{"id":282,"date":"2019-08-06T04:22:43","date_gmt":"2019-08-06T04:22:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/justhomegardening.com\/?p=282"},"modified":"2020-02-14T06:44:17","modified_gmt":"2020-02-14T06:44:17","slug":"miniature-plants-for-terrarium-open-and-closed-plus-practical-tips-for-maintenance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/justhomegardening.com\/miniature-plants-for-terrarium-open-and-closed-plus-practical-tips-for-maintenance","title":{"rendered":"10 Miniature Plants For Terrarium (Open and Closed ) Plus Practical Tips For Maintenance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even if you are a confirmed plant killer, terrariums are a great way to try your hand and make it a success. The best thing about terrariums is that it can fit in any modern decor and can be as traditional at the same.<\/p>\n

Not only do miniature plants for terrarium add oomph to your home, but they also help improve air quality and breathe life into your humble abode with their vivid coloring. Acting like miniature greenhouses, terrariums made this possible for you to have a thriving indoor garden, welcoming nature into your home.<\/p>\n

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Source: shopify.com<\/p><\/div>\n

There are two types of terrariums, open glass containers (for succulents and cacti) and closed containers for humidity-loving plants.<\/p>\n

While buying a terrarium container can be easily done, choosing the right type of plants can be a little tricky. So, we come up with this comprehensive guide on what miniature plants to choose and on what type of terrarium container they will thrive.<\/p>\n

Miniature Plants For Open Terrarium<\/strong><\/p>\n

Miniature plants for open style terrariums require arid environment and healthy circulation of air. They are to give them lots of direct sunlight and watering them only once every two weeks or perhaps when the soil becomes too dry. Some of the most common plants being used for open terrariums are hens and chicks, aloe, desert cacti, succulents, and air plants. Many of these air plants can even be placed in open, hanging style terrariums.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a closer look into each of these open terrarium miniature plants<\/p>\n

1) Hen and Chicks Succulents<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Source: inhabitat.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Hen and Chicks succulent are also known as house leaks. Their foliage gets red, green, copper or a mixture of different colors and these are perfect low-maintenance plants to be put in a terrarium.<\/p>\n

They produce clusters of rosettes, the parent rosette being called “hens,” and the smaller ones that grow from them are called the “chicks” . This kit from Amazon<\/strong><\/a> contains 3 healthy vibrant plants which you can plant in an open terrarium.<\/p>\n

2) Tillandsia or Air plant<\/strong><\/p>\n

These plants do not need soil to grow and can attach them to any host for survival. Place them on top of driftwood or perhaps, use river stones for the base. Do remember to use terrarium with holes to allow smooth airflow as their leaves tend to absorb water and feed from the air. They need to be watered twice a week other than misting, so an open terrarium is a good choice for it.<\/p>\n

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Get this Tillandsia Terrarium Kit from Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

This Small Tillandsia Terrarium Kit<\/strong><\/a> is just perfect to kickstart your indoor gardening or terrarium project. With 12 Tillandsia varieties on this terrarium kit, you can finally create awesome terrariums for your home.<\/p>\n

3) Kalanchoe Luciae or Flapjack<\/strong><\/p>\n

These succulents have smooth flat paddles shaped leaves that blush to a beautiful red with the right amount of sunlight. They need watering but ensure the soil is dried out before next watering.<\/p>\n

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Kalanchoe Flapjacks Paddle Plant Hearts Valentine Plant Succulent<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

You can get them shipped by Amazon<\/strong><\/a> and grow it in an open terrarium to ensure good air movement and low humidity.<\/p>\n

4) Haworthia fasciata or zebra plant<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Source: decorisme.co<\/p><\/div>\n

This succulent gets its name because of the thick, dark green leaves with white horizontal stripes on the outside of the leaves. It\u2019s perfect for beginners as it grows well indoors and can be planted in open terrarium as it needs normal watering as any succulent and partial sunlight.<\/p>\n

Amazon is shipping a good, healthy zebra plant at a reasonable price. Check it out here<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

5) Jade plant<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Jade plants need to be watered when the topsoil is just about dry to touch. It needs frequent watering, so an open terrarium is a good choice for it, It should never be kept without watering. If In case it starts losing leaves or has leaf spots, that is an indication that it is getting too little water. They also need direct sunlight for growth.<\/p>\n

You can get a miny leaf bonsai jade plant here<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

6) Ghost Plant or Mother of Pearl<\/strong><\/p>\n

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This low maintenance plant with its pinkish-grey succulent leaves is another good candidate for open terrarium. It grows best with bright sunshine and appears different in color depending on the amount of sun or shade it gets. Watering every other week is enough for these plants.<\/p>\n

You can get this shipped in 3.5\u201d pot from Amazon<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Miniature Plants For Closed Terrarium<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s now take a closer look at the miniature plants for a closed terrarium<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s now take a closer look at the miniature plants for a closed terrarium<\/p>\n

1) Psygmorchis Pusilla \u2013 Miniature orchid<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you got no time to frequently tend to your terrarium, choosing miniature plants that can thrive on their own is a great way to go. There are plants which can thrive in closed terrarium containers that basically don\u2019t need constant fussing. Plants like baby ferns, cryptanthus, neoregelia, aechmea, and orchid gene plants like the Psygmorchis Pusilla<\/strong><\/a> can nourish themselves in a closed or sealed environment allowing water to recycle in itself.<\/p>\n

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Award-Winning-Maintenance-Orchid-Terrarium<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

The Award-Winning, Maintenance Free Orchid Terrarium \u2014 Psygmorchis Pusilla<\/strong><\/a>\u2014 for instance, is a favorite among avid indoor gardeners who prefer low maintenance plants due to their busy schedules. This type of orchid gene plant requires no food, water or even light source. It blooms and re-blooms even without sunlight or tending, like a synthetic flower, only that it\u2019s breathing, thriving, living and adding more charm to your indoor haven.<\/p>\n

2) Earth Star or Cryptanthus<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Two~’Pink Stars’ Cryptanthus Earth Star~Bromeliad in 3″ Pot Gorgeous Houseplant<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

This one is easy to grow, especially in the self-contained and high-moisture that exists inside a closed terrarium. These are so easy to care for that once set-up, they require almost zero red maintenance. The only thing to keep watch is the inside of the glass container does not get too hot. So during summertime you can open the lid to cool things down.<\/p>\n

You can get them from Amazon here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

3) Neoregelia Fireball<\/strong><\/p>\n

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CTS-Air-Plants-Neoregelia-Fireball<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

4) Mikado plant or Sungonanthus Chryanthus<\/strong><\/p>\n

This plant has long stems that end with small creamy-white round flowers and hence are suitable for tall vertical terrarium.<\/p>\n

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Source: gardenista.com<\/p><\/div>\n

It blooms for about two or three months in the summer and needs higher humidity, around 70 percent which is why it is a good choice for closed terrarium. Check it our here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Terrarium Care<\/strong><\/p>\n

The possibilities are endless now that you know which miniature plants for a terrarium to choose. But your role doesn\u2019t stop there. While terrarium plants basically thrive on their own, these babies still need some TLC to thrive. Open terrarium plants love direct sunlight so make sure to expose them to natural light. Watering this type of plants must be done as needed, which is contrary to closed ones which require none at all. To prevent exposing closed terrarium plants to direct sunlight and open for at least 30 minutes once a month for healthy circulation of air.<\/p>\n

Here are some more guidelines and do\u2019s and don\u2019t for terrarium:<\/p>\n