Best Miniature Terrariums Under $50: Types, Plants, Decor and Care Tips

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You’ve always admired mini gardens, but thought creating one seemed too daunting.

We’ll walk you through assembling a pint-sized paradise for under $50.

From choosing containers to picking plants, you’ll gain confidence to craft a living world that reflects your unique style.

With the right know-how, you can design an enchanting terrarium oasis.

Key Takeaways

Glass vessels like jars, bowls, and hanging orbs make inexpensive terrarium containers.
Small plants like ferns, succulents, and moss are well-suited to miniature gardens.
Found objects, mini figurines, rocks, and air plants can decorate terrariums on a budget.
Proper watering, sunlight, and maintenance keep small terrariums healthy.

Types of Terrariums Under $50

When shopping for terrariums on a budget, you’ll find there are plenty of options under $50.

From classic glass terrariums and globes to creative hanging vessels, smaller sizes provide versatility at an affordable price point.

Tabletop gardens lend themselves well to miniature landscapes, allowing you to artfully arrange an array of plants or decor in a compact display.

Glass Terrariums

You’ll find glass terrariums in round shapes like apothecary jars or decorative candy dishes for under $50, perfect for a mini garden.

Seek out vintage glassware, fish bowls, or orb-shaped hanging planters to house small tropicals, succulents, or delicate ferns.

Mix colors and textures or coordinate with home decor.

Dollar store finds, upcycled containers, even large light bulbs offer budget-friendly transparency to showcase tiny plants.

Hanging Terrariums

Types, Plants, Decor, and Care Tips:

Another type of terrarium you can find for under $50 is a hanging orb, which allows you to display your miniature garden from the ceiling or mounted on a wall.

Opt for air plants inside the orb instead of soil-based plants, and decorate with found objects like sea glass or small stones.

Position near a window for adequate sunlight and mist every few days.

Tabletop Terrariums

Having covered hanging terrariums, you’re now considering tabletop ones for displaying tiny gardens right on your desk or tabletop without hanging hardware required.

Tabletop trends like open terrariums allow creative containers to showcase plant pairings.

DIY décor like miniature train layouts bring whimsical flair.

Budget-friendly care for these mossariums takes little effort – simply provide ample sunlight and occasional misting.

Best Plants for Small Terrariums

When choosing plants for your petite terrarium, focus on tiny varieties that thrive in high humidity.

Good options include:

Dainty ferns
Mini succulents
Mood moss

These plants remain small and add lush greenery.

With the right tiny plants, you can create a thriving landscape in even the tiniest of terrarium worlds.

Ferns

When choosing ferns for your miniature terrarium, you’ll want varieties that thrive in humid, indirect light conditions.

Options include:

Boston Fern
Kimberly Queen Fern
Rabbit’s Foot Fern
Holly Fern

Mist ferns daily, keeping the soil moist but not saturated.

Small ferns complement miniature scenes with charming fronds and textures.

Succulents

Once you’ve selected your container, consider succulents for your miniature terrarium on a budget.

Their thick leaves and easy care make succulents ideal.

Choose from a variety of shapes and colors to integrate into your terrarium design.

Consider a mini cactus for a rugged, desert look.

Refer to this table for a few common varieties that work well in small spaces:

Common Name	Height	Notes
Burro’s Tail	12 in	Trailing stems with thick blue-green leaves
Hens-and-Chicks	6 in	Clumping rosette shapes
Miniature Cactus Mix	Varies	Mix of minis for variety

Moss

You’ll want to consider using moss in your small terrarium for its lush texture and ease of care.

Moss varieties like sphagnum or sheet moss add organic whimsy, bringing the outdoors in with their vibrant hues.

Local parks or nurseries offer ample moss sourcing.

Simply keep DIY mossariums misted daily to maintain their feathery foliage.

Terrarium aesthetics thrive with this living carpet.

Decorating Your Terrarium on a Budget

You can decorate your terrarium on a budget by using found objects from around your home and yard.

Look for small figurines, sand, colored rocks, or seashells to create miniature landscapes inside the terrarium.

Getting creative with found items keeps costs low while allowing you to make a unique terrarium display.

Found Objects

Having scavenged your backyard, neighborhood, or nearby park for tiny trinkets like pebbles, seashells, and twigs, you can fashion a miniature landscape bursting with charm in your terrarium without spending a dime.

Found Object	Description
Seashells	Add nautical nuance layered delicately over moss and pebbles.

Incorporate repurposed gems from your surroundings to craft a unique terrarium filled with DIY ornaments and thrifted treasures.

Figurines

Place miniature figurines in your terrarium to further personalize it on a budget.

Miniature Figurines:

Whimsical Additions
Creative Accents

Budget Decor:

DIY Sculpting

Air Plants:

Succulent Gifts

Decor:

Figurines
Miniature terrariums

Sand and Rocks

When decorating your terrarium on a budget, start by incorporating sand and rocks for added texture and visual interest.

Arrange them creatively in layers or patterns for a unique planter. Sand makes an ideal drainage medium below the potting mix, while rocks visually complement the assorted tropical plants.

Texture	Sourcing	Arrangements
Coarse Sand	Backyard	Layered
Pebbles	Dollar Store	Scattered
Polished Stones	Craft Store	Grouped

Caring for Your Mini Terrarium

When caring for your mini terrarium, pay close attention to water, light, and upkeep needs.

The plants inside require the right balance of moisture and sunlight to thrive in their tiny indoor world.

Tailor your watering schedule and placement to meet your terrarium plants’ preferences for healthy, long-lasting growth.

Watering

You’ll need to water your mini terrarium’s plants based on the amount of sunlight and ventilation it receives.

Consider these key factors when determining misting frequency:

Light requirements – More light means more frequent watering.
Drainage considerations – Closed terrariums require less watering.
Moisture control – Keep plants moist but not soaked.

Sunlight

You need to position your miniature terrarium where it’ll receive bright, indirect sunlight to keep the plants healthy.

Getting the right sunlight is crucial for your mini terrarium.

Place it near a window with natural light, rotating occasionally.

If using grow lights or decorative lighting, use for 10-12 hours daily.

Proper sunlight keeps plants thriving and brings out their beautiful colors and textures for an eye-catching display.

Maintenance

After providing your mini terrarium with proper sunlight, you’ll want to keep up with basic maintenance to ensure the health of your plants.

Monitor moisture levels and mist plants when needed.

Remove dead leaves or debris.

Replenish potting mix if it becomes depleted over time.

Adjust lighting if plants show signs of etiolation or scorching.

Terrarium Kits Under $50

You can find high-quality terrarium kits for under $50 if you know where to look.

Glass jar kits, hanging orb kits, and desktop gardens kits are all available within this price range.

Let’s explore the options to find the best terrarium kits that won’t break the bank:

Glass Jar Kits: These kits typically include a clear glass jar, a lid, and a variety of materials for creating a terrarium, such as soil, gravel, activated charcoal, and decorative elements. They are relatively easy to assemble and maintain, making them a good choice for beginners.
Hanging Orb Kits: These kits include a glass orb that is suspended from a metal or wooden stand.
Desktop Gardens Kits: These kits include a small container, such as a bowl or planter, and a variety of materials for creating a terrarium.

Glass Jar Kits

Coming off caring for your mini terrarium, you’d find complete glass jar kits containing all the essentials for crafting petite indoor gardens under fifty bucks.

Glass Jar Innovations offers a Hanging Terrarium DIY kit perfect for Miniature Garden Crafts.

It has everything needed for a Creative Terrarium Display at an Affordable price – decorative rocks, charcoal, soil, and a cute glass vessel to house your plants.

With this, you can easily craft a one-of-a-kind terrarium that livens any space.

Hanging Orb Kits

Choosing among the various hanging orb terrarium kits lets you bring delightful greenery into awkward corners and spaces.

Orb Planters
Suspended Gardens

DIY Hanging

Desktop Gardens

Select a desktop garden kit with all needed terrarium supplies for under fifty dollars.

Discover desktop delights: tiny ecosystems bursting with workspace greenery.

Let micro gardens transport you to plant paradise amid spreadsheet seas.

Embrace your green thumb without leaving your desk by nurturing these delicate tiny worlds.

Revel as your desktop oasis thrives, transforming sterile screens into living art blooming before you.

Let your workspace whisper its leafy song of life while you work, restoring peace to your day.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are some good places to buy affordable terrarium supplies?

Check dollar stores, thrift shops, and garage sales for inexpensive glassware to repurpose into terrariums.

Gather moss, stones, and driftwood from nature walks.

Visit nurseries for affordable plants or propagations.

DIY charcoal from campfires.

Imagination and resourcefulness build great terrariums on any budget.

How often do I need to clean the inside of my terrarium?

You’ll want to clean the inside every couple of months.

Gently wipe away any dust, debris, or mold that accumulates to keep your terrarium healthy.

What should I do if mold starts growing inside my terrarium?

If mold starts growing, lift plants out and inspect soil.

Remove moldy spots, dispose.

Replace top layer with fresh soil.

Mist less often.

Increase airflow with mini fan.

Can I keep small animals like frogs or lizards in a mini terrarium?

I wouldn’t recommend keeping animals in a small terrarium, as that would be inhumane.

Focus instead on creating a thriving plant ecosystem.

Are there any toxic plants I should avoid using in terrariums with pets or children?

When selecting plants, avoid toxic varieties like dumb cane, peace lily, and oleander.

Stick with harmless greens that thrive in terrarium environments, ensuring safety for kids and pets.

Vet each plant fully beforehand.

Conclusion

Transport yourself to a magical kingdom with your very own terrarium kit – a unique slice of paradise for under $50.

Delight in the flourishing life that thrives within, creating desktop mini gardens of moss, ferns, and succulents.

Blending beauty, simplicity, and affordability, terrariums allow your home décor vision to bloom, knowing best terrariums nurture life with minimal care and cost.

Let this guide inspire your inner gardener as you craft a living work of art reflecting your individuality.