Below you’ll find lists of plants suited to both open and closed terrariums. When deciding on which ones you want to give a try, mix and match your plants from one list only. It’s going to cover any areas of the exposed substrate with natural-looking material, but most importantly, it will slowly break down over time – providing nutrients for the plants but also food for the various microfauna in the vivarium. Before you dig in, it helps to understand the inner workings – or the science behind the mystery… How Terrariums Came to Be (Historians call this history) The fronds on this fern grow upright and are lace-like on wiry stems. The rhizomes are the main feature, though – they are incredibly furry, yellowish-brown, and creep around the edges of the plant roots. They look a lot like rabbits’ feet! The specific setup and equipment will vary based on your species, but the basic needs of temperature gradients and humidity control are the same. It is important to buy this equipment and have it setup prior to bringing home your reptile. Light and Fixtures

Just take the lid off it and let it air for a few hours, then seal it again. That’s if it’s a closed terrarium. If it’s an open terrarium, the only way you’ll over-water it is manually by watering it too much, using a watering can instead of a mister. Foliage – The stars of the show. Foliage plants are simply those with eye-catching leaves, and they’re typically placed in the foreground of a vivarium as a focal point. You don’t need many of these, just a few to make the view pop!For those who need to manage all these factors within a narrow range, it’s worth considering a system that can work together. When choosing the type of glass to use to build my Tall Orchidarium, I made the decision to incorporate two types of toughened, safety glass. For the front panel, the doors, and the ceiling of my Tall Orchidarium, I opted to use a low iron, toughened glass that would provide me with a clear view of the plants inside this enclosure and create a robust and lasting structure. Low iron glass presents a surface that offers significantly less of the blue-grey tint that glass is usually imbued with, making this type of glass exceptionally clear.

Closed terrariums need to be watered infrequently and it’s more about monitoring condensation levels to make sure it’s not too moist causing the plants to drown. Buyer’s GuideIf it starts to show loads of condensation building up around the sides and seals, take the lid off it and let it air for a short time to reduce the moisture content. That will prevent the plants from becoming over-watered, which is the most common causes of terrarium failures. There are some genuinely spectacular Marcgravia species, with fascinating foliage coloring from vibrant green to bronze to pastel to variegated. These are just a couple favorites: