My window: what light, which plants?
Say which way your window faces and how far from it the terrarium sits. The tool tells you if the spot works, what to change, and which plants live there. It is free, with no sign-up.
The result
Light receivedBright light, no direct sunThe terrarium sees the sky, but the sun does not touch it.
Verdict on the spotA good spot for a closed terrarium.
What to do
- Nothing to change. Look at the new shoots in a few weeks: they should stay compact.
The plants that live in this spot
- Fittonia
- Polka dot plant
- Small-leaved pilea
- Peperomia
- Baby's tears
- Creeping fig
- Small ferns
- Selaginella
- Mosses
- Miniature begonia
- Calathea
Each name leads to its guide.
A guide for the northern hemisphere, taken from the Small Eden guides. It is not a measurement.
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How it works
- Pick the direction your window facesNorth, east, south or west. Not sure? The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. At noon, it is in the south.
- Give the distance, the sheer curtain and the seasonLight drops fast as you move away from the glass. A sheer curtain stops direct sun. In winter the sun is low and weak: the same spot gets less light.
- Say if the terrarium is closed or openA closed jar holds heat like a small greenhouse: it never goes in direct sun. An open terrarium of succulents, on the other hand, wants a lot of light.
- Read the resultYou get the light level, a verdict on the spot, the risks, what to do and the plants that fit, each with a link to its guide.
What the tool does not know
- The result is a guide in words, not a measurement. Our guides give no lux value for a spot, and neither does the tool.
- The tool assumes you live in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, swap north and south.
- It does not know your latitude, your floor, the size of the window, or what shades it: a building opposite, a tree, a balcony, a blind.
- It only knows two seasons. In spring and autumn, look at both results.
- “More than 2 m” counts as 2 to 3 m. Further away, the light drops again.
- It does not measure heat. If the glass feels warm at the end of the day, the jar is in the wrong place.
Guides to go further
- Terrarium lighting: choosing and setting up an LED lamp
- Terrarium in the sun or too hot: the damage and the remedy
- Terrariums in winter: what the season changes
- A terrarium in a flat: which format, and where to put it
- Closed or open terrarium: how to choose
Would you rather have a terrarium ready to build?Have a look at the terrarium kits.See the terrarium kits
Cite or share this tool
Do you write about terrariums? You are free to cite this tool. Copy the page address, or the link ready to paste into your site.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Can a terrarium sit on a windowsill?
On a north or east window, yes. Facing full south or full west, no for a closed jar: the glass holds the heat and the plants burn. In winter, move it twenty centimetres back, because the glass is cold at night.
Why should a closed terrarium never sit in direct sun?
Glass lets the light in and the warm air cannot get out. Behind a south or west window, the inside of the jar can climb 15 to 20 °C above the room in under an hour. Woodland plants live between 18 and 26 °C.
Which terrarium plants accept low light?
Mosses, ferns, selaginella and creeping fig cope best with medium light. A north-facing room suits a closed terrarium of mosses and ferns very well. No plant lives with neither daylight nor a lamp.
Does a terrarium need a lamp?
Not in a room that gets daylight. First move the jar closer to the window. A small grow light becomes useful in a very dark room, or when the stems stretch and turn pale.
Where should an open succulent terrarium go?
As close as possible to a bright window facing south, east or west. Watch the afternoon heat in summer: an open container limits the risk without removing it.
The other tools
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CalculateFind my kit
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To find the cause of a problem, yellow leaves, condensation, mould or gnats, and the step that fixes it.
DiagnoseWhen should I water my terrarium?
To know whether to water, and how much, from what you see in the jar.
CheckOpen or closed terrarium?
To choose the type and size of jar that suit your room and your plants.
ChooseWho lives with whom?
To check that two or three plants can live in the same jar, before you buy them.
CheckKit or DIY?
To compare the cost and effort of a kit with parts bought one by one.
CompareWhich plant are you?
To discover in six questions the terrarium plant that is most like you, and share it.
Take the quiz