Appreciation post: I stopped using charcoal in my closed terrarium layers

For a long time, I followed the common advice to put a thick charcoal layer under the soil to keep things fresh. My setup in a big glass jar from a local shop in Columbus would get cloudy and smell off after about six months. I switched to just using a deeper drainage layer of small stones and skipping the charcoal completely. The plants look healthier now and I haven't had any mold issues. Has anyone else ditched the charcoal and seen better results?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_fiona7d agoMost Upvoted

You skipped the charcoal and it actually worked better?

juliaa257d ago

Honestly, how much charcoal are people even using? A thin sprinkle for drainage seems fine, but a whole layer sounds like overkill. Cloudy water after six months might just mean you needed more rocks, not less charcoal.