Many terrarium enthusiasts find themselves drawn to both the architectural beauty of succulents and the lush, delicate textures of ferns. The unique foliage and overall look of succulents combined with the fern’s whimsical feel could certainly make for some fun garden arrangements or indoor planter designs. This aesthetic appeal leads many to wonder whether can you mix succulents and ferns in one terrarium.
Understanding why people ask this question reveals the heart of terrarium design challenges. Every terrarium builder wants to create a balanced, visually striking world that captures nature’s diversity while ensuring all inhabitants thrive together.
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Can you mix succulents and ferns in one terrarium?
You can plant succulents and ferns together in the same garden if the climate is accommodating to both plants, but each will need custom care routines. However, succulents and ferns are generally not good companion plants for each other as they are native to different types of environments. In terrarium settings specifically, mixing these plants creates an environment where one group will inevitably struggle or fail.
So no, don’t mix succulents and ferns in one terrarium.
Understanding the fundamental differences
Succulents and ferns evolved in completely different environments, which shapes their basic care requirements. Succulents like well draining soil, low humidity (10-30%) and about 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. These desert-adapted plants store water in their thick, fleshy leaves and have developed mechanisms to thrive in arid conditions with infrequent rainfall.
Ferns are one of the earth’s oldest types of plants and are quite abundant in the wild. They enjoy moist, humid, shady environments, such as woodlands, swamps, stream banks, and more. These ancient plants require consistent moisture around their roots and in the air surrounding their delicate fronds.
The terrarium type dilemma
The incompatibility becomes even more pronounced when considering terrarium types. For closed terrariums use tropical plants like ferns or moss, they love the humid environment not succulents. Closed terrariums create a self-sustaining humid environment perfect for moisture-loving plants.
Open terrariums have an opening that allows air circulation, suitable for dry-condition plants, while closed terrariums create a sealed, high-humidity environment ideal for moisture loving plants. Succulents belong in open terrariums where air can circulate freely and humidity levels remain low.
Soil requirements create additional challenges
Perhaps the biggest issue is the discrepancy in soil conditions between ferns and succulents. Maintaining proper moisture for a fern would most likely cause the succulent roots to blacken and rot. This fundamental difference in substrate needs makes cohabitation nearly impossible.
Succulents and cacti prefer a sandy mix, while tropical plants thrive in a more organic, moisture-retentive mix. Creating a soil blend that satisfies both plant types proves practically impossible within the confined space of a terrarium.
Growth pattern conflicts
Beyond environmental needs, ferns can physically overwhelm succulents in shared spaces. Ferns are likely to grow and cover a neighboring succulent in the shade, thereby hindering their growth and color potential. Moreover, some ferns will grow stems underground, which can spread out to cover a good bit of distance.
This aggressive growth habit means that even if environmental conditions could somehow be balanced, the ferns would eventually dominate the space, blocking light from reaching the succulents and disrupting carefully planned terrarium compositions.
Why the temptation exists
The desire to combine these plants stems from their complementary visual appeal. Succulents offer striking geometric forms, bold colors, and architectural structure, while ferns provide soft textures, flowing movements, and lush greenery. Together, they could theoretically create stunning contrasts in shape, color, and form.
Professional recommendations from terrarium experts
It’s best to group plants with similar humidity and watering needs to ensure they thrive together. Mixing plants with different requirements can lead to some plants not getting the care they need. This principle forms the foundation of successful terrarium design.
In my five years of making terrariums, I’ve never seen succulents survive in a closed environment, regardless of the jar size or setup. This experience from professional terrarium builders confirms the theoretical incompatibility with real-world results.
Better alternatives for plant combinations
Instead of forcing incompatible plants together, consider these alternatives:
For succulent lovers, create stunning open terrariums combining different succulent varieties with complementary arid plants. The best companions for succulents will tolerate drought and generally withstand the sun better than other plants.
For fern enthusiasts, design lush closed terrariums featuring various fern species alongside other humidity-loving plants. I like to use a selection in my terrarium builds. Both tropical and temperate ferns can work in terrariums, but tropical ferns are the natural fit.
Creating separate but coordinated displays
Rather than combining these plants in one terrarium, consider creating complementary displays. Design a succulent-focused open terrarium alongside a fern-rich closed terrarium. This approach allows you to appreciate both plant families while providing each with optimal growing conditions.
Position these terrariums near each other to create a cohesive display that showcases the contrast between arid and tropical ecosystems. This method satisfies the desire for variety while respecting each plant’s biological needs.
Conclusion
When making a terrarium, choose plants with thinner leaves, indicating they need higher humidity. These include ferns, mosses, episcias, and some orchids. Steer away from succulents and cacti. You’re setting yourself up for failure and disappointment.
Last month, I encountered this exact dilemma while helping a client design her first terrarium collection. She had fallen in love with both a delicate maidenhair fern and a beautiful echeveria rosette, insisting they would look perfect together. Instead of crushing her vision, I suggested creating two complementary terrariums—one closed system for her fern alongside moisture-loving companions, and one open design featuring her echeveria with other drought-tolerant beauties. Six weeks later, both terrariums are thriving, and she’s planning her third project. Sometimes the most beautiful gardens come from understanding that every plant deserves the perfect home, even if it means creating multiple worlds rather than forcing them into one.
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