Expert shares 5 best terrarium plants for beginners – and how to care for them | Leicestershire Live

Many of us long for our own slice of nature, and if you don’t have a garden, a terrarium can provide a miniature indoor ecosystem.

Viral TikTok sensation and Chelsea Gold Medal winner Ben Newell (known online as @worcesterterrariums), who has amassed 3.4 million followers since quitting his job as a postman to share terrarium tips, admits that it’s hard to know where to start with so many fantastic ones. plants available.

Newell, whose terrarium videos on TikTok often go viral, wrote Hello Tiny World, an elegantly crafted guide on how to grow plants in a terrarium, offering ideas on everything from containers, soil conditions and watering tips, down to the right choices of plants.

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“I think there’s something really magical about small leafy plants and moss growing in pretty glass jars. They really grab people’s attention,” he shares excitedly.

“Traditionally, terrariums would have been in large tanks, but I really like small ones that you can hold in your hands.”

Here, he recommends five simple terrarium plants for beginners.

1. Fittonia albivenis.

Commonly known as the nerve plant, it is native to South America but is widely available in UK garden centres.

“It has this striking veining on the leaf and comes in many different colors. My preference is the green ones as they tend to match a more naturalistic terrarium.”

Top tip: Plant them by root cuttings as it allows the plant to stay smaller while developing a root system. Cut above a leaf node and push the cut into the soil.

You can use tiny parts of the plant that often fit the scale of a small terrarium.

2. Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Marisa’.

Also known as the Boston fern, this small bushy fern is easy to care for, preferring warmth and humidity.

“You can divide it, which is really useful because you can get many plants from one. Prune it once it is established by simply cutting off the larger leaves at the base.”

Tip: to divide it, find the midpoint of the plant and divide the root in two.

3. Biophytum sensitivum.

Commonly found in Southeast Asia and also known as the little tree plant, this houseplant looks like a miniature palm tree. The leaves respond to changes in light and atmosphere by folding in at night and opening again during the day.

It propagates easily and has beautiful flowers in shades of purple, pink and white, producing lots of seeds that can be separated and just planted.

Top tip: Plant it in bright light, but not too much direct sun. Once established, it does not like to be moved.

And don’t let it dry out, he advises.

4. Ficus thunbergii.

“The leaves of the oak leaf fig look like miniature oak leaves. It is a creeping, spreading plant that will also climb a background and grows quite slowly, which is desirable in a terrarium. The leaves have only a inch or two,” he explains. Plant it whole or as a cutting.

Top tip: In lower light it develops larger leaves, while in brighter light the leaves will be smaller.

5. Peperomia prostrate.

Also known as turtle row, this plant has a row of circular leaves on either side of the stem that either climbs or climbs. These plants do not like to be placed in wet soil, and the substrate they are sold in is often very hard and wet, so do not leave them in their original container.

They grow slowly at first, but once established they will bloom.

Top tip: “The best way to use this plant is through cuttings. With bare cuttings, you put them in a terrarium with a very shallow root system, and then the leaves do better in the humidity.”

Planting tips.

Be careful that the bigger plants don’t completely shade the smaller ones, he advises.

“For example, if you plant the ficus next to the fern, chances are the fern will block all the light, but you can position them strategically in a terrarium,” he says.

For your terrarium plants, consider using a bonsai-based medium such as akadama, miller’s clay, or lava rock, mixed with coconut and vermicast (worm castings). Alternatively, pre-made terrarium soil is available.

He suggests brands like Grow Tropicals and Soil Ninja.

“I would advise anyone to avoid using regular compost on their own or their garden soil,” he advises. “It holds too much moisture.”

When arranging your plants, she recommends considering the terrarium in terms of background, middle, and foreground.

“The bigger plants that will grow the most should be in the back, while the smaller plants and maybe creepers could be in the front.”

“Arranging the soil on a gradient will allow for more surface area and make the plants look better. They need to be in a bright position where they get enough light, and a terrarium houseplant will have a face and look better at a certain angle. , so ideally you would display that.”

He suggests a north-facing window as the ideal location. A little morning sun can be beneficial, but avoid direct sunlight as it could harm the plants.

He adds that there shouldn’t be a strict watering schedule.

“I work in two ways of saying. If the substrate seems lighter, this may be an indication that you need to water, or if you can put your hands in and touch the soil with your finger and it feels moist, not If it feels dry, you can add a little water to a terrarium.

Asked about the ideal shape for a terrarium, he shared, “I have two preferences. One is a cube or cuboid because you don’t get the reflection from the glass, especially if you’re trying to take a photo.”

“I also really like the cloches where the lid is completely removable and makes planting them very easy, but it comes down to personal preference.”

He suggests removing the cover frequently to check on the plants, as airflow is beneficial but must be balanced with maintaining humidity.

For less accessible terrariums with tiny openings, he recommends using long-handled tweezers, long-handled scissors, or chopsticks to position plants.

Hello Tiny World by Ben Newell is published by DK, priced £20. Available now.