Make vertical planting the centre of your display with the Exo Terra Pro Terrarium Small Tall. At 45 x 45 x 60cm, this glass enclosure offers a useful format for a compact orchidarium, a planted cork feature or a tropical garden arranged at several heights. It gives you room to explore mounted planting without needing the width of a larger landscape terrarium.

Design upwards, not just outwards

Try a branching feature that rises from one rear corner, leaving the front open for viewing and maintenance. Small mounted plants can be spaced along it, with quieter foliage around the base. The result can suggest a section of a tropical tree rather than a conventional collection planted entirely in soil.

Keep the proportions of the decoration in balance with the enclosure. A thick background and oversized branches can consume much of the usable space. A slimmer structure leaves room for roots, developing leaves and the tools you will need when pruning or adjusting the planting.

Explore miniature orchids and epiphytes

Suitable miniature epiphytic orchids and small bromeliads are possibilities for a carefully managed setup. Epiphytes use other plants as supports rather than relying on a conventional soil bed. Choose species that match the conditions you can provide, and use a mounting or potting method appropriate to their roots.

Different orchids can have very different requirements, so a tall terrarium is not automatically a suitable home for every miniature species. Check temperature preferences, light needs, mature size and the required drying between waterings. Compact tropical ferns can complete the lower planting where their care needs are compatible.

Access for planting and maintenance

A single front-opening door with a push latch and integrated lock gives access to the planted scene. The stainless steel mesh top can be removed and locked back into place, making initial installation of upright decoration more straightforward. Three-position adjustable ventilation provides control over the vent opening.

The model has a deep waterproof base, rear cable and tubing inlets, and internal tubing channels. Dedicated nozzle attachment points prepare it for an Exo Terra Monsoon misting system, which is not included.

Balance humidity with root health

Plan watering around the plants rather than around a fixed idea of a rainforest. A mounted orchid may need a different approach from a fern rooted in compost below it. Check that water can move away from sensitive roots and that foliage is not kept continuously wet simply to increase humidity.

Arrange lighting so the upper planting receives the required intensity without completely shading the base. Leave headroom above developing shoots and space between adjacent mounts. For demanding plants, measure conditions at different levels and adjust the setup instead of assuming the entire enclosure behaves identically.

The Small Tall is particularly appealing when you want to build around a small collection of chosen specimens. Allow the layout to evolve slowly and preserve access to each plant. Suitable animals can be considered separately, but their welfare requirements must not be compromised by a plant-led design.

Dimensions: 45cm wide x 45cm deep x 60cm high.
Manufacturer code: PT4405.