Easy Plants to Start With 🌿

 

One of the most common questions we hear during our workshops is:

“What plants should I start with?”

 

So we created this simple starter guide featuring some of the plants we regularly use in our Therapy Gardens terrarium and tiny garden workshops.

 

These plants are generally:

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• Easy to find

• Beginner friendly

• Well-suited for small containers

• Relatively low maintenance

 

This is by no means a complete list — there are many wonderful plants that work well in terrariums and miniature gardens — but these are some of our favorite reliable starters to help you begin with confidence.

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🌿Plants for Closed Terrariums

 

Closed terrariums hold moisture and humidity, making them ideal for tropical plants that enjoy consistently damp conditions and indirect light.

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🌿Baby Tears

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Care Tips:
Bright indirect light; keep consistently moist; enjoys humidity.

 

Why We Like It:
A beautiful spreading ground cover that creates a soft woodland look.

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🌿Fittonia

 

Care Tips:
Bright indirect light; keep evenly moist; enjoys humidity.

 

Why We Like It:
One of the classic terrarium plants with striking leaf patterns and color.

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🌿Peperomia

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Care Tips:
Bright indirect light; allow slight drying between watering; avoid soggy soil.

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Why We Like It:
Compact, sturdy, and one of the easiest plants to work with.

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🌿Polka Dot Plant

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Care Tips:
Bright indirect light; keep lightly moist; pinch back regularly.

 

Why We Like It:
Adds bright color and grows quickly in humid environments.

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🌿Plants for Open Containers

 

Open containers and tiny gardens allow for better airflow and slightly drier conditions, making them great for hardy and adaptable plants.

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🌿Hoya Wax Plant

 

Care Tips:
Bright indirect light; let soil dry slightly between watering.

 

Why We Like It:
Excellent trailing miniature plant with a unique look.

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🌿Peperomia

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Care Tips:
Bright indirect light; allow slight drying between watering; avoid soggy soil.

 

Why We Like It:
A great crossover plant for both open and semi-humid gardens.

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🌿Sedum (Stonecrop)

 

Care Tips:
Bright light to partial sun; allow soil to dry between watering.

 

Why We Like It:
Perfect for tiny gardens, fairy gardens, and beginner projects.

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🌿Curly Spider Plant

 

Care Tips:
Bright indirect light; water when the top inch of soil dries out.

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Why We Like It:
Hardy, forgiving, and beginner friendly.

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A Few Quick Tips 🌿

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• Most terrarium plants prefer bright indirect light, not direct hot sun.

• Overwatering is one of the most common beginner mistakes.

• Small containers dry differently depending on sunlight, humidity, and airflow.

• If a plant outgrows your container — that’s usually a good sign you’re doing something right.

Want to Learn More?

 

Therapy Gardens offers:

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• Terrarium Workshops

• Tiny Garden Experiences

• DIY Garden Kits

• Seasonal Plant & Nature Programs

• Beginner-Friendly Make & Take Workshops

 

Perfect for libraries, senior centers, schools, recreation departments, and community groups.

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📞 Reach Out on Our Contact Page Questions or Booking Information
 

We’ll help you plan something fun, flexible, and worth repeating.