How to Make a Terrarium: Best Plants and Simple Care Tips
A terrarium is an indoor container garden that needs little care once established. It’s a self-sustaining ecosystem of slow-growing tropical or house plants, best built in a glass container with an opening for air circulation.
Light Requirements for Terrariums
Terrariums need low to medium light. Bright, direct light reflects off the glass and can burn the plants, so choose a spot with filtered light.
Dry vs. Moist Terrariums
Choose the container based on the plants you want to grow:
- Dry terrariums suit cactus and succulents. Use a container with a large opening for more air.
- Moist terrariums suit leafy plants. Use a closed-neck container with a cap.
Terrariums look best planted with a mix of leaf colors and sizes.
Best Plants for Terrariums
These plants stay small and do well in a terrarium:
- Pothos
- Hypoestes (polka dot plant)
- Small ferns, such as button ferns
- Club moss
- Maranta (prayer plant)
- Pilea
- Peperomia
- Creeping fig
Other slow-growing plants will also stay small enough for a terrarium. Your garden center should have a good selection of terrarium plants.
How to Make a Terrarium: Step by Step
- Choose your container. Pick a glass container without drainage that has an opening you can seal.
- Add drainage. Layer 2 inches of pea gravel in the bottom.
- Add charcoal. Add ¼ to ½ inch of activated charcoal on top of the gravel.
- Add a moss barrier. Place a piece of sheet moss over the charcoal to keep the soil from mixing with the gravel and charcoal.
- Add soil. Spread 3 to 4 inches of sterile potting mix on top of the moss. Leave 4 to 6 inches of space between the soil line and the narrowing of the container’s neck.
- Plan your design. Have a layout in mind before you plant. Mound areas of soil and add hardscaping like rocks or wood to give your ecosystem more interest.
- Plant. If the opening is narrow, use long-handled spoons or long tweezers to dig and place your plants. A cork on the end of a chopstick makes a handy tamp to set plants firmly in place.
- Water. Use a spray bottle so the plants are just damp, not soaking wet. Wash any debris off the sides of the glass.
How to Care for a Terrarium
Place your terrarium in filtered light and check it every two weeks.
- If you see condensation on the glass: Remove the lid and let the air dry the glass. Replace the lid once the sides are dry.
- If there’s no condensation: Check the soil. If it’s dry, water just until the soil is damp.
- Prune out any dead leaves to keep the plants healthy.
- Never fertilize. The potting mix has enough nutrients, and the plant roots will distribute them.
Find garden supplies for your project at The Mill, or stop in and ask our team about terrarium plants. For more seasonal ideas, visit the Garden Blog.
FAQ: Terrariums
What kind of light does a terrarium need?
Low to medium, filtered light. Bright direct light reflects off the glass and can burn the plants.
What are the best plants for a terrarium?
Slow-growing plants like pothos, polka dot plant, button ferns, club moss, prayer plant, pilea, peperomia, and creeping fig.
How often should I water a terrarium?
Check it every two weeks. Water only if there’s no condensation and the soil is dry, and add just enough to make the soil damp.
Do terrariums need fertilizer?
No. The potting mix provides enough nutrients, and fertilizer isn’t needed.
What type of container works best?
Use a glass container without drainage. Choose a large opening for cactus and succulents, or a closed-neck container with a cap for leafy plants.
