Best Plants for Terrariums: Creating a Thriving Ecosystem in a Jar

Creating a terrarium in a jar not only adds a touch of greenery to your space, but it also promotes a low-maintenance yet thriving ecosystem. This article explores the best plants perfect for closed jar terrariums with minimal watering needs, ensuring your terrarium remains healthy and vibrant.

Essential Plants for Your Terrarium

When designing a closed jar terrarium, the choice of plants is crucial. The plants should be able to thrive in a humid, confined environment with minimal watering. Here are some of the best options:

Mosses

Sheet Moss - Hypnum: Provides a lush green carpet and thrives in high humidity. Reindeer Moss - Cladonia: Adds texture and is extremely low maintenance.

Ferns

Lemon Button Fern - Nephrolepis cordifolia Duffi: Compact and hardy, it prefers indirect light. Birds Nest Fern - Asplenium nidus: Features a unique rosette shape and thrives in humid conditions.

Small Succulents

Haworthia: Rosette-forming succulents that can tolerate some humidity. Echeveria: While they prefer drier conditions, they can adapt to terrarium life if kept at the top of the jar where airflow is better.

Air Plants - Tillandsia

Tillandsia Ionantha: These don’t require soil and can thrive in high humidity environments. Misting occasionally is sufficient.

Hardy Vining Plants

Pothos - Epipremnum aureum: A versatile plant that can adapt to various conditions. Use small cuttings for a compact look.

Colorful Succulents and Ferns

Fittonia Nerve Plant: Thrives in humidity and low light, making it an excellent choice for closed terrariums due to its beautiful, colorful veins. Peperomia Obtusifolia: Small and compact, it does well in low light and requires minimal watering.

Creating the Perfect Terrarium Environment

For a closed jar terrarium with low watering needs, creating the right conditions is essential:

Soil

Use a well-draining potting mix or a specialized terrarium soil. This ensures adequate drainage and prevents root rot.

Layering

Start with a layer of gravel for drainage, followed by activated charcoal to prevent odors. Then add the potting mix to create the desired environment for the plants.

Watering

Water sparingly, as closed terrariums retain moisture. Mist occasionally but avoid overwatering to maintain an optimal environment for the plants.

Lighting

Place your terrarium in a spot with bright indirect light to support plant growth without overheating. Direct sunlight can be too intense and may harm your plants.

Additional Plant Options

Almost any houseplant that is tolerant of constant moisture and high humidity can be planted in a closed terrarium. Here are a few more plant options:

Pothos - small cuttings Tropical pitcher plants Nerve plant Lemon Button Fern - small one Moss - an old moss terrarium photo from two years ago Baby tears Syngonium - small cuttings Aluminum plant Heartleaf philodendron - small cuttings Maidenhair fern - a small one Mini orchids Alocasia - baby plants Certain peperomias - ripple peperomias have worked well in terrariums Bromeliads - small ones Spider plants - baby plants

Remember, if you use plant cuttings like pothos, they will develop a root system and stay relatively small since they will have nowhere to grow. However, you may still need to trim them periodically.

Key Tip: Avoid placing your terrarium in direct sunlight, even if your plants can thrive in direct light outside. The terrarium acts like a greenhouse and can overheat your plants, leading to damage or even death.

Conclusion

With the right plants and proper care, your closed jar terrarium can be a beautiful, thriving ecosystem. From mosses to air plants, each plant choice and the right conditions contribute to a healthy terrarium environment. Happy planting!