Best Plants For Dart Frog Vivarium: Kits and Individual Plants

#1 · Best Overall

1. Josh's Frogs Dart Frog Plant Kit

Best for: Starter kit for compact vivariums.

Why it ranks #1: Designed for 10-gallon or 12x12x18 tanks, this seven-plant kit combines tropicals, a vine, a fern, and moss or Selaginella.

A seven-plant mix combines tropicals, a vine, a fern, and moss or Selaginella for tanks sized around 10 gallons or 12×12×18 inches. That planned variety gives dart frog keepers several kinds of greenery for a compact enclosure, rather than requiring separate plant selections to establish a varied planting scheme.

The kit’s seven plants are selected with 10-gallon and 12×12×18-inch tanks in mind, giving buyers a size-specific starting point for planting. Its mix includes two tropicals, one vine, one fern, and one moss or Selaginella, so foliage types are varied without assembling each category separately. Josh’s Frogs describes the selections as basic, easy-care plants suited to a dart frog vivarium. The listed live-arrival guarantee is another relevant consideration when ordering living plants.

Skip it if you need named, individually chosen plants; this kit specifies categories, not the exact selections.

Choose this kit if you want a varied live-plant starting point for a compact dart frog vivarium and can work with category-based selections. Its stated tank dimensions provide a useful boundary for planning the planting area.

Listed on Amazon as: Josh's Frogs Dart Frog Vivarium Bioactive Plant Kits (10 Gallon)

#2 · Best Tall-Tank Kit

2. Josh's Frogs 12x12x24 Plant Kit

Best for: Tall-tank three-plant grouping.

Why it ranks #2: Its 12x12x24 format includes a fern, a large bromeliad over five inches tall, and a vine for varied planting.

A large bromeliad over five inches tall anchors this three-plant kit, alongside a fern and a vine, for vivariums measuring 12×12×24 inches. That combination offers keepers a simple way to introduce several plant forms into a taller enclosure without sourcing each type separately.

The kit contains three plants: one fern, one large bromeliad over five inches tall, and one vine. That defined mix gives a taller 12×12×24-inch vivarium multiple plant forms while keeping the plant count modest. The plants arrive in 2.25-inch pots, with the bromeliad sent bare-root, so buyers should account for that difference while unpacking and planting. Josh’s Frogs describes its tropical vivarium selections as basic, easy-care choices for warm, humid conditions.

Skip it if you need guaranteed named varieties; Josh’s Frogs offers category-based selections rather than exact plant identities here.

This grouping suits keepers planting a 12×12×24-inch tropical vivarium who want a fern, vine, and substantial bromeliad in one selection. Keep the bare-root bromeliad detail in mind when preparing to plant.

Listed on Amazon as: Josh's Frogs 12x12x24 Vivarium Plant Kit (3 Plants)

#3 · Best Bromeliad Set

3. Josh's Frogs Bromeliad Bundle

Best for: Five-plant bromeliad assortment.

Why it ranks #3: The five-plant bundle contains different plants described as safe for vivarium use, making it a focused option for bromeliad planting.

Five different bromeliads give this bundle a multi-plant starting point for vivarium keepers who want several bromeliad selections in one order. Josh’s Frogs states that the plants are safe for vivarium use, while the unnamed, grower-chosen assortment leaves the exact varieties open.

The bundle includes five different plants, with Josh’s Frogs choosing the selections and not providing names. That approach gives buyers a group of bromeliads without requiring individual selection, but it does not allow planning around particular varieties. The plants are shipped bare-root, without soil or pots, so the planting setup needs to be ready for unpacking. The listing says the plants are safe for vivarium use and includes a live-arrival guarantee when temperatures are above 32°F and below 85°F.

Skip it if you need to plan around named bromeliad varieties; this bundle’s selections are chosen by the seller and unnamed.

This bundle fits keepers who want five vivarium-safe bromeliads and accept an assortment rather than choosing varieties. Prepare for bare-root plants arriving without soil or pots, and do not rely on pictured examples as exact selections.

Listed on Amazon as: Josh's Frogs Bromeliad Bundle (5 Plants)

#4 · Best Tadpole Plant

4. Neoregelia Chiquita Linda

• Care Instructions: water

Best for: Compact bromeliad for tadpole areas.

Why it ranks #4: This 3–5-inch rosette bromeliad holds a decent amount of water and is specifically described as suitable for tadpole rearing.

A three-to-five-inch rosette gives the Neoregelia ‘Chiquita Linda’ a compact footprint, while its leaves hold a decent amount of water. That combination makes it particularly relevant to vivarium keepers considering a bromeliad for tadpole rearing without needing a large plant.

This Neoregelia hybrid forms a rosette three to five inches across, a stated size that helps keepers plan its place in a vivarium of any size. Its ability to hold a decent amount of water is specifically noted as useful for tadpole rearing, connecting its shape to a practical habitat role. The plant is sold bare-root, so it arrives without a potting medium. The listing also includes a live-arrival guarantee for temperatures above 32°F and below 85°F.

Skip it if you need a potted plant ready to place; this bromeliad is supplied bare-root and requires planting.

This plant suits dart frog keepers seeking a compact bromeliad with water-holding leaves for a tadpole-rearing area. Plan for its bare-root arrival and allow room for a three-to-five-inch rosette.

Listed on Amazon as: Josh's Frogs Neoregelia 'Chiquita Linda' Bromeliad

#5 · Best Groundcover

5. Sprig & Stone Selaginella

• Care Instructions: Water

Best for: Humidity-loving groundcover plant.

Why it ranks #5: This humidity-loving plant grows outward rather than upward, providing groundcover in tropical terrariums; the listing specifies one 2.5-inch-pot plant.

This grower’s-choice Selaginella grows outward rather than upward, creating groundcover in a humid tropical terrarium. Its scaly, coarse foliage distinguishes it from true moss, while the one-plant, 2.5-inch pot format gives keepers a clear starting size for placement.

The plant’s outward, groundcover growth can fill a lower area without emphasizing height, a useful distinction when planning terrarium layers. It is a Selaginella, a lycophyte rather than true moss, and has scaly, coarse foliage, so buyers can set expectations for its appearance. The listing describes it as humidity-loving and advises frequent watering without letting the soil dry out. It arrives as one plant in a 2.5-inch pot and is described as exotic-pet safe.

Skip it if you cannot keep soil from drying; this Selaginella needs frequent watering in its humid-terrarium setting.

Pick this Selaginella if you want a humidity-loving plant to spread across the lower layer of a tropical vivarium. Its groundcover habit suits that role, but frequent watering and consistently moist soil are important considerations.

Listed on Amazon as: Sprig & Stone Selaginella (Grower's Choice)

#6

6. Ficus pumila Creeping Fig

• Care Instructions: moist soil

Best for: Climbing vine for humid backgrounds.

Why it ranks #6: The clinging vine is described as a vivarium background plant and prefers moist, humid conditions, suiting keepers who want wall coverage.

Ficus pumila ‘Creeping Fig’ is a clinging vine that can cover structures it contacts, making it a useful choice for adding a living background to a humid vivarium. Its stated preference for moist, humid conditions helps identify the kind of enclosure environment where this plant fits.

The creeping fig’s clinging growth can cover a wall or other structure it contacts, which gives keepers a way to add plant coverage to a vivarium background. The listing says it prefers moist, humid conditions, and its care instruction specifies moist soil; those details help guide placement and routine watering. It is also described as a container-garden plant and a good background plant for vivariums. The listing identifies it as pet friendly and includes a live-arrival guarantee within stated temperature limits.

Skip it if you want a compact, non-clinging plant; this fig can spread across structures it contacts.

Choose this creeping fig if you want a climbing background plant for a moist, humid vivarium and can accommodate its clinging growth. Consider its potential to cover contacted structures when deciding where to plant it.

Listed on Amazon as: Josh's Frogs Ficus pumila 'Creeping Fig'

#7

7. Ficus pumila String of Frogs

• Care Instructions: damp

Best for: Small-leaved creeping fig option.

Why it ranks #7: This popular vivarium plant is listed with damp care guidance and well-draining soil, offering a single-plant option for a targeted addition.

Ficus pumila ‘Quercifolia,’ also called String of Frogs, offers a named creeping-fig choice for vivarium keepers seeking a specific plant rather than an assortment. Its care guidance calls for moderate watering, with watering advised once the top inch of soil becomes dry.

This named Ficus pumila variety comes with a clear watering cue: water when the top inch of soil becomes dry. That instruction gives keepers a practical way to time watering rather than relying on an unspecified schedule. The listing also recommends well-draining potting soil or a prepared soil mixture, which helps inform substrate planning. Its live-arrival guarantee applies when temperatures are above 32°F and below 85°F, a relevant boundary for ordering a living plant.

Skip it if you prefer a fixed watering interval; this fig’s guidance ties watering to the top inch of soil drying.

This variety suits keepers who want a named Ficus pumila and can check soil moisture before watering. Use well-draining potting soil or a prepared mixture, and account for its moisture-based care guidance.

Listed on Amazon as: Ficus pumila 'Quercifolia' – String of Frogs

#8

8. LUCKYRUNES Live Moss

• Care Instructions: Mist with water as needed; avoid direct…

Best for: Live moss for habitat accents.

Why it ranks #8: Four pieces of live moss, each approximately 3.5 by 7 inches, can add ground cover, though varieties may vary by season.

Four pieces of naturally grown live moss, each approximately 3.5 by 7 inches, offer a ready-made groundcover accent for terrariums and miniature landscapes. The pack’s moss can revive with water after shipping, making it a practical option for keepers adding living moss rather than artificial greenery.

Each pack includes four moss pieces, approximately 3.5 by 7 inches, giving buyers several sections to place across a terrarium or use in smaller displays. The listed varieties may include Hypnum, Dicranum, Brachythecium, Racomitrium, or similar mosses, but the mix varies by season. The moss may arrive dry or compressed and is described as easy to revive with water. Its stated uses include terrariums, reptile habitats, bonsai top dressing, and miniature landscapes.

Skip it if you need a specific moss species; this seasonal variety pack does not guarantee which listed types arrive.

Consider this pack if you want living moss for terrarium accents or small planted areas and are comfortable with seasonal variety. Its four pieces offer several placement options, but species-specific planting calls for a different selection.

Listed on Amazon as: Live Moss 4-Pack for Terrariums,Potted Plants & Floral Decor

#9

9. Josh's Frogs Madagascan Rain Frog Kit

Best for: Three-plant kit for larger enclosures.

Why it ranks #9: The three-plant tropical, vine, and fern assortment suits 10–20-gallon terrariums, but it is designed for Madagascan rain frogs rather than dart frogs.

A three-plant combination of a tropical, a vine, and a fern is specified for 10-to-20-gallon terrariums. That size range and defined plant mix give keepers a straightforward starting point for adding varied greenery to a Madagascan rain frog enclosure or another tropical vivarium.

The kit’s stated fit covers 10-to-20-gallon terrariums, which gives buyers a useful enclosure range when planning plant placement. It includes one tropical, one vine, and one fern, so the three plants provide different growth forms without requiring separate orders for each category. The plants arrive in two-to-three-inch pots, providing a defined pot size for handling and planting. The listing frames tropical planting as a way to simulate a natural environment for Madagascan rain frogs.

Skip it if you need exact species rather than categories; this kit names the plant types but not guaranteed individual selections.

Choose this kit if you are planting a 10-to-20-gallon tropical vivarium and want three different plant forms in one order. Its Madagascan rain frog framing and category-based selections define its intended fit.

Listed on Amazon as: Josh's Frogs Madagascan Rain Frog Vivarium Plant Kit, 10-20 Gallon

#10

10. Exo Terra Boston Fern Plant

Best for: Low-maintenance artificial fern.

Why it ranks #10: This is a plastic replica, not a live plant; it can fill spots where live plants struggle but does not provide a living planting.

A realistic plastic Boston fern replica provides fern-like foliage in terrarium areas where live plants cannot thrive, including sterile setups such as quarantine enclosures. Because it is artificial and easy to clean, it offers a way to add visual cover without relying on plant-growing conditions.

The medium replica is made of plastic and is described as a realistic version of a Boston fern, giving keepers fern-like visual coverage where live plants cannot survive. Exo Terra specifically lists sterile setups, quarantine terrariums, and difficult terrarium spots as uses. Its easy-clean, easy-maintain construction can simplify upkeep compared with caring for living foliage. The listing also says it can be paired with real plants, allowing buyers to combine artificial coverage with live planting elsewhere.

Skip it if you need living foliage; the Exo Terra Boston Fern is a plastic replica, unlike Josh’s Frogs Creeping Fig.

This fern replica suits keepers who need maintainable foliage in a quarantine setup or a spot unsuitable for live plants. It can blend with living plants elsewhere, but it is not a substitute for a living plant.

Listed on Amazon as: Exo Terra,Reptiles, Amphibians Boston Fern Terrarium Plant, Medium