color: Green leaves with colorful, often pink, markings
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Watch Now: How to Grow Polka Dot Plants Indoors
04 of 25
Prayer Plant

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

The red-veined prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura) is a stunning plant that can grow up to 8 inches tall, so consider it for a large terrarium container. The prayer plant received its common name because it folds up its leaves at night, as if in prayer. If it is not receiving enough light, the leaves will stay folded even during the day. Prayer plants thrive in greenhouse-like, humid conditions, so grow your prayer plant in a closed terrarium kept away from cold windows and chilly drafts.
- Name: Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura)
- Light: Medium, indirect light
- Water: Regularly in spring and summer; less at other times
- Color: Green leaves with white markings
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Watch Now: How to Grow and Care for Prayer Plants
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05 of 25
Pothos

The Spruce / Kara Riley

While the meandering golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) vine might look pedestrian as a houseplant, it can look fabulous in a terrarium. Golden pothos has a well-deserved reputation as a bulletproof, indestructible houseplant, and it is even truer in the controlled environment of a closed terrarium. Prune it back regularly so it does not become unruly, and your pothos should look good for years. It can also handle low-light conditions and is easy to propagate by rooting the stems in water. All species in the Epipremnum genus are considered toxic to cats and dogs.
- Name: Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Water: Relatively little water; do not overwater
- Color: Green leaves with white markings
06 of 25
Ripple Plant

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

There are about 1,000 peperomia cultivars. The common ripple plant (Peperomia caperata) is known primarily for its deeply ridged leaves that come in many colors and patterns. This small, slow-growing plant does beautifully in closed warm, and humid terrariums. Peperomia also sometimes produces cool-looking flower spikes. If you are lucky, these showy flowers add color to your terrarium.
- Name: Ripple plant (Peperomia caperata)
- Light: Low to bright indirect light
- Water: Relatively little water; do not overwater
- Color: Green leaves or green with red
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Baby Tears

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Baby tears (Soleirolia soleirolii) is a small plant with many common names, including angel's tears, mind-your-own-business, peace-in-the-home, Pollyanna vine, Mother of thousands, and the Corsican's curse. The curse may be referring to the fact that, given the right conditions, baby's tears can be seriously invasive, taking over whole gardens. In a closed terrarium, this low-growing plant behaves quite well.
- Name: Baby tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)
- Light: Bright light
- Water: Consistent moisture
- Color: Creamy ivory flowers
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Button Fern

ValMcNic / Getty Images

There is something about a small button fern (Pellaea rotundifolia) that is terrifically appealing. Hailing from New Zealand, it's hardy and drought-tolerant. It is slightly mop-headed, but also kind of delicate and elegant at the same time. Because button fern can tolerate periodically dry soil, an open terrarium will suit this plant just fine.
- Name: Button fern (Pellaea rotundifolia)
- Light: Full shade to filtered light
- Water: Water weekly
- Color: Green foliage
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09 of 25
Creeping Fig

The Spruce / Kara Riley

Creeping fig (Ficus primula), with its small, variegated heart-shaped leaves, makes a lovely addition to almost any terrarium. It is a perennial climbing vine, so you can train it to creep up structures, which could be interesting to try in a large terrarium. The creeping fig prefers a warm, moist environment and will grow well in a closed terrarium. You can easily propagate creeping figs by rooting branch cuttings in water. Keep in mind that creeping fig can be toxic to pets.
- Name: Creeping fig (Ficus primula)
- Light: Partial sun
- Water: Water occasionally
- Color: Green foliage
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Croton

The Spruce / Kara Riley

A small croton (Codiaeum variegatum) can add some bling to your terrarium. Its shiny, thick leaves come in an array of amazing colors and shapes. The gold dust croton, for instance, is one of the narrow-leaved varieties with various amounts of gold, depending on the cultivar. It is not well known as a terrarium plant but works particularly well when grown in large, open terrariums. Be careful where you plant, as crotons are toxic to humans and animals.
- Name: Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)
- Light: Bright indirect, dappled light
- Water: Water occasionally
- Color: Green, gold, and salmon foliage
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Hens and Chicks

The Spruce / Kara Riley

Succulents can be grown in open terrariums because they stay small and don't need transplanting. One of the best succulents for an open terrarium is hens and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum), which form small rosettes and offshoots. Hens and chicks are not the only succulents that look great in a terrarium. Mix this type with other small desert plants, like ‘Mini Jade’ or ‘Hobbit’ jade plants (Crassula ovata), which can be toxic to animals.
- Name: Hens and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum)
- Light: Bright light
- Water: Let dry out between watering, drought-tolerant
- Color: Red, green, blue, gold, or copper leaves
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Sphagnum Moss

The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong

Sphagnum moss (Sphagnum capillifolium) is used in terrariums for practical and decorative purposes. It stores water in the terrarium for other plants and works well in open and closed terrariums. Water and mist the moss frequently so it can continue to do its job and make your terrarium thrive, though overwatering can result in mold growth.
- Name: Sphagnum moss (Sphagnum capillifolium)
- Light: Indirect light, shade
- Water: Keep moist, lightly water once a week
- Color: Brownish sage green
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Air Plants

The Spruce / Kori Livingston

An air plant (Tillandsia spp.) doesn't need any soil to grow because it attaches itself to another surface, like driftwood or a stone, for survival. The plant will absorb water and nutrients through its leaves. But, this type of plant greatly prefers an open terrarium so it doesn't drown from too much humidity.
- Name: Air plant (Tillandsia spp.)
- Light: Bright to medium indirect light
- Water: Varies per variety, but likes an occasional soaking
- Color: Various shades of green, brown
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African Violet

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) is a huge fan of bright, warm, and humid conditions. This compact flowering plant is ideal for closed terrariums. The only caveat: the violet cannot touch the sides of the terrarium or water will collect on its leaves and blooms resulting in rot. Check the plant frequently to make sure the water drains into the gravel layer beneath the African violet potting mix. The African violet prefers a terrarium temperature between 65 and 85 degrees.
- Name: African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha)
- Light: Bright but not direct sunlight
- Water: Moisten soil with warm water
- Color: White, pink, red, blue, and purple
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Nerve Plant

The Spruce / Alonda Baird

This attractive, slow-growing tropical plant is called the nerve plant (Fittonia albivenis) and is a classic closed terrarium choice because of its love for humidity and warmth. It can be used as the main plant in the terrarium because of its beautiful variegated leaves.
- Name: Nerve plant (Fittonia albivenis)
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Water: Constant moisture is important or it will wilt
- Color: White and red flowers with colorful veined leaves
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Maidenhair Fern

The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak

Maidenhair ferns (Adiantum raddianum) are a great choice for closed terrariums since they thrive in high humidity. These delicate plants are difficult to grow indoors unless they are grown in a terrarium or greenhouse. Maidenhair ferns are relatively small ferns, but can still grow to be about one to two feet tall at maturity. For that reason, a medium to large terrarium is ideal. However, don’t be afraid to trim the fronds if the plant begins to outgrow the space.
- Name: Maidenhair fern (Adiantum raddianum)
- Light: Bright to medium indirect light
- Water: Keep soil consistently moist
- Color: Light green fronds
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Venus Flytrap

The Spruce / Kara Riley

Carnivorous plants thrive in high humidity, making them an excellent choice for closed terrariums. Due to its compact size, the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a popular choice. Keep in mind that since they are carnivorous, these plants need to “consume” insects periodically to survive, so opt for a closed terrarium that you can open when feeding the plant.
- Name: Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)
- Light: Bright indirect light
- Water: Keep soil evenly moist
- Color: Green with orange and red tints
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Frosty Fern Spike Moss

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Moss is a staple in many terrarium setups since it thrives with low light, high humidity, and consistent moisture. If you’re looking for something a little flashier than standard moss, Frosty fern spike moss (Selaginella kraussiana ‘Variegatus’) is a great choice. It’s characterized by frond-like foliage that is edged with bright white tips. Opt for closed terrariums for this moss to provide it with the humidity it needs to survive.
- Name: Frosty fern spike moss (Selaginella kraussiana ‘Variegatus’)
- Light: Partial to low light
- Water: Keep soil evenly moist
- Color: Green with white tips
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Living Stones

The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak

Due to their small size, living stones (Lithops spp.) are great for open terrariums. Their unique shape and rock-like appearance will add a quirky touch to any terrarium space. These otherworldly-looking plants develop showy flowers in the fall and winter, adding fun color to your terrarium. Like all succulents, they are sensitive to overwatering and do best with well-draining soil and infrequent watering.
- Name: Living stones (Lithops spp.)
- Light: Direct sunlight
- Water: Allow soil to dry thoroughly between waterings
- Color: Green, orange, red, brown
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Pilea Silver Sparkle

Struzhkova Ilona / Getty Images

Pilea silver sparkle (Pilea glauca) is known for its tiny silver-grey round leaves and red stems. It's commonly confused with the baby tears plant, although they are two separate and distinct species—just notice the difference in coloring. This pilea is a high-humidity plant, making it ideal for closed terrariums. Keep the soil evenly moist to prevent this plant from drying out.
- Name: Pilea silver sparkle (Pilea glauca)
- Light: Bright to medium indirect light
- Water: Keep soil evenly moist
- Color: Silver-green leaves
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Haworthia

The Spruce

Haworthia (Haworthia) is a large genus of small succulent plants that make great additions to open terrariums. They are slow-growing and look like small aloe plants with similarly-shaped foliage and growth habits. There are many different kinds of Haworthia to choose from, with the most popular being H. margaritifera and H. fasciata. These desert plants do best in warm temperatures, bright indirect light to full sun, and infrequent watering.
- Name: Haworthia (Haworthia)
- Light: Bright indirect light to full sun
- Water: Allow soil to dry between waterings
- Color: Green
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Friendship Plant

Elena Shikanova / Getty Images

The friendship plant (Pilea involuctrata) is prized for its striking deeply textured foliage. It thrives with consistent moisture, warm temperatures, and high humidity, making it a natural choice for closed terrariums. Keep the soil evenly moist and provide this plant with medium to bright indirect light to keep it happy.
- Name: Friendship plant (Pilea involuctrata)
- Light: Bright to medium indirect light
- Water: Keep soil evenly moist
- Color: Dark green, red, maroon
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Strawberry Begonia

The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak

Strawberry begonia (Saxifraga stolonifera) plants make a great addition to open or closed terrariums. They require regular watering and do best when the soil is evenly moist and can tolerate average to high humidity. Their textured leaves, colorful petioles, and interesting growth habit add visual interest to any terrarium setup. They grow 6 to 18 inches tall and 12 to 24 inches wide, so a medium to large terrarium is best. The roots of begonias may be toxic to some animals.
- Name: Strawberry begonia (Saxifraga stolonifera)
- Light: Bright indirect light
- Water: Allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry between waterings
- Color: Dark green with light green veining
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String of Turtles

The Spruce / Krystal Slagle

String of turtles (Peperomia prostrata) is practically made for terrariums thanks to its small size, shallow roots, and spreading growth habit. This plant has succulent-like leaves that make it susceptible to overwatering, so open terrariums are best for this tropical plant. Pair it with other tropical plants rather than succulents like hens and chicks or Lithops, which require drier conditions.
- Name: String of turtles (Peperomia prostrata)
- Light: Bright indirect light
- Water: Allow soil to dry between watering
- Color: Dark green with light green veining
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Peperomia Pixie Lime

Maksims Grigorjevs / Getty Images

Peperomia pixie lime (Peperomia orba) is a cute compact plant with bright green leaves. It enjoys medium to high humidity, making it a great choice for open or closed terrariums. This peperomia is a semi-succulent plant that should be allowed to dry slightly between waterings, so be sure to choose companion plants for your terrarium accordingly. When these plants are happy they shoot unique-looking flower spikes to spice up your terrarium setup.
- Name: Peperomia pixie lime (Peperomia orba)
- Light: Bright to medium indirect light
- Water: Allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry between waterings
- Color: Lime green leaves

FAQ

What terrarium plants should I avoid?

Avoid succulents or any other drought-tolerant plant for closed terrariums because they can't withstand high humidity and regular moisture. While open terrariums are less humid than closed terrariums they still have above-average humidity, so plants like cacti, which prefer dry environments and infrequent watering, should be avoided.

Learn More: Terrarium Care and Tips: 10 Mistakes to Avoid
Do terrariums attract bugs?

Air-tight terrariums don't attract bugs, but open terrariums can be affected by gnats, mites, or mealybugs. Overwatering is usually the cause, so keep your terrarium balanced to ward off invaders. If you notice that your closed terrarium has pests, the bugs were likely present on the plants before they were added to the terrarium. It's a good idea to always check your plants for bugs before planting your terrarium, and apply a preventative insecticide to the plants beforehand if you are worried.
How often should I water my terrarium?

Closed terrariums should be watered every two to three weeks, taking care not to wet plant leaves, which can cause damage. Keep an eye on the moisture levels in the terrarium and be careful not to overwater. Established closed terrariums may need very little water since they develop their own ecosystem. Open terrariums should be watered at least once a week, and Tillandsia (air plants) can be misted regularly.
How long do terrarium plants usually live?

The lifespan of terrarium plants depends greatly upon their conditions and care. Conditions, such as the type of plant, moisture, light and temperature requirements, and container size, all contribute to a plant's lifespan and whether it can live for several months or years.

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