Terrarium Plants

Almost any type of houseplant can be used for your terrarium. Generally you want them to be hardy and small. Slow growing plants are also desirable so the terrarium doesn't quickly outgrow itself. Lower down on this page I have a selection of terrarium plants you can buy and have shipped from Amazon.com - Not just for your ordinary terrarium though, these are special, exotic or fun plants.

Aesthetics of the terrarium plants you choose

There are several things to consider when choosing plants for your terrarium.

The completed terrarium

Choose plants of different heights and leaf shapes and choose some plants with a splash of color- Your plants should compliment each other in that they give a nice variety. If all the plants are similar it is a boring arrangement. The picture here is of an arrangement with three plants. There is a nice fern that is the tallest and placed n the back. There is an ivy plant in the foreground. Its broad leaves fill the space nicely. The third plant, offset to the right is a nice plant with red striped leaves.

Multiple Plants - When I am shopping for plants I also look for multiple plants in the same pot. This picture here shows an abundance of stalks in the pot. These can be separated and planted in smaller groups or even as individual plants. This gives you good artistic control over your terrarium. It also allows you to get good variety without overcrowding.

So Exactly what plants should you get for your terrarium?

If you require low light plants I have another page devoted to them Low light terrarium plants

I wouldn't worry too much about what exact plants to get for your terrarium. I recommend you get plants that you find pleasing and see what happens. Care for them as best you can and see how they do. You can always remove a plant and replace it with something else. Anyway here are some recommendations to specific plants.
Palm Neanthe Bella	Low light and grows slowly - hardy
Swedish Ivy	Very durable low care plant
Bird Nest Sansivieria	Extremely hardy Dwarf Sansevieria Mother in Laws Snake Plant
Irish Moss	Makes nice groundcover Irish Moss - 4 Plants - Sagina Subulata
Croton	Come in many bright colors but need a lot of light Croton~Curly Colorful Leaves~
Pothos	Medium Light , nice shaped leaves Pothos Marble Queen
Button Fern	Lemon Button Fern
Pitcher Plant	Carnivorous - nice exotic look Carnivorous Orange Pitcher Plant
Butterwort	Carnivorous Carnivorous Mexican Butterwort Plant
Miniature african violets	Adds nice color
Cactus	High sunlight and sandy soil Haworthia Collection - 5 Plants - 3.5
Herbs	Don't hesitate to use herbs like parsley, mint, chives, oregano or others in your terrarium. They tend to be hardy, stay small and often add a little bit of a nice aroma.
Mini palms Nerve plant Peperomia Pilea (nothing kills this one it seems) Saliginella Asparagus fern Table fern (a little delicate but not the worst) Begonia Rex	More Great Terrarium Plants

Exotic Terrarium Plants you can purchase and have shipped from Amazon.com

Need some Cactus Plants? Amazon.com has them.

Pots in the Garden: Expert Design and Planting - Rogers points out that many people have a limited space in which to plant a garden and don't have a lot of time to pursue their hobby. He writes that one of the most space-saving and time-efficient ways to enjoy gardening is to include container plantings...Rogers discusses basic design elements, including color, line, form and mass, spece, and texture. Included are 240 splendid photgraphs." George Cohen, Booklist ( Booklist )

"Rogers points out that many people have a limited space in which to plant a garden and don't have a lot of time to pursue their hobby. He writes that one of the most space-saving and time-efficient ways to enjoy gardening is to include container plantings...Rogers discusses basic design elements, including color, line, form and mass, spece, and texture. Included are 240 splendid photgraphs."
-George Cohen, Booklist ( Booklist )

Complete Book of Cacti & Succulents - features the history, cultivation, and imaginative use of more than 300 plants -- in step-by-step color stages. This is a feast of in-depth information and eye-catching photography. DK's new line of paperback titles combines all the qualities of its hardcovers with the advantages of the soft cover format. Each of these already popular books will now be available to a large new readership who will delight in the essential elements of every DK title: clarity, educational value, and visual appeal.