Many of us yearn for our own slice of nature, and if you don't have a garden, a terrarium can provide a miniature indoor ecosystem. Viral TikTok sensation and Chelsea Gold medal winner Ben Newell (known online as @worcesterterrariums), who has amassed a following of 3.4 million since leaving his job as a postman to share terrarium advice, admits it's hard to know where to begin with so many fantastic plants available.
Newell, whose terrarium videos on TikTok often go viral, has penned Hello Tiny World, an elegantly crafted guide on how to cultivate plants in terrariums, offering diverse ideas on everything from containers, soil conditions and watering tips, to suitable plant choices. READ MORE: New cactus business opens at Highcross "I think there's something really magical about tiny-leaved plants and mosses growing in beautiful glass jars. It really captures people's attention," he shares enthusiastically.
"Traditionally terrariums would have been in large tanks but I really like the small ones that you can hold in your hands." Here, he recommends five simple terrarium plants for beginners. 1.
Fittonia albivenis. Commonly known as the nerve plant, it originates from South America but is widely available in UK garden centres. "It's got this striking veining on the leaf and comes in many different colours.
My preference is the green ones because they tend to fit with a more naturalistic terrarium." Top tip: Plant them via root cuttings because it allows the plant to stay smal.
