Top 25 Best Terrarium Plants for Beginners With Pictures

How to Pick The Perfect Plant for a Terrarium.

When choosing plants for your terrarium, consider plants that thrive in humid, low to medium light conditions, and have a compact growth habit. However, if you’re working with a larger container, you can include plants that grow faster and larger. Here’s an extensive list of terrarium-friendly plants to help you craft your perfect indoor ecosystem.

Terrarium tips by highland moss

Here’s an updated list of terrarium-friendly plants, complete with botanical and common names, along with their ideal characteristics for a terrarium setting.

Terrarium plants for beginners:

Low-medium light plants, which thrive in high humidity. Ideal for small, medium and large terrariums.

Nephrolepis exaltata (Boston Fern)

Asparagus setaceus

Peperomia prostrata (String of Turtles)

Pilea ‘Moon Valley’

Begonia ferox

Hedera helix (English Ivy)

• Begonia rex-cultorum (Rex Begonia)
  A slow-growing plant with stunning, patterned leaves, ideal for smaller terrariums due to its compact size, making it one of the best plants for beginner terrarium enthusiasts.
• Begonia maculata (Polka Dot Begonia)
  Known for its striking spotted leaves, this Begonia grows rapidly and brings a bold look to terrariums, perfect for beginners looking to add vibrancy.
• Begonia ferox (Iron Pebble Begonia)
  This Begonia has uniquely textured leaves with pebble-like bumps, making it a great choice for adding texture and is among the best picks for beginner terrarium makers.
• Begonia masoniana (Iron Cross Begonia)
  Featuring thick, textured leaves with a distinctive cross pattern, this plant is an eye-catching addition to any terrarium, especially for beginners.
• Begonia luxurians (Palm Leaf Begonia)
  With palm-like leaves and upright growth, this Begonia adds height and a tropical feel to the terrarium, ideal for those just starting.
• Adiantum raddianum (Maidenhair Fern)
  A delicate fern with feathery, fan-shaped fronds that adds a soft, airy feel to terrariums, making it one of the best terrarium plants for beginners.
• Nephrolepis exaltata (Boston Fern)
  A fast-growing fern with dense, arching fronds that fills terrariums quickly, perfect for beginners seeking lush greenery.
• Pteris cretica (Cretan Brake Fern)
  This fern’s structured leaves create an elegant look in the terrarium, an excellent choice for those new to terrarium crafting.
• Asplenium nidus (Bird’s Nest Fern)
  With broad, wavy fronds, this fern adds bold texture and grows slowly, great for beginner terrarium setups.
• Davallia fejeensis (Rabbit’s Foot Fern)
  Known for its creeping, fuzzy rhizomes, this fern adds an unusual textural element to terrarium landscapes suitable for beginners.
• Peperomia caperata (Ripple Peperomia)
  A compact plant with textured, rippled leaves that grow slowly and are perfect for smaller setups, making it one of the best terrarium plants for beginners.
• Peperomia prostrata (String of Turtles)
  A trailing, climbing plant with tiny, turtle-shell-like leaves, ideal for hanging or cascading over the edges of the terrarium, a great choice for beginner terrarium creators.
• Peperomia obtusifolia (Baby Rubber Plant)
  Known for its thick, glossy leaves, this low-maintenance plant is perfect for terrariums and beginners alike.
• Pilea peperomioides (Chinese Money Plant)
  With round, coin-shaped leaves, this plant adds a whimsical look to terrariums, highly recommended for beginners.
• Pilea involucrata (Friendship Plant)
  The deep ridges and vibrant green leaves of this plant make it a great texture addition to terrariums, ideal for beginners.
• Pilea ‘Moon Valley’
  This plant features bright green, ridged leaves that add a lovely contrast to other plants in the terrarium, perfect for beginners.
• Selaginella kraussiana (Spikemoss)
  A creeping, fast-growing plant that covers the terrarium floor with a lush, mossy texture, great for those new to terrarium gardening.
• Selaginella lepidophylla (Resurrection Plant)
  A fascinating plant that can dry out and revive with moisture, adding an interesting dynamic to the terrarium, suitable for beginners.
• Guzmania lingulata (Scarlet Star)
  A bright and vibrant bromeliad with a striking flower spike that makes a great focal point, perfect for those new to terrariums.
• Vriesea splendens (Flaming Sword)
  Known for its sword-like flower spike and variegated leaves, this bromeliad adds height and vibrancy, ideal for beginners.
• Cryptanthus bivittatus (Earth Star)
  A small, star-shaped bromeliad with stiff, pointed leaves that add a spiky texture to your terrarium, great for those new to this hobby.
• Asparagus setaceus (Asparagus Fern)
  A fast-growing, delicate fern with feathery foliage, adding a soft texture to terrariums, making it one of the best terrarium plants for beginners.
• Hedera helix (English Ivy)
  This climbing plant is perfect for terrariums with vertical space, as its trailing vines create a cascading effect, ideal for beginners.
• Ficus benjamina (Weeping Fig)
  With small, glossy leaves, this ficus can grow into a small tree, adding height and structure to the terrarium, great for beginners.
• Ficus microcarpa ginseng (Ginseng Ficus)
  A type of bonsai with a thick, gnarled trunk and small leaves, perfect for adding an artistic touch to terrariums, suitable for beginners.
• Tradescantia zebrina (Wandering Sailor, Inch Plant)
  A fast-growing, trailing plant with purple and green variegated leaves, great for filling empty spaces quickly, ideal for beginners.
• Tradescantia fluminensis (Small-Leaf Spiderwort)
  Known for its small, variegated leaves and fast growth, this plant spreads easily and adds a touch of wildness, perfect for beginners.
• Tradescantia pallida (Purple Heart)
  This plant has deep purple foliage, adding a rich, vibrant hue to your terrarium, great for beginners.
• Tradescantia sillamontana
  With silvery, velvety leaves, this Tradescantia adds an interesting texture and contrast to your terrarium setup, suitable for beginners.
• Fittonia albivenis (Nerve Plant – Red, White, or Pink varieties)
  Known for its striking, vividly veined leaves, this plant adds colour and interest to terrariums, a great choice for beginners.
• Hypoestes phyllostachya (Polka Dot Plant – Pink, Red, or White)
  With its speckled leaves, this plant adds playful colour to your terrarium, ideal for those just starting.

Examples of The Best terrarium Plants for Beginners With Descriptions and Pictures

Hypoestes (Polka Dot Plant)

The Hypoestes, or Polka Dot Plant, is a visually striking terrarium plant that will captivate attention. With its vibrant, variegated leaves featuring splashes of pink, red, or white, the Polka Dot Plant adds a playful touch to your terrarium. It prefers bright, indirect light and well-draining soil. Keep the soil evenly moist to prevent it from drying out. Regularly pinch back the growing tips to encourage bushier growth and maintain its compact form. To make sure your Hypoestes will thrive, check our care guides.

Asparagus Fern

The Asparagus Fern is a graceful and feathery plant that adds a touch of elegance to any terrarium. Its delicate, cascading foliage creates a lush and airy atmosphere. Asparagus Ferns thrive in bright, indirect light and prefer slightly moist soil. They appreciate higher humidity levels, so they will thrive in your terrarium. Read more about fern care here.

Ferns

Ferns are classic terrarium plants known for their delicate, lacy and intricate fronds. There are various fern species suitable for terrariums, such as the Boston Fern, Maidenhair Fern, and Bird’s Nest Fern. They thrive in higher humidity levels with low-moderate light conditions. Learn more about fern care instructions here.

Pilea

Choose one of many varieties of pile plants including unusual-looking Moon Valley, classic Peperomiodies or silvery Greyzy with tiny, round leaves. They are among the best plants for beginner terrarium enthusiasts giving an extra colour and texture to your ecosystem!

Conclusion

Terrarium craft provides beginners with a delightful and rewarding experience, allowing you to create miniature ecosystems in the comfort of your home. In this guide, we explored some of the best and easiest terrarium plants for beginners, each bringing unique colour and texture to your terrarium. If you are unsure which one to choose, why don’t try our Best Terrarium Plants for Beginners’ bundles, which are perfectly selected to thrive in open and closed containers? 

Discover our terrarium kit selection, which includes everything you need to create your own self-suitable ecosystem, and instructions make it a perfect choice for beginners or as a gift!

Laura-Anne A.

Loved creating this terrarium with everything needed supplied and brilliant instructions included. Plants were healthy and vibrant. Love the finished look with added grape wood vine for decoration and additional critters to keep the terrarium happy and healthy.Loved creating this terrarium with everything needed supplied and brilliant instructions included. Plants were healthy and vibrant. Love the finished look with added grape wood vine for decoration and additional critters to keep the terrarium happy and healthy.

Anonymous

IThis is my daughter’s favorite shop and Pam and Craig helped pick out the perfect birthday gift!They were really helpful and gave insight on what plants to use and how to set up the terrarium. All the plants and accessories look great, I look forward to building it with my daughter.We will be going back for all future plant needs 

A F

Thought the whole kit was pretty good value. Everything was explained to me really well.