Impressive terrarium plants that you will love
Closed terrariums create a beautiful and fascinating
ecosystem that will look great in your home. They are quite easy to set up and
maintain, as long as you choose the right plants. This article will help you
choose the best and most beautiful plants for closed terrariums.
What are the best plants for closed terrariums?
These 14 plants are ideal for a closed terrarium;
What kind of plants are suitable for a
closed terrarium?
An enclosed terrarium creates a self-sufficient
microenvironment that is constantly warm and humid, so select plants that love
heat and humidity. For a low-maintenance, enclosed terrarium, choose
slow-growing plants that stay small and have similar lighting requirements.
The plants featured here are mostly plants that
thrive in medium to high intensity indirect sunlight; therefore, by grouping
plants that share similar lighting preferences, you can locate your terrarium
in a location that receives adequate lighting for those plants. In a properly
constructed closed terrarium, you won't need to water the plants very often, if
at all, since moisture is constantly circulating throughout the closed system.
It is important to recognize that articles
recommending generic terrarium plants often list plants such as succulents that
are suitable for open containers without mentioning that these plants do not do
well in closed ones.
peperomias
Peperomia contains mostly small, compact plants that
grow epiphytically on decaying wood in their natural habitats, and usually do
not reach more than 30 cm in height. They are mainly found in tropical and
subtropical areas of Central and South America.
Although they vary greatly in size, shape, and color
patterns, peperomia leaves are usually thick, fleshy, and smooth. Like most
rainforest floor plants, they thrive in lighting conditions ranging from full
shade to bright indirect sunlight.
Perhaps the most popular species of peperomia for
closed terrariums is the emerald peperomia (Peperomia caperata) , as it only
grows to a height of 8-15 cm. As its name suggests, this plant's attractive
heart-shaped leaves are emerald green with deep ruffles that offer an interesting
variety of textures to any terrarium plant arrangement.’
The oval-leaved peperomia (Peperomia obtusifolia) is
another excellent option for a closed terrarium. Growing slightly larger than
the emerald wave peperomia, this plant lives up to its name with its oval,
cup-shaped leaves.
And its other common name of baby rubber plant. To
maintain that vibrant green color, make sure the plant gets plenty of bright
filtered or indirect light.
Growing to a height of just 8 inches (20 cm), the
watermelon peperomia (Peperomia argyreia) also has cupped, oval-shaped leaves,
but they stand out for being accented with striking silver stripes and bright
red stems.
stacks
Pileas are a genus of tropical plants in the
Urticaceae (nettle) family, and there are several species grown as houseplants
that are also perfect for closed terrariums due to their small size, need for
high humidity, and elegant foliage, in addition to its versatility in terms of
lighting conditions and its easy care.
The genus name Pilea comes from the Latin word for
"felt cap," which describes the plant's flower calyx. However, as
with most terrarium plants, the interesting colors and textures of the leaves
far outshine the flowers, plus the plants rarely flower indoors.
Native to the jungles of Vietnam, aluminum plants
(Pilea cadierei) have dark green, toothed leaves with shiny metallic silver
spots that give rise to their common name, and the dwarf cultivar Minima is a
compact plant that grows up to a maximum 15 cm high.
The friendship plant (Pilea implicata) is another
type of pilea that is very popular for use in closed terrariums. This bushy,
trailing plant from Central and South America features beautifully textured
clusters of green leaves with deep bronze hues framed by light green margins.
Dark Mysterious Pilea is a variety of this species
that has elongated leaves with a unique chocolate brown color accented by
contrasting silver streaks on the midribs. Its low, mounding growth habit makes
it a good pilea choice for a closed terrarium.
And there is also the Pilea del Valle de la Luna
(Pileamollis) . According to the Missouri Botanical Garden's Plant Finder ,
this variety of pilea is often sold as Pilea implicata, and its foliage has a
similar color pattern to that species, though the soft, velvety texture that
characterizes Pilea mollis difference.
In fact, the specific species name mollis means
"soft" or "soft-haired," while the common name of this
cultivar is inspired by the way the exaggerated texture of the veins, combined
with its otherworldly coloration , resembles the puckered surface of the moon.
Nerve plant (Fittonia albivensis)
Nerve plants (Fittonia albivensis) are highly
colorful plants found on the ground in the tropical rainforests of Peru and
Colombia, enjoying warm temperatures, high humidity, and partial or full shade.
Compact and dwarf cultivars of this species are popular selections for enclosed
terrariums, where they serve as eye-catching focal points.
Fittonias with common names such as nerve plant as
well as mosaic plant and painted net leaf can have deep green foliage with
bright red or hot pink veins, or their coloration can be reversed so that the
leaves are red, pink, or purple. lavenders with intense green veins.
There are also fittonias with common names such as
silver net leaf and silver thread that feature deep green foliage with
intricate contrasting white veins.
Mosses (bryophytes)
Mosses (bryophytes) are non-vascular plants (that
is, they do not have the specialized tissues for water and nutrient supply that
most plants have) and do not take root.
Due to these unique characteristics, mosses absorb
water primarily through their leaves, which are usually made up of a single
layer of cells. This means that these little plants need to be constantly in
contact with moisture.
Mosses are often used as ground covers in closed
terrariums because they thrive in humid environments, don't take up much
vertical space due to their low profile and lack of root systems, and are very
slow growing. Also, as mosses prefer full shade, they don't mind being blocked
by the foliage of larger plants in the tight confines of a terrarium.
The most common types of moss sold for terrariums
are live sphagnum, leaf, cushion, spoon, and hair cap mosses . With such a
variety available, you can even create a captivating enclosed terrarium filled
exclusively with different types of moss, which you can place in a location
that receives less light than would be necessary for most other types of
plants.
Spike mosses (Selaginellas)
Spike mosses (selaginellas) are not really mosses;
but, like mosses, they are moisture-loving plants that work very well as closed
terrarium plants, especially as ground cover. They are small, very durable
plants that come in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and textures.
Looking much like tiny ferns, spike mosses will
create a lush carpet of feathery foliage for your enclosed terrarium. And, in
fact, selaginellas are very similar to ferns, both in their structure and in
the virtue of producing spores. Since most species are native to the tropics,
they also resemble ferns in that they are found on the rainforest floor, so
they do best in partial or full shade.
small ferns
Speaking of ferns , these feathery plants are well
suited to the warm, humid environment of a closed terrarium, and there are
several small varieties that make excellent additions to this type of miniature
greenhouse.
The best ferns for these enclosures are the
slow-growing varieties that reach 15-30 cm at maturity. By occasionally pruning
or trimming new growth, you can keep ferns and other plants in order and
encourage them to grow stronger instead of becoming unruly or leggy.
One of the most popular small ferns for enclosed
terrariums, as well as for use as regular houseplants, is the easy-to-grow
lemon button fern (Nephrous). lemon button fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia) . This
adorable little plant is the smallest type of Boston fern, and features arching
stems with alternating small, round leaflets. Lemon button ferns prefer medium
to bright filtered sunlight.
Note that there is another type of fern, Pallaea
rotundifolia, which is commonly called the button fern, but it is quite
different from the lemon button fern and is not as suitable for closed
terrariums.
Adiantums are a genus of ferns that are also popular
for enclosed terrariums, as they like warmth, humidity, and full shade or
filtered sunlight. Commonly known as maidenhair fern , they have distinctive
black stems and bright green leaflets that will turn your enclosed garden into
magical fairyland.
Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris)
is a small fern in this genus that grows fairly slowly. It is native to the
southern United States and the southern tropics. This delicate fern is also
known as the Venus hair fern .
Another popular adiantum species that tends to
thrive in closed terrariums is the delta maidenhair fern (Adiantum raddianum).
Native to the tropical Americas and the West Indies, this fern has delicate
leaflets with an attractive lace outline.
However, keep in mind that as it is faster growing,
you will need to be on the lookout for pruning this plant, so it is not the
best option if your goal is to create a very low maintenance, self-sufficient
terrarium.
Miniature English ivy (Hedera helix)
English ivy
(Hedera helix) , or common ivy, may not at first seem like a good choice of
plant for enclosed terrariums, but the miniature version of this hardy vine is
a small, easy-to-grow plant that adapts easily to the warm and humid
environment of a closed container, as long as it does not receive too much
light.
It offers a more familiar look than the exotic
tropical plants often found in these container gardens. Also, you may be
surprised to learn that common ivy grows less vigorously than other types of
ivy .
Hedera helix has pretty lobed, heart-shaped leaves,
and the miniature version comes in a variety of variegated colors and patterns.
The vine trails along the ground and can serve as a ground cover, or can be
allowed to climb, to provide some vertical greenery that can serve as an accent
to other plant shapes and sizes.
Baby tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)
Another
member of the Urticaceae family that is native to the Mediterranean area around
Italy, baby's tears (Soleirolia soleirolii) is a groundcover plant that likes
warmth, humidity, and medium to indirect sunlight. intense. Other common names
for this plant are angel's tears, friendship plant, Corsican bindweed, helxin,
mother of thousands, and Paddy's wig .
Baby's Teardrop's small, delicate bright or
yellowish-green leaves bring a sunny warmth to any terrarium arrangement.
However, it is a faster growing plant, and it is also capable of vegetative
reproduction, meaning it has the ability to reproduce asexually using an
existing plant part.
Taken together, these factors make baby tears a less
desirable option for those who want to set up a low-maintenance, enclosed
terrarium. If you decide to use baby tears in this type of environment, be
prepared to manage it by pruning so it doesn't overgrow the limited space
inside your terrarium.
Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila)
The creeping
fig (Ficus pumila) is a small ficus (also known as the fig plant) that
originates from tropical East Asia and thrives in hot, humid environments. It
grows as a dense ground cover or climbing vine, with aerial roots that secrete
a latex glue that allows the plant to cling to its supports.
The species name pumila is related to the Latin word
for "dwarf," referring to the plant's very small but thick leaves.
This foliage can be solid green or variegated in a range of patterns and
textures. So creeping fig can serve as an alternative to miniature English ivy
if you prefer a more delicate-looking vine.
Although this hardy little plant is usually fast
growing, look out for Ficus pumila varieties such as Bellus, which has white
edged leaves, as well as Curly and Dorty creeping figs which have a medium
growth rate, making them more suitable for plants in closed terrariums.
Polka dot plant (Hypoestes
phyllostachya)
Add a touch
of playfulness to your enclosed terrarium with the Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes
phyllostachya) , a charming little plant that features pretty pink, purple, red
or white spots on green leaves. This heat and humidity loving plant needs
medium to high intensity indirect lighting and will become weak if it does not
receive enough light. Another sign that you are not getting enough light is the
loss of your moles.
As with golden pothos, spotted plants tend to grow
vigorously, so you may need to pinch back new growth to encourage the plant to
stay fuller and more compact. The Polka Dot Confetti Plant is a small variety,
growing up to 8 inches (20 cm) in size.
Last word
I hope you have enjoyed reading about these 14 ideal
plants for closed terrariums. I have really enjoyed building and caring for my
terrarium and I hope this article will help you with yours.
There are many different terrariums to choose from,
from the most affordable and practical to the most expensive but impressive. I
have used the first option to build a really successful terrarium. The second
option is the terrarium of my dreams to get one day.
If you really want to go all out with building a
closed terrarium, the BiOrb Air is awesome. It controls humidity and watering
for you, has built-in lighting, and just plain looks awesome.
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