Terrarium Layers Charcoal
Now let s get into what each of those layers are and what purpose they serve in your terrarium.
Terrarium layers charcoal. If you don t have charcoal you ll need to add an extra 1 inch of gravel at the bottom of your container. There are also some optional materials you may want to consider including. Ask a question forum.
In most terrariums a 1 inch layer of charcoal helps round out the drainage layer. Activated charcoal for terrarium layers can be moss soil and activated charcoal for planting that add dimension and color to surface layers. The charcoal layer acts as a filter to remove toxins and prevent odors from developing in your terrarium.
Unless they think that the charcoal layer is going to block the peat mix from getting down into and clogging and polluting the gravel layer. Usually a piece of screen mesh or landscaping fabric is placed over. A layer of charcoal is also regularly used to purify the water though just how much it helps is up for debate.
This is an optional layer but i feel it is very important for the health and life of your terrarium. Horticultural charcoal biochar has been used in horticulture in various forms for years and can be sourced from industry stores or from etsy. Unsuitable forms of charcoal for terrariums.
The drainage layer is to keep water away from the roots and goes in first generally gravel then charcoal then soil. The false bottom drainage layer. Terrariums are beautiful little ecosystems.
I think this layer works best above the moss layer but some people just add it to the very bottom of the terrarium. Charcoal layer in terrarium humidity problems views. It is old school for some like me who created closed top self sustaining environments.