Where to Find the Best Terrarium Plants for Open and Closed Containers

Terrariums are miniature indoor gardens grown inside glass containers. They allow you to easily create a controlled microclimate for raising small moisture-loving plants. But where can you find the best terrarium plants to populate these unique displays?

Various retailers offer terrarium plants perfect for open and closed containers. Here are some top places to shop for vibrant terrarium greenery

Online Plant Nurseries

Online plant stores offer the widest selection of terrarium plants shipped directly to your door, Specialty nurseries for terrariums and rare tropicals have the best variety

Steve’s Leaves – This California-based shop has a huge selection of terrarium plants. Browse succulents, ferns, mosses and more ideal for open and closed terrariums.

Glass Box Tropicals – Located in Florida, they carry a nice choice of tropical terrarium plants perfect for high humidity environments.

Logee’s – A renowned seller of rare houseplants and tropicals, Logee’s has various small plants well-suited for terrariums.

Air Plant Supply Co. – For unique open terrariums, they have a spectrum of Tillandsia air plants that don’t require soil to grow.

Mountain Crest Gardens – This nursery offers a good selection of miniature succulents, cacti and alpine plants fitting for open terrarium designs.

Ordering terrarium plants online provides convenience and plant variety. Just be sure to shop early, as shipping times can take 1-2 weeks.

Local Greenhouses and Nurseries

Check your local independent garden centers and greenhouse growers for terrarium plants. Many carry selections ideal for enclosed glass environments.

The benefit of shopping local is you can see and select specific plants in person versus buying sight unseen online. Bring your terrarium container when plant shopping to ensure a proper size match.

Look for small ferns, mosses, prayer plants, pilea, peperomia, and other moisture-loving tropicals and foliage plants. Miniature succulents and cacti also work well for open terrariums.

Avoid large, sprawling houseplants not suited for the confined space inside a terrarium. Focus on compact, slow growing varieties under 1 foot tall.

Big Box Stores

Large home improvement and grocery chains like Home Depot and Trader Joe’s often stock plants suitable for terrariums. Selection is more limited than specialty nurseries, but you can still find these good terrarium plant choices:

• Small ferns like button fern, maidenhair fern and bird’s nest fern
• Tropicals like nerve plant, polka dot plant and creeping fig
• Succulents and cacti like burro’s tail, hens and chicks and small aloe
• Mosses like mood moss and sheet moss

Check stores regularly as selections change seasonally. Visit the garden section for the best selection during spring and summer months.

Plant Swaps and Local Groups

Check for local plant swap events through community groups, clubs, or botanic gardens in your area. These allow gardeners to trade extra plants with others.

Plant swaps are great places to find free or low-cost terrarium plants. Unique tropicals and foliage plants are often up for trade. Established plants already acclimated to your growing zone thrive better than nursery plants.

Search online community calendars, club newsletters, social media groups and restaurant bulletin boards to find upcoming plant swaps near you. This can help you score great terrarium plants for free from other gardeners.

Wild Collecting

For a fun DIY option, make your own moss terrarium using materials collected outdoors. Sourcing plants from nature is free and provides a woodland feeling.

Gather mosses, lichens, small ferns and woodland plants from shady, undisturbed forests and ravines. Be sure you’re permitted to collect plants on the land.

Select young, healthy specimens in a variety of shapes, colors and textures. Harvest only a small portion from each plant grouping. Carefully dig up samples with the root ball intact.

Place plants in plastic bags misted with water to transport home. Transplant them into your open or closed terrarium within a few hours. Mist often until established.

What to Look for in Terrarium Plants

When selecting plants, keep these key factors in mind:

Size – Choose small, slow growing varieties under 12 inches tall. Miniature and dwarf cultivars are perfect.

Environment – Match moisture needs to the terrarium. Get humidity-loving plants for closed containers and lower moisture varieties for open ones.

Light – Seek out low to moderate light plants suited to indoor conditions. Avoid full sun varieties.

Growth Habit – Look for compact, mounding or trailing shapes fitting for a confined space.

Visual Interest – Opt for plants with unique leaf shapes, colors, textures and growth forms to create an attractive display.

Ideal Terrarium Plant Characteristics

Here are desirable traits to seek out when selecting terrarium plants:

• Slow growing – Species that grow slowly are less likely to outgrow the space.

• Shallow roots – Compact root zones suit the limited soil depth inside terrariums.

• Low maintenance – Plants that don’t require much pruning or shaping are ideal.

• Pet-safe – Ensure plants are non-toxic for homes with pets and children.

• Leaf diversity – Mix fine-textured delicate plants with broad-leafed varieties.

• Trailing and creeping growth – Great for growing along the terrarium floor and climbing up walls.

Key Tips for Buying Terrarium Plants

Follow these tips when purchasing plants for your enclosed glass garden:

• Bring your terrarium container to check plant sizes
• Select healthy, pest-free specimens with good color
• Choose plants with similar light and watering needs
• Pick plants naturally small in size, not stunted by poor growing conditions
• Avoid overgrown plants needing frequent trimming back
• Prepare terrariums 1-2 weeks before displaying to allow plants to acclimate

With the right selection and care, terrarium plants can thrive for years in their miniature indoor world. Just be sure to shop at reputable sources offering healthy plants suited to the warm, humid conditions inside glass terrariums.