1. Geometric Glass Terrarium
The go-to for most beginners. Multi-faceted glass panels let light in from every angle and make the internal planting look like a display piece from any direction. Available open-topped for succulents or lidded for closed moss builds.
2. Wardian Case
A Victorian-era botanical cabinet reimagined as a home display piece. Hinged or removable glass panels make planting and maintenance easy, and the enclosed environment is perfect for high-humidity tropicals and orchids.
3. Open Glass Bowl
Affordable, widely available, and forgiving for beginners. Works best with drought-tolerant plants that dislike trapped humidity. A gravel base layer replaces drainage holes. Try a mix of succulents, cacti, and a small piece of driftwood.
4. Apothecary / Sealed Jar
The classic closed terrarium vessel. An airtight lid creates a self-contained water cycle, moisture evaporates, condenses on the glass, and drips back to the roots. With the right planting, these can run for months without any watering at all.
5. Hanging Glass Globe
Sphere-shaped hanging terrariums add vertical greenery without taking up bench space. The best plant candidates are air plants (Tillandsia), they need no soil, just a light misting weekly. Position the opening downward or sideways for natural drainage.
6. Rectangular Glass Tank
Repurposed aquarium tanks are the most versatile terrarium container available. The wide footprint suits proper hardscaping with rocks, wood, and layered substrate. A screen mesh lid provides airflow. Available in large size ranges from pet stores.
7. Lightbulb Terrarium
A miniature conversation starter. The narrow neck limits plant choices to moss clumps, air plants, or small succulents, but the visual payoff is excellent. Often sold as complete DIY kits with planting tools included, they make great gifts.
8. Cloche / Bell Jar
A glass cloche on a timber or slate base looks more like a sculpture than a plant pot. The dome traps humidity and lifting it for watering takes seconds. Makes a beautiful gift. Works best with ferns, moss, and delicate tropical groundcovers like fittonia.
9. Teardrop Hanging Glass
Somewhere between a globe and a vase, the teardrop shape gives roots more depth while keeping the visual lightness of a hanging display. Popular in boho and Japandi interiors. Air plants and small succulents suit the narrow top opening best.
10. Mason Jar / Recycled Jar
The most accessible starting point for any beginner, likely already in your kitchen. Wide-mouth mason jars are ideal for small closed terrariums. Pasta sauce jars, pickle jars, and jam jars all work too. Just wash them thoroughly before use.
11. Cylinder / Column Terrarium
Tall cylindrical containers reward plants that grow upward, ferns, selaginella, and trailing vines look particularly good when given height. The narrow footprint makes them ideal for shelves or corners where a wide container won’t fit.
12. Shallow Tray / Dish Garden
A wide, low tray or bonsai dish creates a landscape-style display, think miniature terrain with rocks, sand, and low-growing plants rather than a bottle garden. Perfect for succulent arrangements, cacti clusters, or Japanese-inspired moss and stone compositions.
13. Wall-Mounted Frame Terrarium
A shadow-box style frame filled with living or preserved moss is essentially a painting that breathes. Best with sheet moss, preserved moss or ferns that won’t outgrow their shallow depth quickly. A striking statement piece for lounge rooms and offices.
14. Tall Vase / Carnivorous Plant Container
Carnivorous plants love the naturally humid microclimate a tall vase creates. Use pure sphagnum moss as substrate, sit the base in a shallow tray of rainwater, and leave the top open for airflow. Keep in a bright spot, these plants need full sun or a grow light.
15. Front-Opening Vivarium Cabinet
The gold standard for bioactive reptile and dart frog enclosures. Swing-open front doors allow easy maintenance; the tall format suits UV lighting rigs and misting systems. A serious investment, but if you want a self-sustaining living ecosystem, this is where you end up.
Quick Comparison: All 15 Container Types
| Container | Open / Closed | Best Plants | Watering | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geometric glass | Either | Succulents, moss, ferns | Low–moderate | $ – $$ |
| Wardian case | Closed | Orchids, tropicals, CPs | Moderate | $$ – $$$ |
| Open bowl | Open | Succulents, cacti, air plants | Low | $ |
| Apothecary jar | Closed | Moss, ferns, liverworts | Minimal | $ – $$ |
| Hanging globe | Open | Air plants, small succulents | Mist only | $ – $$ |
| Rectangular tank | Open (mesh lid) | Tropicals, vivarium plants | Moderate–high | $ – $$ |
| Lightbulb | Open / narrow | Moss, air plants | Minimal | $ |
| Cloche / bell jar | Enclosed | Moss, ferns, fittonia | Low–moderate | $$ – $$$ |
| Teardrop hanging | Open | Air plants, succulents | Mist only | $ |
| Mason jar | Either | Moss, ferns, succulents | Minimal (closed) | $ |
| Cylinder / column | Either | Ferns, selaginella, climbers | Moderate | $ – $$ |
| Shallow tray | Open | Succulents, cacti, bonsai moss | Low | $ |
| Wall-mounted frame | Semi-open | Sheet moss, preserved moss, ferns | Low–none | $$ – $$$ |
| Tall vase | Open top | Venus flytrap, sundews, pitchers | Keep wet | $ |
| Front-opening vivarium | Enclosed / ventilated | Dart frogs, reptiles, bioactive | Misting system | $$$ |
What to Look for When Buying a Terrarium Container
Glass thickness matters. Thin glass cracks when it expands in temperature changes, aim for at least 3mm on larger containers. Neck width determines plant options. A wide opening (10cm+) lets you plant with your hands; a narrow neck limits you to tweezers and slender plants like moss and air plants. Drainage or no drainage? Most glass terrariums have no drainage holes, so include a gravel or LECA layer at the base to manage excess water. For succulents especially, less is more when watering. Secondhand is underrated. Op shops, garage sales, and Facebook Marketplace are great sources for large apothecary jars and glass bowls at a fraction of retail price. Give them a soak in diluted bleach and rinse thoroughly before use.Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best container for a closed terrarium? Any container with an airtight or near-airtight seal works well. Large apothecary jars with glass lids are the classic choice, the wide mouth makes planting easy and the seal creates a self-sustaining water cycle. Wide-mouth mason jars and cloches on a sealed base are also excellent options. Avoid containers with porous lids or large gaps that allow moisture to escape. Can you use any glass jar as a terrarium? Yes, almost any clean glass jar can become a terrarium. Pasta sauce jars, pickle jars, jam jars, and large storage jars all work well. The main considerations are size (larger is more forgiving), neck width (wider makes planting easier), and whether you can create a reasonable seal if you’re building a closed ecosystem. Always wash jars thoroughly with hot soapy water and rinse well before use. Do terrarium containers need drainage holes? No, and most glass terrarium containers don’t have them. Instead, you manage drainage by including a false drainage layer at the base: typically 2–3cm of gravel, coarse sand, or LECA (lightweight expanded clay aggregate). This layer holds excess water away from the root zone. For open terrariums with succulents and cacti, the key is simply to water sparingly and let the substrate dry out between waterings. What size terrarium container should a beginner start with? Bigger is generally more forgiving for beginners. A larger volume of substrate holds moisture more evenly, maintains more stable humidity, and gives plants more room to establish. A good starting size is 2–5 litres, something like a wide-mouth mason jar or a medium geometric glass terrarium. Very small containers like lightbulb terrariums look great but have very little margin for error. What’s the difference between an open and closed terrarium? An open terrarium has a large opening or no lid, allowing moisture to evaporate freely. These suit drought-tolerant plants like succulents, cacti, and air plants that prefer low humidity and good airflow. A closed terrarium has a sealed or near-sealed lid, trapping moisture and creating a self-cycling humid environment. These suit moisture-loving plants like tropical mosses, ferns, and liverworts, and typically need very little watering once established. Where can I buy terrarium containers in Australia? Good options include Amazon Australia for geometric glass terrariums, Wardian cases, and hanging globes; Amazon for handmade or artisan styles; and your local pet store for rectangular glass tanks (sold as aquariums or reptile enclosures). Op shops and Kmart are worth checking for cheap glass jars and bowls. Bunnings stocks some basic glass containers in the garden section too.Ready to Start Building?
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