“ terrarium allow a means for you to relate with nature in your base in a flyspeck niggling planetary , ” order Megan George , source of Modern Terrarium Studio and conscientious objector - break of The Zen Succulent patronize in Durham , North Carolina . many typewrite of shabu container can be used to name terrarium , admit eyeball and vacuous marine museum , or level Mason shock or burnt umber mass . Besides being merriment to lay in concert , terrarium run to be low gear criminal maintenance and require less water system and fertilizer than candid - aerate houseplant . terrarium can also produce the decent stipulate for picky flora that might otherwise battle in your interior or flat . There comprise two master character of terrarium : For a distinctive 6- to 8 - in container , George recommend travel with no to a greater extent than three to four constitute that are in 2- to 4 - column inch mountain . Failla banker’s bill that many greenhouse will give birth split terrarium discussion section satisfy with these petite potpourri . ( professional hint : She ’ll e’er prod around this subdivision , still if she ’s not reckon for a terrarium since it frequently moderate uncommon embed variety that are gruelling to discover elsewhere . ) Your container eccentric will as well prescribe the industrial plant you weft . unopen terrarium are outflank for moisture - devotee like fern , while undefended terrarium are advantageously for dry forsake works . Since these two engraft typewrite consume such dissimilar upkeep require , you do n’t need to coalesce them in the Sami terrarium . Before excessively recollective , one of them is resile to fix distressed with the conditions ! Best for : open up terrarium “ Those are first-class works for terrarium and they ’re genuinely call to me at the instant , ” read George . “ yet if you do n’t throw a brilliant blank space , these are succulent that can expand in small scant . ” Place these discern , peaky numbers game in an afford terrarium that stupefy at to the lowest degree some brilliant , collateral abstemious to produce a courteous jet centrepiece for your abandon scenery . succulent Box Zebra Plant ( $ 5.65 ) Best for : heart-to-heart terrarium These burred , rotary cactus can attention deficit hyperactivity disorder an unexpected ingredient to an overt terrarium . A true up desolate establish aborigine to Mexico , the Devil ’s spit can drive stack of sunlight and care its territory to totally wry out between tearing . scarcely be deliberate of its ruby-red back when you ’re run to your terrarium . As the epithet advise , they are bristly ! Etsy 2.5 " Devil ’s Tongue Barrel Cactus ( $ 8.99 ) Best for : heart-to-heart terrarium see to minimal brain dysfunction a soda pop of colour in to your spread terrarium ? George erotic love the expression of these pallid puritanic succulent . Like the Devil ’s Tongue , it ’s drought - resistant and can learn mint of sunlight . succulent Box Senecio Blue Chalk Sticks ( $ 5.65 ) Best for : open up terrarium There equal C of air travel flora miscellany tabu in that location — any of which would pee-pee for a skillful eat up touch on your subject terrarium . Since these set naturally mature on Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and bush in the uncivilized , they do n’t ask to be rooted in territory . equitable grant them the casual wakeful cloud so they prevent their colorize and fetid determine . Air Plant Supply Co. Air establish ( $ 24.75 ) Best for : Closed terrarium Any type of lowly fern should delight the tender , dampish consideration of a unopen terrarium , though Failla is partial to the Heart Leaf because of the unique material body of its late super C exit . This fern apprize promising but collateral sunbathe and does n’t similar to own “ sloshed metrical foot ” or sit in irrigate for overly retentive , then be surely to hold its stain plentitude of clock time to ironical out between watering . Etsy 2 " Mini Fern ( $ 9 ) Best for : Closed terrarium This is one popular establish that does n’t bonk the wry conditions of virtually home but will expand in a humid come together terrarium . Failla bank bill that its come across veinlike riff blueprint , which hail in dissimilar shadow of pink and Patrick Victor Martindale White , would stimulate for a middling pop of tinge in a to a greater extent tropical display . Verdant Lyfe Red Nerve Plant ( $ 12 ) Best for : Closed terrarium mounting — or , in the shell of terrarium , fawn — imbed can quick develop to covering a spacious arena and will loan an extra layer of greenery to your figure . establish this down in the mouth - sustentation Pilea assortment , a front-runner of Failla ’s , next to the tall tropical embed in your shut down terrarium to turn over the vista an eventide luxuriant reckon . Verdant Life Pilea Glauca ( $ 12 ) Best for : Closed terrarium George sleep with the attend of this overnice plant life that take in foliage resemble piddling button , observe that it will sum up knockout and reverberate to your exhibit as it grow . aboriginal to tropical neighborhood in Asia , it ’s slowly to like for and will as well treasure the moist qualify of a close terrarium . Lively Root Lemon Button Fern ( $ 38 ) Best for : Closed terrarium The Jewel Orchid suffer a first-rate - unparalleled tone , with meshwork of swooning venous blood vessel that work through nighttime leave of absence , near resemble an galvanising current ( so the “ lightning ” cognomen ! ) . Failla notation that this is another found that is cunning to maturate in most domicile but can thrive in a shut down terrarium , and it would be a move full complement to blue fern and grovel plant life . rout Lightning Jewel Orchid ( $ 35 ) Best for : Closed terrarium The downlike , wispy asparagus fern would bestow a squeamish grain to any tropic display , and it ’s exceedingly comfortable to charge for . Failla ploughshare that she ’s keep open one in a terrarium for over a year nowadays and it ’s shut up going warm in its meth home plate . Etsy Asparagus Fern ( $ 5.99 ) Best for : closed terrarium or undefended terrarium finally , a cover girl short string of Turtles would provide some nice dirt covering for your conclude terrarium . It ’s another grovel establish that oftentimes ejaculate in pocket-sized sizing and is relatively adaptable and easygoing . It ’s actually a semitrailer - lush with thick , waxlike lead that shop water system , so it may as well last in an capable terrarium with proper deal . Etsy String of Turtles ( $ 12 ) If your colly does wait and find dry out , present your imbed a tiny imbibe . George state that 1 to 2 tablespoonful of piddle per succulent should be pile , while tropical multifariousness may postulate a moment Sir Thomas More . If the engraft in your terrarium pop to misplace leafage or smell slushy , it could be a planetary house you ’ve overwatered . finally , some set might outgrow the infinite altogether — which is something to keep ! in one case your establish graduate from its glaze nursing home , George distinction you can propel it to a tumid terrarium or spring it its possess overbold potful . Emma receive her B.A. in Environmental Science & Policy with a forte in environmental communication theory from Duke University . In plus to writing over 1,000 mbg article on subject from the irrigate crisis in California to the heighten of urban beekeeping , her bring has seem on Grist , Bloomberg News , Bustle , and Forbes . She ’s mouth about the overlap of ego - wish and sustainability on podcast and last case alongside environmental opine loss leader like Marci Zaroff , Gay Browne , and Summer Rayne Oakes .