Houseplant Terrarium for Beginners — Creating a Miniature Green World in Glass

Terrariums: A Guide to Creating Your Own Miniature Green World

Terrariums are indoor greenery that recreate small natural landscapes inside glass containers. Because they require minimal space and relatively simple care, they are popular among those with limited growing space or those who want to enjoy greenery indoors. This article explains how to create a terrarium using foliage plants.

Types and Characteristics of Terrariums

Terrariums are broadly divided into "closed terrariums" and "open terrariums." Closed terrariums use sealed containers with lids and create a small ecosystem where moisture circulates internally. They require very infrequent watering (approximately once every few weeks to months) and are suitable for plants that prefer high humidity. Condensation on the inside of the lid is a normal condition. Open terrariums use containers without lids and feature good ventilation. They are suitable for plants that are drought-tolerant, such as succulents and air plants. Watering is more frequent than with closed terrariums, but the risk of root rot from excessive moisture is lower. Closed terrariums are recommended for beginners. Once the environment stabilizes, they require minimal effort, and since moisture circulates within the container, there is less risk of management failure. The glass containers are also beautiful as interior décor, and simply placing them on a desk or shelf adds greenery and freshness to any space.

Plants Suitable for Terrariums

Plants suitable for closed terrariums prefer high humidity, are small in size, and grow slowly. Fittonia (nerve plant) is a small plant with beautiful red or white leaf veins and is a classic choice for terrariums. It pairs perfectly with sealed containers since it prefers high humidity. Selaginella (a type of spike moss) has a delicate fern-like appearance and forms a carpet of green. Pilea glaucophylla has cute small round leaves and grows slowly, making it unlikely to disrupt the layout. Mosses such as sphagnum moss and hypnum moss are essential as ground cover. Small ferns (such as small varieties of pteris and maidenhair fern) also prefer humidity and add a natural atmosphere to the terrarium. Plants to avoid are those that grow quickly or become large, as they will fill the container too quickly. Succulents and cacti will rot in high-humidity closed terrariums, so use them in open terrariums instead.

How to Make a Terrarium

Materials needed include a glass container, pumice stone or hydrobeads (for the drainage layer), activated charcoal (for the filtration layer), sphagnum moss or netting (for the separator layer), terrarium soil or potting mix, plants, decorative stones or driftwood, tweezers, and a spray bottle. First, lay pumice stone 2–3 cm thick at the bottom of the glass container to create a drainage layer. Excess water accumulates here, preventing root rot. Next, lay a thin layer of activated charcoal for water purification and odor prevention. Place a thin layer of sphagnum moss on top to prevent soil from falling into the drainage layer. Add 3–5 cm of soil, then create topography with elevation changes. Making the back higher and the front lower creates a sense of depth. Plant the plants with tweezers and arrange stones and driftwood. Finally, mist the entire container with a spray bottle, place the lid, and you're done. If using moss, arrange it last to cover the soil surface.

Daily Care and Troubleshooting

Daily care of closed terrariums is very simple. Place it in a bright location away from direct sunlight and maintain moderate condensation on the inside of the lid. If there is no condensation at all, it's a sign of insufficient moisture, so add a small amount of water with a spray bottle. Conversely, if there is too much condensation and you can't see inside, open the lid for a few hours to ventilate. Watering can be done approximately once every few weeks to months depending on the condensation level. If plants grow too long, trim them lightly with scissors to maintain their shape. Remove cut parts with tweezers as they may rot if left unattended. A common problem is mold growth. It is caused by excessive moisture or poor ventilation. If found, remove it with tweezers and open the lid to ventilate. Promptly remove dead leaves and rotted parts and keep the container clean—this is the foundation of mold prevention.

Get Plants Suitable for Terrariums from Botachoku

There are many types of small foliage plants that can be used in terrariums, but many varieties are difficult to find at general nurseries. At Botachoku, you can purchase small plants and mosses suitable for terrariums from growers who specialize in cultivating them, and you can also receive advice on varieties well-suited for terrariums. Please experience the joy of creating your own small green world.