Closed or open terrarium: which should you choose?

The short answer

A closed terrarium is a sealed jar that recycles its own water. An open one has no lid, so it dries faster and needs misting.

Choose closed if

• you like low upkeep and can forget it for weeks
• you want ferns, mosses, fittonia and other plants that love humid air
• the room is dry or air-conditioned

Choose open if

• you want succulents, air plants or cacti, which rot in sealed humidity
• you enjoy tending plants and watching them change
• you want easier access to trim and rearrange

Never mix the two

A desert plant in a sealed jar will rot; a rainforest fern in an open bowl will crisp. Match the plants to the enclosure, not the other way round.