After 50 terrariums, I still don't add charcoal

I see so many people adding charcoal to their layers. Mine do just fine without it, no smells or mold. Is this step really needed for basic jar gardens?

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3 Comments

sam_anderson6mo ago

Seriously? @tessap98 is just lucky.

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tessap987mo ago

Right, the "no smells or mold" part is key. I mean, I stopped using charcoal ages ago too. My spider plants and ferns in jars are totally fine, they just sit on a drainage layer. Maybe it's more important for the really wet, closed setups, but for a basic jar garden with some air flow, it seems like an extra step.

1

oliver5237mo ago

Look at how many old jar gardens from the 70s are still fine without charcoal. It makes you think if we make things too hard now. For open jars with plants like spider plants, you might not need it. But I've seen mold grow in even a bit humid setups, and charcoal can stop that. It might not be a must, but saying it's extra forgets why people used it.

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