I just adore creating terrariums, vivariums, and bottle gardens; I’d love to share my love of indoor gardening with you! If you’re looking for some fabulous plants for a bottle garden, terrarium, or vivarium that you’re creating, I hope that my list of gorgeous plants that are perfectly suited to the growing conditions found inside these enclosures, will help you create a beautiful indoor garden.
I’ve created this planting list for those of you who are looking for a terrarium, vivarium, or bottle garden plant that can be planted directly into the compost inside your terrarium. There are no orchids on this list, so if you’d like to see a longer list of terrarium plants that includes orchids, ferns, and other terrarium plants, please click here. If you’d prefer to see a list of mini-miniature orchids, tiny plants that are suited to growing inside bottle gardens, terrariums, or vivariums, please click here.
This is a planting list with a difference! To find out more about a particular plant, simply click on the plant’s profile page for more information. Once you’ve clicked on a plant, you’ll find links to every article I have written that features that particular plant on PumpkinBeth.com at the bottom of every individual plant page. Some individual plants can be followed as they grow, by reading my regular terrarium reviews and updates. These updates allow you to discover more about each plant’s character. Discover how well each particular plant grew for me, see clear and precise details of the care I have given my plants, and learn more about each plant to find out which plants are most suited to your own individual growing conditions.
You’ll find the details of the garden centres, nurseries, and suppliers, where I have purchased the terrarium plants, ferns, mosses, and cork for my glass terrariums, my Miniature Orchid Trial Terrarium, my White Orchid Trial Terrarium, my Madagascar Terrarium, my Orchidarium, my Rainforest Terrarium, and my other indoor gardens at the bottom of this planting list.
If you’re interested in planting your own terrarium or bottle garden, I hope that my step-by-step guide on how to plant up a terrarium or bottle garden will help you. To see all of my articles about setting up terrariums, bottle gardens, and orchidariums, please click here.
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 | Actiniopteris australis is a tender fern that requires warm temperatures to flourish. This pretty little fern can be found growing in the wild in a wide range of countries and locations, including: Madagascar, Australia, Africa, and Asia. Producing very pretty, palm like fronds on a… |
| Adiantum pubescens is a small to medium sized terrestrial fern – a fern that grows in the soil or is planted in a container or planter. This fern produces soft-bronze coloured new growth; as the fronds grow their colour soon changes – established fronds are… |
| Adiantum raddianum ‘Fritz-Luthi’ is a pretty fern that thrives in partially shaded to shaded conditions. This is a tender fern that flourishes in a very humid environment. Adiantum raddianum ‘Fritz-Luthi’ requires well-drained but moisture retentive compost, and soft, indirect lighting. These are the keys to… |
| This Adiantum is a species of miniature fern, which originates from Colombia, where this fern grows terrestrially – in the soil, and also as an epiphyte – on the branches of trees. This miniature fern grows well in soft, diffused light, in temperatures from 15 –… |
| Alocasia ‘Ninja’ plants thrive in a very humid environment making these plants ideally suited to growing inside a terrarium, vivarium, or bottle garden. However, terrariums and bottle gardens are not universally the same, different enclosures will provide contrasting growing conditions. When choosing a terrarium and… |
| Anthurium ‘Mini Jungle’ is an evergreen perennial. This hybrid Anthurium is a tender plant that can be grown outdoors in a warm climate, or indoors in the cooler regions of the world, where Anthurium ‘Mini Jungle’ makes a fantastic houseplant or a good choice for a… |
| This Arnemia fern species makes an attractive, finely feathered fern, which requires high humidity and warm temperatures to grow well. I have found that Arnemia will not tolerate the compost around the plant’s roots drying out, so if you’re growing this plant ensure that you… |
| Asparagus setaceus is such a delicate and attractive looking plant; I love its ferny foliage! Asparagus setaceus is often referred to as the Asparagus fern – it’s not actually a true fern, it’s a plant that resembles a fern. This tuberous perennial is so pretty,… |
| Asplenium bulbiferum is a very beautiful subtropical fern from New Zealand. I adore the light and airy, carrot top like fronds that Asplenium bulbiferum produces; overall it has a very graceful appearance. This fern grows as an epiphyte – the ferns grow upon other plants,… |
| I adore Asplenium fissum! I’ve been growing these gorgeous ferns for about seven years now. I really appreciate Asplenium fissum’s miniature size and endearing character and habit; I’m always finding myself admiring this fern’s decorative appearance and elegance. Perfectly sized for terrariums, Asplenium fissum is… |
| Asplenium nidus ‘Crispy Wave’ (PBR) is a very versatile and attractive fern, which produces delightfully ruffled, fresh-green coloured fronds. This is a great choice of fern to grow as a house plant or to plant inside a terrarium, vivarium, or bottle garden. Asplenium nidus ‘Crispy… |
| I bought this young Asplenium from a garden centre. The fern was in an area dedicated to terrarium plants with the pot simply labelled as ‘fern mix’. I am uncertain what species or cultivar this fern is – I just know it’s an Asplenium. As… |
| Asplenium x ebenoides is an attractive, evergreen fern, which has an upright growth habit. Asplenium x ebenoides is commonly referred to as the Dragon’s Tail Fern, as the tip of each frond resembles that of a mythical dragon. This naturally occurring fern hybrid hails from Alabama, and other… |
| This Athyrium species is a small sized, terrestrial fern that can be found growing in the wild, in both Madagascar and Africa. A great choice for a terrarium or bottle garden, ferns of this Athyrium species enjoy warm, humid conditions, and bright but indirect light. As… |
| Athyrium spicatum is a borderline-hardy fern, from Madagascar. This small-sized fern produces gently arching fronds, in a lovely shade of leaf-green. I think that this fern has a shape and form that most people would instantly recognise as being a fern. It’s a handsome, attractive… |
| Biophytum sensitivum is an amazing plant! Biophytum sensitivum originates from India and South Africa, where it can be found growing in wet, boggy soils near streams and waterfalls, where it is shaded by taller trees and shrubs. Biophytum sensitivum is such an interesting, fascinating plant! Resembling… |
| Bolbitis heteroclita ‘Difformis’ is miniature fern that can be grown both as a terrarium plant and as an aquarium plant. This fern can be used a part of an aquascape planting, where it will slowly form low feathery carpets of green to cover the sides… |
| Deinostigma tamiana originates from Vietnam, where this small plant species can be found growing in damp soils. This plant’s form is most pronounced in younger plants; Deinostigma tamiana plants form attractive rosettes. These plants have a similar growth habit to that seen in their relations –… |
| Doryopteris cordata is an unusual, small tropical, tender fern that is ideally suited to growing in terrariums, vivariums, or bottle gardens. Doryopteris cordata produces lobed fronds at the base of the fern, which form a low growing mound close to ground level. These fronds look more… |
| Ficus pumila is an evergreen climber, which is commonly known as the creeping fig. Ficus pumila is a vigorous and robust, self-clinging climber, which can seemingly attach itself to even the smoothest of glass terrariums or vivariums with ease. Ficus pumila forms a tall vine,… |
| Ficus pumila ‘White Sunny’ is a variegated climbing plant that grows as an epiphyte – this plant grows upon other plants – rather than in the soil or compost. This climber grows very well when it’s grown mounted on to cork or another structure. Ficus… |
| Fittonia albivenis ‘Mosaic White’ is often known by the plant’s common name of the nerve plant – this name references the leaves of this tender plant’s white veining, which stands out against the lovely green of this plant’s leaf. This is an attractive, easy to grow… |
| Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘Bambino’ is a cute little Fittonia. This particular cultivar is smaller in size than many other Fittonias, producing leaves that are around a quarter of the size of one of a Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘Big Leaf’ leaf. The two plants… |
| Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘Big Leaf’ is a Fittonia that produces larger sized leaves than most Fittonia cultivars. This particular cultivar features leaves that are around four times the size of a Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘Bambino’ leaf. The two plants are very similar in… |
| Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘Joly Josan’ (PBR) is a small spreading, tender plant that thrives when it’s grown in a shaded location. These plants flourish when grown in a moist, but well-drained, peat-free compost and thrive in a humid environment. This Fittonia is an ideal… |
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I purchased these plants, many of which you can see and read about in my terrarium reviews and trial updates, from the following nurseries:
The following plants were purchased from Araflora:
- Anthurium ‘Mini Jungle’
- Asplenium x ebenoides
- Ficus pumila
- Peperomia prostrata
- Pilea cadierei
- Pilea depressa
- Pilea libanensis
- Spathiphyllum ‘Mini’
The following terrarium plants and ferns were purchased from Ben’s Jungle:
- Adiantum species from Colombia
- Arnemia sp.
- Athyrium species
- Biophytum sensitivum
- Deinostigma tamiana
- Doryopteris cordata
- Humata repens
- Humata heterophylla
- Pellaea rotundifolia
- Pyrrosia serpens
- Rumohra species
The following plants and ferns were very kindly given to me by my friends:
- Doryopteris cordata
- Maranta leuconeura var. ‘Fascinator’
- Maranta leuconeura var. kerchoveana
- Nephrolepis species
- Pellaea rotundifolia
- Pilea microphylla
- Pilea peperomioides
The following plants were purchased from Hampshire Carnivorous Plants:
- Pinguicula hybrid
The following plants were purchased from McBean’s Orchids:
- Tillandsia usneoides
The following plants were purchased from Perfect Plants:
- Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘Joly Josan’ (PBR)
- Fittonia albivenis ‘Mosaic White’
The cork bark, flat, and cushion moss used in my Madagascar BiOrbAir Terrarium, in my White Orchid Trial BiOrbAir Terrarium, and in my Orchidarium, was purchased from Porters Foliage.
I purchased the following plants from Rainforestvivs, now The Rich Rainforest:
- Hemionitis arifolia
- Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Marisa’
- Peperomia rotundifolia
- Pilea involucrata ‘Moon Valley’
- Pilea involucrata ‘Norfolk’
I purchased the following plants from Squire’s Garden Centre in Milford:
- Fittonia albivenis ‘Skeleton’
- Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘White Tiger’ (PBR)
- Phlebodium aureum ‘Blue Star’
- Pteris ensiformis ‘Evergemiensis’
- Selaginella martensii ‘Jori’
- Soleirolia soleirolii
I purchased the pillow moss I used when I updated the planting inside two of my BiOrbAir terrariums in August 2015 from Triangle Nursery.
I purchased the following plants from the Wisley Plant Centre at RHS Garden Wisley:
- Adiantum raddianum ‘Fritz-Luthi’
- Asparagus setaceus (Asparagus plumosus)
- Asplenium nidus ‘Crispy Wave’ (PBR)
- Fittonia albivenis Argyroneura Group
- Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘Bambino’
- Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘Big Leaf’
- Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘Forest Flame’
- Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘Red Angel’ (PBR)
- Fittonia albivenis (Verschaffeltii Group) ‘White Anne’
- Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Fluffy Ruffles’
- Pilea peperomioides ‘Bambino’
- Polystichum tsussimense
- Selaginella kraussiana
- Soleirolia soleirolii
Other articles that may interest you…………..
To see all of my articles about setting up terrariums, bottle gardens, and orchidariums, please click here.
To see a list of mini miniature orchids to grow inside terrariums or bottle gardens, please click here.
To see how my Rainforest Terrarium was set up and discover the thinking behind my design, please click here.
To see a longer list of terrarium plants, which includes orchids, please click here.
To find out about the Writhlington Orchid Project, please click here.
To see how my Orchidarium was created, please click here.
To read about how I track and record the temperature, humidity, and light levels inside my terrariums, glasshouse, home, and garden, please click here.
To read about using decorative sculptures, quirky ornaments, or natural features in your terrarium, please click here.
To read about BiOrbAir’s long handled terrarium tools, please click here.
To see the first instalment of my Miniature Orchid Terrarium Trial, please click here.
To see the first instalment of my Madagascan Orchid Terrarium Trial, please click here.
To see the first instalment of my White Orchid Terrarium Trial, please click here.
To read about the general maintenance and general care I give my terrarium plants, please click here.
To read about carnivorous plants, please click here.
To find out how to mount epiphytic orchids onto cork bark or other wood mounts, please click here.
To read about the new features that the new 2017 BiOrbAir terrarium offers, please click here.
