Looking Into a Terrarium: Seeing How Exquisite Nature Really Is

Some plant lovers focus on creating terrariums. They become experts, true artists. Seeing what they produce can cause the rest of us to hesitate when we think of creating terrariums of our own. But it shouldn’t. Terrarium planting is as easy as garden planting if you keep a few things in mind.

First, choose the right plants, those that appreciate humidity. Peperomias, Mosses, and small Ferns do well. Other plants such as Fittonia albivenis (Mosaic Plant) and Hypoestes phyllostachya (Polka Dot Plant) are equally great choices. 

Next, find the right container for your terrarium plant selections. A clear glass container with a lid or cork works best. The lid must be removable so you can open your terrarium from time to time for fresh air and misting. While you can use a variety of container shapes, be sure they leave adequate headroom for Hypoestes phyllostachya and other larger plants you might select.

Finally, think of the layers in which you will place your terrarium plant selections. A tried-and-true approach is to use pebbles as a base-level drainage layer, torn Moss above the pebbles, and growing mix above that. Hypoestes phyllostachya will need more of the growing substrate than will Moss, for example. Just remember that if you choose plants with trailing roots, trim those roots a bit before tucking them into the substrate. The top layer is decorative. I cover it in Moss, although I know this will require more moisture than will some of my other terrarium plant selections.

Some experts add charcoal, mesh, and near-microscopic creatures to the mix. And most focus a lot on the substrate, arriving at the perfect planting medium to help plants thrive. But it is okay to keep things simple. Layer your container and have confidence.

With layers loosely built and plant roots gently tucked into the substrate, the key is to avoid anything we might call “watering”. Light misting is all that is needed. When misting, aim at the interior sides of the glass walls of your container, and let the moisture migrate through the substrate and other layers. Keep your terrarium uncapped for a bit of time to let the plants take in fresh air. Then re-cap.

Now, I tend to think that most plants do best in the open air, rather than when they are kept in an enclosure. But experts note that terrariums can be the most comfortable growing environments, rainforest aside, for such plants as Hypoestes phyllostachya, Baby Tears, and Artillery Fern. These plants do fine in open-air containers, but they are in their element in a terrarium.

Gardeners might wonder if a terrarium plant such as Hypoestes phyllostachya would like low light or sunlight. As a rule, a terrarium plant likes artificial lighting. Avoid extremes such as sunny windowsills or dark corners in your home. Regular, soft household lighting should keep each terrarium plant thriving.

Building a terrarium is an ideal project to undertake with a child. I have built a few with children. While we went overboard in adding plants, crowding our containers more than experts might, my young gardeners still talk about the project. They foraged for the pebble layer, pulled up small sheets of Moss from a shaded portion of our yard, teased apart roots, and snipped the tops of a terrarium plant or two. They were drawn to Hypoestes phyllostachya for its ability to add a pink glow to a terrarium of green tones. We talked about the water cycle as we worked. And they have forgotten none of this. They had fun, and they plan to create more.

I act as though I ended up with crowded terrariums because of the under-seven-year-old crowd with which I worked. Truth is, I have a heavy hand when it comes to adding plants. For my own future terrarium building, I will aim for displays that are more “Zen” by using a snippet of Artillery Fern, a small division of my Hypoestes phyllostachya… tiny focal pieces. I will use a less-is-more approach and end up with something even more attractive. But for now, my crowded creations are lovely, with the glass seeming to magnify every feathery piece of Moss and pink marking on the leaves of Hypoestes phyllostachya.

I have come to think that terrarium planting is an ideal way to take glass containers and other obijects we all have plus a small number of tiny plants, divide those plants into even smaller pieces, and arrive at something awe-inspiring. The glass of the terrarium seems to magnify the tiniest parts of each terrarium plant, allowing us a better view into how exquisite Nature really is.