A Simple Guide To Terrarium Layers

A Simple Guide To Terrarium Layers
If you’ve ever felt unsure about terrarium layers then this terrarium guide is for you. I’ll talk you through and explain the function of each one; from terrarium drainage to whether the use of charcoal or activated carbon is necessary, this will be your go to guide for terrarium layers.
Towards the end of the video I’ll give some additional thoughts on terrarium care and a few points I think are vital for a successful terrarium
__________
Follow Me On Instagram - / worcesterterrariums
On Facebook - / worcesterterriums
Join My Beginner Friendly Discussion Group On Facebook: / 2959370267632386
__________
EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES I USE
Activated Carbon - amzn.to/2RelMoi
Coir - amzn.to/2OH75bL
Lava Rock (slightly larger than what I normally use) - amzn.to/3wStS5j
Sphagnum Moss - amzn.to/3ySEkM5
Vermicast - amzn.to/3g6rQI4
__________
LINK TO THIS VIDEO - • A Simple Guide To Terr...
__________
Say Hello :)
Email - [e-mail]
Facebook - / worcesterterrariums
Instagram - / worcesterterrariums
__________
NOTE: This description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in NO WAY obligated to use these links. Thank you for your support.

[@Sarahbeb666]

Thank you! I open a small terrarium shop because of you. Thank you for your awesome tips and advice.

[@kusumnikam2009]

Best wishes to you for your Shop from BHARAT (INDIA)

[@VicDrums83]

I just recently got into this amazing hobby. I live here in the Pacific Northwest and I've been able to find so many great materials and plants on my foraging trips. I been binging your channel and have learned so much. Thanks for this resource of knowledge.

[@JustinS06]

Timestamps: 0:31 - Drainage Layer 1:42 - Mesh Layer 2:19 - Charcoal Layer 2:46 - Substrate layer 4:19 - Plants

[@Stephie788]

You explain this so well. I've made many terrariums but I learn more and more from each one of your videos. Big love!! XXX

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

So glad you're watching my videos, Stephie. Really appreciate it

[@khloe38]

What have you found to be the best soil mix? I just purchased a bag of Miracle-Gro cactus and palm mix. Some people say it's too compact. I'm wondering if I need to mix it with sand. (This is an open terrarium)

[@annabellcruuzz]

Very educational. Got many tips from this. Thank you😊

[@waynecooke9258]

Always enjoy your videos! Easy to understand. Cheers!!

[@wb8047]

2:24 as an avid aquarist, I can confirm charcoal helps remove toxins, primarily ammonia, which will assist your other non flora lifeforms in flourishing. you'd likely only need about 5mm thick of a layer however. it's just a chemical filtration basically. Great video though! I've saved it to my terrariums playlist for when I set one up in the future! Thank you!

[@dozier4dub]

Awesome video! Just starting this hobby myself and your video was straight to the point , has great information, and your voice made me fall asleep for a second.

[@UnseenUniverse_Mitch]

Thank you, perfect info for me right now 😊

[@yoyomario]

Awesome, thanks for such informal videos! Keep it up!

[@judemichaelhanna4867]

Thanks for the info...I'm getting out my plastic trapezoid shaped terrarium I put away back in the late 70's -early 80's....I needed to know the layers of soils and substrates .Can't wait to put it all together again..

[@meganterrell9250]

I loved listening to your explanation of each layer. Your voice is brautiful, as well as calming. I gained a whole lot of knowledge at the same time finding myself relaxing and calming after the end of a really hard. Thank you

[@meganterrell9250]

I was voice texting please forgive the inconsistencies with grammar and spelling

[@rachelcastillo9035]

ty! Very Beginner Friendly

[@jaabottega]

Thank you for the video. I always dream of creating my own terrarium but I don’t know where & how to start. You inspire me!

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

You can do it! Thank you for the kind words

[@BadgerBabyBoy]

I can use sphagnum moss instead of mesh? Love that

[@circleofflame]

Thank you so much!

[@sackerland]

Layers! So terrariums are like ogres? Or was it onions..?

[@ryancruz1876]

Parfaits have layers. Everyone loves parfaits.

[@ScarletMoon3113]

Like a cake, cakes have layers lmao.

[@thehornetsnestforge1269]

Ah a man of culture . I salute you sir lol

[@joannawhite9877]

thank you for this beginner's video. i did - of course - make beginner mistakes - used a chablis wine container which didn't allow me to work with the plants very well. then I overwatered and opened the lid to find the awful smell of rotting plants. dropped the whole thing in the trash after about a month because of all that! But I am trying again! thanks so much!

[@TheEvelynTurner]

Wonderful. Thank you. Very well explained. Was looking for how to redo my terrarium after 5 years my terrarium is growing out the top of it. :-). Feel I can follow this clear guide and redo.

[@reshiroooooow437]

Impressive ♥️ thanks

[@DeeSaint905]

Awesome thank you sir

[@wb8047]

4:33 what are your thoughts on using succulents but with a very low moisture level? Parhaps watering once a month? Or would you need to keep the top open, making the terrarium redundant?

[@novelettephillips6153]

Thank u so much u explained so well .i'm a new sub here

[@beth7437]

Hello from across the pond! I was recently given a huge, beatiful bouquet of flowers and the vase it came in is perfect for a terrarium for me to try for the first time. I've been thinking of making one for quite a while and since presented with this container I guess I don't have an excuse to to not get started LOL. Your approach and demeanor is very easy to follow along with. I can't wait to get started. So glad for your channel.

[@TheSassy_Maggot]

Hello, do love your videos , new to this, wondering what you thought about skipping gravel and just using the charcoal as drainage , possibly using larger pieces lower . I’m only doing mosses. If that mattered. 🙏🏻thank you

[@joannaguevara358]

Very helpful video. Thank you

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Thanks for watching :)

[@QuinnKuntz]

Great video! Lots of good info, on more than just layers. Thanks Ben!

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Thanks Quinn!

[@alecvan7143]

awesome video!

[@prideolea]

Awesome video thanks.

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Thanks Carlos 🤝

[@azwinwahab5285]

Great..just great!

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Thanks Azwin!

[@nyxravenshade8642]

In a large terrarium could I use small-medium lava rock pieces as my bottom drainage layer then use window screen mesh instead of the weed barrier with using the same soil recipe you used in the video? I was hoping to keep a high humidity fern like a filmy fern in there :)

[@christodoulosstavri4736]

The sphagnum moss that you are using as a layer is it a dry one (just for decorative use)?

[@Erwin_AMS]

Nice channel, thanks!

[@johnnybebad_exoticshelpmef4670]

HOLYSHIT!! its Heath Ledger

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Lol 😆

[@MJ.3442]

Can the spagnum moss replace the mesh layer? Am I understanding this correctly?

[@humansloth158]

I put sand in my terrarium but I made the mistake of putting charcoal under the sand. So it goes; Lavarock, Mesh, activated charcoal, 3 layers of sand, and then substrate. My soil/substrate has chuncks of charcoal in them. Is it okay?

[@baddiewithababy174]

Can I put sand on top of soil if I’m using a drainage pot? Or do you have a recommendation for clear cups with no drainage ?

[@inthekayak6929]

What ratio of the substrate ingredients do you use? In your past substrate videos they are all slightly different and I would like to use this one as it is most recent. Many thanks :)

[@joffntoffaloff2947]

Very informative! I am about to make my first Terrarium, would a substrate layer consisting of coir, perlite and vermiculite be sufficient? I already have some mixed up from repotting cacti!

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Hi! Unfortunately it would have zero nutrients in it. If possible, I'd add some vermicast to the mix!

[@samehadaahay7968]

@@WorcesterTerrariums is there any other options beside vermicast, bcz it's hard to find vermicast in my country.

[@agood1]

@@samehadaahay7968 its worm castings they have it everywhere. or just buy nutrients and put that in

[@taxeds5]

Could I use charcoal pieces as the drainage layer?

[@troad4686]

To; Worcester Terrarium ‘ Gay your work is awesome 👍🏽 I know nothing about terrariums but know a lot about other subjects in watching your work and researching a little more ‘ I notice that there is a potential for a slightly better vessel design that would provide one more layer, ascetic look, extend the time of a closed system let me know ‘ thank you even as a discussion’ thx

[@khloe38]

Does the water in the drainage layer ever evaporate? Does it ever evaporate up and out eventually through the soil?

[@lunahammer9631]

what material is the mesh made of?

[@BadgerBabyBoy]

So no matter the size of the jar, the smaller the pebbles the better? I mean for the drainage layer.

[@royalvoyagers]

Hi! Thanks for sharing. Just wanna know the rationale behind adding a piece of mesh. I'm always wondering if those tiny substrate particles, like soil, can eventually seep through the pores of the mesh or not? It seems like the mesh is of no much use.

[@katepanthera7265]

Most people I've seen who make terrariums do use the mesh and it seems to work pretty well for them. I suppose you could use a piece of cotton fabric like linen or a higher count cotton material for a barrier, but if the thread weave is too high, it might make it overly difficult for the water to drain to the bottom. Also most linen is white or off-white and may stand out and not be aestheticly pleasing. Screen wire is pretty a pretty tight weave and usually keeps the substrate from falling through, esp if you use the charcoal chips directly on top of the mesh, as he demonstrates in the video.

[@billstivenharrington-abram5725]

Hello, buddy can you please write down for me the product you use for your layers please I want to make my very first terrarium

[@kingme974]

How do you make a moss terrarium in a medium glass bottle?

[@ekamarie6632]

I’m trying to save a jewel orchid and a watermelon pellionia. I’m getting a lot of controversy between charcoal and lecca. Would you say mixing the 2 would be beneficial? I’ve not seen anywhere recommend it but 🤷‍♀️ I also have lava rock sooo 🤷‍♀️ I use a soil mix of spag, perlite, and bark w a small bit of coconut coir and literally like 2 little tiny pinches of organic potting mix (ocean mix w a pic of a frog on it idk the name 😅)

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

I think the materials you've listed are all good quality. I've never really grown jewel orchids though so you may want to do a little research beforehand

[@kathhinoguin8729]

I saw your recent terrariums in your Instagram and it doesn't have any mesh layer or some of it doesn't have a drainage layer. Is it possible to skip the drainage and mesh layer and how you did it?

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Hey! They can be beneficial but are not a prerequisite

[@hadriancian333]

what is the ratio?

[@Lezduit586]

I just bought a finished terrarium yesterday from a garden center as i didn't know how to make one and i had the occasion. But i noticed that it doesn't have a mesh layer, so i wonder if that's a big problem?

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

It'll be fine, just don't overwater! :)

[@FBI-yx5hy]

what ratio of coir/worm castings should i use?

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Even parts, give or take 😁

[@bernardp.1299]

Excuse me, can you please give me the name of that membrane you use? I live in the US and I looked on Amazon trying to find the film but I’m not able to 🥺

[@bernardp.1299]

Hello? 🥺

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Hi Bernard, it's just a fabric weed membrane

[@illesam]

Came over from TikTok to learn more

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Do you use charcoal in your terrariums? Do you find it makes a difference?

[@Fjin.]

I use the charcoal layer primarily because of the claim it is supposed to filter out pollutants. At least that's how it's explained in the vast majority of videos and who am I to doubt that.😉 Secondly, coal is supposed to be a safe bank when it comes to providing a good habitat for springtails. Both of these are assertions I have picked up and adopted without verification. As I write, I realize what a sheep I am, but at the end of the day, I'll gladly take good advice if it helps me avoid gross mistakes. It's just more fun when you make your own experiences based on successes instead of failing from the start. That's also a reason why I appreciate this channel so much!🥳

[@lella7]

I use it because I dont have springtails , I m not sure if it makes any difference but I feel more confident when I put charcoal. For me it is important there is no mold in terrarium , don t know is it because of charcoal.

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

@@Fjin. thank you for your detailed comments! So glad you enjoy the videos ❤❤❤

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

@@lella7 awesome! If it makes you more confident then go go go! 🙂❤🤝

[@realchiknuggets]

Yes, as long as I mix it in with my substrate, especially if I use microfauna. Charcoal is a surprisingly effective alternative to clay if I want a substrate that compacts/shapes a bit more easily and malleably. Also, waste produced by my microfauna can be absorbed by the charcoal (instead of letting the soil become too saturated with nutrients, putting my microfauna at risk) and extracted by the roots of my plants. Also, if I want a better chance of the springtails thriving for a long time, I'll add a dedicated charcoal layer if the terrarium is big enough to support it. A dedicated carbon filter layer is all or nothing.

[@josephlopresti26]

Made terrarium long ago while just a kid. Now am creating what I call a Cricketterrarium with pet store crickets just for the merry sounds they make.

[@asilo22]

Class is in session 😜

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

👨‍🏫

[@aznswtcake]

In some of your other videos you use aqua soil, no? Would you still use a drainage layer?

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

I haven't used aqua soil in a long time. It degrades over time so I think there are better and far more cost effective options for that layer

[@Lastally01]

@@WorcesterTerrariums then what would you suggest?

[@JustinS06]

@@Lastally01 He mentioned in the video a mix of Coir, lava rocks, finely chopped Sphagnum moss, and fermicast. :)

[@ajdrag]

So maybe I missed something but where do the plants get the nutrition if all the layers are non-nutritional?

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

I always use worm castings!

[@ajdrag]

@@WorcesterTerrariums ah ok. Thanks

[@tomjukes1554]

If deprived of oxygen do all moss create fog/mist ? If they do what are they called ?

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

I've not of that happening but that doesn't mean it's not true!

[@WorcesterTerrariums]

Heard*

[@5010ahsan]

can i use perlite as the bottom layer instead of gravel?

[@360DVD]

no you can't, perlite isnt the healthiest stuff, stay away from it, especially in terrariums

[@ZiamNamilit]

5:22

[@mivapusa]

Why is garden compost a bad choice?

[@Daniele63]

It keeps too much water

[@joeswampdawghenry]

Do u hav crabs?

[@joeswampdawghenry]

I've created a new way,, hit me up laddy

[@killdeerperiland3303]

hahahahahahahaha