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 terrariium plants you choose

There are several things to consider when choosing plants for your 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?

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
Irish Moss	Makes nice groundcover
Croton	Come in many bright colors but need a lot of light
Pothos	Medium Light , nice shaped leaves
Button Fern
Pitcher Plant	Carnivorous - nice exotic look
Butterwort	Carnivorous
Miniature african violets	Adds nice color
Cactus	High sunlight and sandy soil
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.