Do you mean Tradescantia? It's one word, and it's a very popular and easy-to-grow genus of plants. You've probably seen the wandering jew plant (Silver and purple striped leaves) in housplant stores everywhere. Purple Heart is another fairly common one (though I have a hard time finding one here, and would love to have one! The colour is out of this world). I wouldn't recommend tradescantias for terrariums though. I had a wandering jew in my 85 gal terr, and it would have taken over if i didn't cut it back twice a month. The stems root wherever they touch ground.

As for your own wardian case, it sounds very nice! A great size and dims. to start with. How deep is the tray for holding the soil? Most plants actually don't need the depth provided by regular terra-cotta pots. In nature, most grow wider, shallower roots. 3 inches is the max. you would need.

Tall, humidity-loving plants: lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderana), neanthe bella/parlour palm (Chamadorea elegans; will eventually outgrow the tank), pteris ferns (fronds look like hands, with 'fingers'. Most 'table ferns' from places like HD will get nice and big in a year or two. They are surprisingly tall when they aren't specifically mini forms), China Doll (Radermacia sinica; a tree, will eventually outgrow the terr), False aralia (Dizygotheca; will also outgrow the terr in a few years). You could also give the appearance of a tall plant by making a topiary form and growing something like Ficus pumila up it.

And don't be so worried about all of this! Very few plants dislike terrariums, and it's fun to learn what works and what doesn't (as long as you aren't buying really expensive plants). Have fun! Post pics when you're done! =)

Thanks for your very informative response. I've been lurking in the background for a while and have already read many of your great postings. "Tradea scentia" was apparently someone's error that was copied and pasted on other people's Web sites, because I found it written exactly like that on at least three differesnt places. Bad information travels just as fast as good in hyperspace. And yes, the wandering jew is an invasive plant that I had already scratched off my list.

The tray to my Wardian case is 4" deep. Your comment about shallower root patterns in nature was very interesting to me. I was unaware of that, especially after living in El Paso where a common weed had just a few inches of greenery above ground but a tap root that seemed to descend to Hades.

I am familiar with most of the plants you mentioned (I love the false aralia, among many others), but I hadn't thought of using a topiary. Very nice idea!

I did a max/min temperature check for just one day (75.2F-71.8). I was a little surprised that the temp. didn't drop a little lower at night, since the ambient room temp. goes down to about 70. My flowering plants love those cooler nights.

Now that I am comfortable with plant choices, my next step is to visit some of Dallas' fine nurseries and check out their terr. designs. I've enjoyed looking at forum members' photos in the gallery. I just wish there were a lot more.

Yeah, some plants, especially weeds, do have tap roots that go on and on and on, but most houseplants/tropicals don't. Actually, I can't think of any that do. . . your temps are fine, just stay away from plants that require a cooling period in order to bloom. Though it may get cooler in there at night during the winter, so it might still work out for you. A great gessie for terrariums that I'm sure you're familiar with is Sinningia pulsila (sp?) and it's hybrids, as well as S. concina (sp?). i would LOVE to get my hands on these two.

Actually, I've only had a few potted gloxinias over the years (love those big flowers), but the two sinningias you mentioned do look like wonderful terr. plants. I'll have to check on availability. I think I saw on someone else's posting that they had the White Sprite. So small and so beautiful!