Terrarium Plants That Help With Humidity

Different Terrarium Types

• Terrariums are created in clear glass or plastic containers. They can be as large as a 50-gallon aquarium or as small as a brandy snifter. Open terrariums dry out faster, so the amount of water they need depends on the type of plants within it, but open terrariums traditionally contain plants that don't require consistently moist soil. An advantage to open terrariums is that the air flow from within the room prevents a build up of moisture, such as that within the greenhouse-like environment of closed terrariums. Therefore, the danger of soil-borne fungal diseases that is a potential problem in enclosed terrariums, doesn't exist in open terrariums.

Preparing the Terrarium

• Because terrariums don't have a means for drainage, the materials placed in the bottom of the terrarium absorb the excess water and prevent plants from getting excessively wet. At the bottom of the terrarium, there is a layer of pea gravel. A 1/2-inch layer of horticultural charcoal is placed on top of the pea gravel to absorb bad odors from the soil. A layer of sphagnum moss is placed on top of the charcoal to protect the drainage layer and prevent soil, which is placed on top of the sphagnum moss, from seeping through.

Open Terrarium Plants

• An open terrarium creates an entirely different environment than a closed terrarium and it is one in which the process of transpiration releases vapor into the air from the plant leaves. Plants such as succulents will grow well in open terrariums with the added benefit that even though the soil dries out faster, the plants can tolerate dry periods because the anatomy of the plant is such that its leaves, stems or roots function as a reservoir. Dwarf and emerald ripple varieties of peperomia and kalanchoe are succulents that are suitable for open top terarriums. African violet, prayer plant, Chinese evergreen and zebra plant are other tropical plants that are ideal for open top terrariums.

Enclosed Terrarium Plants

• Enclosed terrariums work differently. They are, in essence, miniature greenhouses that trap moisture inside the closed container, preventing it from dissipating into the air. The environment creates a continuous cycle whereby water vapor from the soil is released into the air within the terrarium, but because it is enclosed, the water condenses on the sides of the terrarium walls. This provides creates a self-sustainable environment in which moisture-loving plants live in an ideal atmosphere that is consistently moist. Piggyback plant, miniature peperomia, button fern, maidenhair fern, other types of ferns, mosses, baby's tears, cast iron plant, Hoya and jade plant are some of the many plants suited to enclosed terrariums.