Want to know which terrarium plants you can DIY with your kids? Try to mix two or more terrarium plants from this list and have some fun with your kids this weekend!
Terrariums are perfect projects for kids because they are fun in all phases of development. Choosing the container, terrarium plants, and small figurines to go inside can be just as enjoyable as making the terrarium and watching it grow. Choose a plant that will flourish in your terrarium environment.
15 Terrarium Plants You Can DIY With Your Kids
What is a terrarium? A terrarium is a method of growing plants in a compact or partially enclosed container commonly made of glass or plastic.
Terrariums earned popularity in the 1800s, enjoying a prime hey day in the 1970s, and are coming back into popularity. They are easy to set up and make amazingly beautiful projects to bring some nature to your home, while spending quality bonding time with your kids.
Here are 15 terrarium plants to jumpstart this project, along with easy tips for planting your DIY terrarium. Enjoy!
1. Mini English Ivy
- Mini English Ivy has a woody vine and heart-formed leaves that can manage many types of conditions. The smaller version is perfect for contained gardens. It comes in many varieties and some with assorted gold, white, or yellow leaves.
- Put it in bright light but not in direct sunlight.
- Keep soil evenly moist but not muddy.
- If growing an assorted variety and the leaves begin to turn all green – the plant is not having enough bright light.
2. Lemon Button Fern
- One of my favorite types of houseplants that is very easy to grow.
- Grows up to 12-18 inches tall
- Put it in a spot with plenty of indirect light
- Keep soil damp with high humidity
- Direct sunlight will dry out the leaves and they will start to turn brown.
3. Creeping Fig
- Very hardy plant that can easily initiate itself in a terrarium and grows rapidly.
- A quick growing plant can easily adopt a terrarium and must be pruned and trimmed back to stimulate branching and help keep the plant compressed.
- Put it in bright light or partial shade – but not in direct sunlight
- Keep soil evenly moist with high humidity
4. Artillery Fern
- Artillery Fern is not technically a fern, but a member of Pilea family and very easy to grow.
- Grows to 12″ tall.
- Keep soil slightly moist with medium to high humidity.
- Although it flourishes with minimal care, you'll want to pinch back the stems once in a while to keep it bushy and avoid it from becoming too leggy.
5. Baby Tears
- A small low growing plant that is excellent in contained terrariums.
- Grows up to 6” tall.
- Put it in bright indirect light but not in direct sunlight.
- Direct sunlight will smolder the edges of the leaves and a lot of water will cause the leaves turn yellow.
- This quickly growing plant can be intrusive, so constant pruning with scissors will keep it contained.
6. Aluminum Plant
- Aluminum Plant is a quick growing plant that has silvery white markings on the leaves.
- Grows up to 12”.
- Put it in bright to medium screened light.
- Keep soil slightly moist
- Occasionally pinch and prune terminal buds to stop it from becoming leggy.
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7. Maidenhair Fern
- An excellent terrarium plant that flourishes in very high humidity despite its delicate leaflets.
- Grows 12”- 24” tall.
- Put it in low indirect light with partial to full shade.
- Keep soil constantly moist with very high humidity.
- Maidenhair Fern is best kept above 70 degrees. If temperatures drop too low it will go inactive or the plant will dry out.
8. Pothos
- Pothos is a well-known and easy to grow houseplant that is often called philodendron.
- Constant pruning is necessary as it becomes rowdy in contained settings, propagating pothos.
- Put it in a bright but indirect light. The full green variety can tolerate low light conditions.
- Too much water will turn leaves brown or black. Too much sunlight will turn leaves pale.
9. Hypoestes
- Hypoestes has colorful red, pink, and silver spotted leaves and is also affectionately called the Polka Dot plant.
- It grows quickly with the correct lighting conditions.
- Should be pinched off because it has a tendency to become leggy and to allow new stems to branch out, making a fuller, bushier plant.
- Put it in medium to bright indirect light.
- Keep soil evenly moist, but avoid over watering.
- If not receiving enough water it will cause wilted and dry leaves. Yellow leaves mean the soil is too soggy.
10. Begonia Rex
- Begonia Rex has wonderful painted patterned leaves found in shades of pink, burgundy, silver and cream. An excellent choice for enclosed terrariums as they that love high humidity.
- Grows up to 12″.
- Put it in moderate to bright indirect light.
- Keep soil constantly moist with high humidity.
- Avoid watering the foliage because it will damage the leaves.
11. Air Plant
- Air Plant does grow and flourishes even without soil.
- It needs a constant air circulation.
- Indirect light and a light damping of water keep them happy.
12. Moon Valley Friendship Plant
- A fast growing plant that thrives in low light.
- Grows up to 12″ tall.
- With proper care, it may give you pink flowers.
13. Prayer Plant
- This plant requires very high humidity, medium or bright sheltered light and well-drained soil, even slightly boggy soil.
- Keep the soil moist except when dormant.
- Give balanced “acid fertilizer” every 2 weeks when growing.
14. Purple Passion Plant
- Passion Plants need bright light, but should be protected from direct sunlight.
- Keep the soil evenly moist.
- Feed with house plant food every 2-3 weeks, when growing.
- Include a peat moss to the potting mix.
15. Club Moss
- Club moss is a crawling plant that needs cooler temperatures.
- Needs low to moderate light.
- Moist, rich soil, and good air condition.
- Hardy in zones 6-9.
Ready to create a DIY terrarium with your kids? Then check out his video from CreativeKidstuff:
Which terrarium plants will you use to make a DIY terrarium with your kids? Let us know in the comments below.
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