All About Terrarium False Bottoms (Purpose & Methods)

[@SerpaDesign]

Well without any further delay, I'm back! I have had a lot of things happen in the past few weeks that stopped me from using KZbin. I am really sorry for the absence, but it was all out of my hands. My next vlog which will drop on Saturday or Sunday will go over the details. I will also address all of the comments starting tonight or tomorrow morning. If I didn't address your question(s) I wasn't ignoring you. Anyways, I'm back at it with another highly requested video! I get a ton of questions about false bottoms and this video pretty much addresses them all. Taking the time to create a proper false bottom is extremely important. This is the foundation of your terrarium and strong foundations lead to strong results. So if you haven’t already, take your false bottom (drainage layer or riparian layer) to the next level! See the video description for more info as well. Thanks for watching and I will be back very soon! Also if you liked this video, I would appreciate a big thumbs up! :)

[@AvisNotHere]

SerpaDesign glad to see you back mate ✌

[@SerpaDesign]

About half of them were made specifically for this video to better explain what I'm talking about. The others were already around.

[@nuggetmaster05]

SerpaDesign some of my mosses in my moss container were turning brown, so I inspected the moss container to see what was wrong. I found that the taller growing mosses were turning brown because when I spray the moss, the water doesn't get to the bottom of the moss clumps, but more importantly, i found several tiny white bugs crawling around under the moss when i lifted it up. I am pretty sure they are springtails. It looked like they were eating the small bits of mold that grew under the moss, as well as the dead, rotting moss. I have noticed they are only under the mosses that are growing at the top, but dead on the bottom. they also burrow under ground and jump when I try to catch one. I eventually captured one and took a picture. If they are springtails, how do I keep them alive? I believe that they came inside the moss I ordered online and were stowed away under the "roots".

[@SerpaDesign]

Yeah those are springtails for sure. Check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWi4mH58qbidepI

[@nuggetmaster05]

SerpaDesign Ok thanks. Your videos are very well made and very informative. Keep up the good work. 🖒☺

[@rbartylla]

I used gravel from the $ store for my drainage element. It comes in a white plastic fine mesh bag. I used the mesh bag as my false bottom. Literally a 2for1!

[@SerpaDesign]

Haha I actually used those same rocks in the video!

[@rbartylla]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing your wealth of information with viewers.

[@TheTroutyness]

Do they still sell those there?

[@ilTHfeaa]

Dollar store gravel or gravel for fish tanks is my go to for false bottoms haha

[@kapishagrawal790]

I'm not someone who gets his hands dirty or works with plants, but, Got very inspired by your videos and did my first one today. Thank you very much for the superb videos and guidance

[@mypawfectfamily]

I love all your videos So professional and informative Your videos are all very well edited and a I can tell you take a lot of time and pride in making these I don't think I have ever seen a bad video from you! Thanks for keeping up the amazing work

[@rorolonglegs4594]

agreed

[@kchstudiophx9843]

Agreed

[@howlinallen7720]

Agreed

[@LiTTLeDizZyUriNe]

Agreed

[@infinitydragon5168]

Hey dude! I've learned soooo much from you! I'm a chef that runs a historic boutique hotel in Niagara Falls Canada . Come for a vacation and I'll set you up huge!!!! You rock dude!! Cheers Jesse

[@abrahamortiz7134]

Hell yeah! Get a few tereniums

[@charenethornton6430]

Thank you so much for this very comprehensive information. I’’m planning to make three - two gallon terrariums for gifts and have researched this topic extensively to the point of overload. The last thing I want is for my gifts to fail and this will definitely help. You explained each method pros and cons perfectly!

[@vogelkonigin3303]

Great video! I always make my terrariums starting with a layer of fake sand(sold at most dollar stores in my different colors, homemade wood charcoal, fish tank pebbles (also sold at most dollar stores) then I add my soil which I also usually buy at the dollar store. So far this has worked for me and has saved me a lot of money to enjoy this hobby. I use fake sand because its not as tightly compact as real sand and the grains of sand are larger. it allows water to go into it better than real sand. (i make native terrariums or grow things from seeds bought at dollar stores)

[@SerpaDesign]

Nice! Thanks for sharing! They do have some pretty decent stuff at the dollar store for sure.

[@TheApocalypsePals]

Can't thank you enough for this video but I'm sure all of your viewers feel the same way! I've taught so many friends how to do this and sent them right to your channel. Keep up the great work and I can't wait for your vlog! Thanks again!

[@pat7785]

Made my first terrarium today

[@christimnorton7730]

Leroy Sinclair nice what's inside

[@vogelkonigin3303]

Leroy Sinclair pic? 😊 also can you decide how you made it?

[@Kraakaroni]

Is it still alive?

[@bobeardington4044]

Are you still alive?

[@jasonwilder9373]

Rip

[@YesItis1776]

This is the BEST channel for information on terrariums!

[@ViciousSorrell]

I have always loved terrariums. Both my grandmothers had them. They were big in the 70's. Thank you so much for your love of these neat little biospheres!

[@nw649]

You do a great job of showing people how to do this without breaking the bank unless they want to.

[@seraphhis1004]

You seem to be very committed to your terrariums!! Thank you for being so dedicated and making such helpful videos.

[@amitjg79]

Amazing explanation... no complex jargons... thanks a ton serpadesign...

[@melaniewallace1403]

Your time and effort that goes into making these videos is greatly appreciated. Thank you. Very insightful.

[@aliciathomas2448]

Hi I want you to know that I can not get tired of listening to you and watching your videos. thanks T.

[@ArthurRussell-kb6wr]

Hi. I have watched several of your video's, but this one explaines where I didn't know the reasons for the false bottom , the separation layer etc. I thank you for the enlightenment

[@rosskappa5410]

Thank you for watching ? Thank you for making this video first,dude. Seriously this helps me a lot . You giving away all your experiences easily like this for others works for me but i also recommend you that you keep some secrets so you dont get your job taken away from others :D . I dont think that its likely cause you are very good but i hope you are earning what you deserve from these videos too.

[@baileydoesthings2945]

:D

[@jage5256]

Hi Tanner. I finished my two terrariums. They look great. I'll email to u today. Thanks for all the help. The big one the screen mesh fell in so some dirt got in the false bottom. But the smaller one I did better. I just bought a window screen and cut out my pieces with a cutter. Worked well and easy to cut. Next time u will buy the screen have the roll. I used rocks from Wally and everything else from there.

[@BrunoFinger]

Thank you. I am about to start making my first terrarium today. The girl from the store told me I needed to put charcoal at the bottom but I noticed none of their terraria used a false bottom. I wondered if I should use it at all then as you mentioned on another video not everyone knows about false bottoms. The last part of the video clarified it and I'm glad now I got the charcoal too. Thanks

[@kasjfkjluhsdfa]

Thank you for this. Your videos are really excellent. I always learn something new, and I don't feel that my time is being wasted because you keep it succinct and to the point. Well done! I'm off to buy supplies to make a whole bunch of terrariums :-) Can't wait!

[@Belgarath0]

I'm not sure what I watched before I discovered your channel 45mins ago, but thank you Bruv, this is Grade A watching! I learn, and I'm entertained!

[@donowls7766]

Wow that was SO informative thank the Gods for people .asking videos like you!

[@majesticwolfdesigns8621]

I have watched alot of videos you have made and I love them so I decided to redo my 5foot tall 4foot long 2feet deep tank into a vivarium I'm not done with it yet but I am getting there and it's all because I watched your videos so thank you so much for that and you do a fantastic job at explaining everything and how it works keep up the great work and keep these videos coming 🤙

[@connorturpin5696]

I had never been interested in this sort of thing before and then I randomly found this video. Now I'm trying to figure out if my local garden store has the micro plants and thinking of where I'd get a few small glass phials and charcoal. Congratulations, you've earned another longtime sub. This is fanastic!

[@Katie-hj5eb]

Root rot was something I always got when I grew in my hydroponic greenhouse. I bet having the drainage layer would have stopped that, thanks!

[@Silverwolf387]

I'm planning on making my first terrarium soon and I find your videos very informative and very clear instructions on how to make the bottoms. I can't wait to get started.

[@paigemcfayden6715]

I've been searching for a educational video like this for my terrariums and I'd just like to say thanks because I learned everything I was searching for 😃

[@kingjahad5473]

Wow, your videos are really good, it contains so much information that is extremely useful for me. Keep it up man, well done!

[@robertreid9955]

I can't tell you how many times I've Reference this video thank you!

[@debramacwilliam7130]

This video is gold for a beginner like me!

[@yona-yama]

I love your videos! So glad I found you. I'm working on making my first bioactive setups for my snakes, and your videos are very informative and pleasant to listen too. I will admit I listen to it at 1.5x speed because I'm impatient... 😄 I had no idea learning about bios would help with my succs, but it's interesting how certain hobbies converge. I've not had luck with a false bottom succ terrarium. But my house is super cold so maybe that's why. Thanks to you, I'm going to try again with a faster draining soil and a deeper false bottom.

[@01MrCapricorn]

As always, great work! Looking very pro. Plus your obvious passion for this really comes thru. Looking forward to the next one!

[@c_farther5208]

I just love your videos, you explain every question as it pops into my head. Genius and great personality.

[@markc9581]

Stoked you're stoked and looking forward to watching your're creative magic!

Great video which answered every question I had about the false bottom part of terrariums. Thanks for always providing educational content. 👍

[@kierankieran7507]

your videos help me stress less

[@AGuyYouKnow]

You have a real talent.. You're awesome and well done!

[@briannaboughner637]

you should do a carnivorous plant terrarium if you haven't already!

[@SerpaDesign]

I will at some point. It is probably the highest requested video that I have yet to address.

[@lexishamstercare6260]

Ban Bou I used to have a Venus fly trap.... it died

[@briannaboughner637]

SerpaDesign awesome! thanks for the reply :)

[@briannaboughner637]

Lexi's Hamster Care omg lmao rip - I wanna buy one so bad

[@16Sin7]

I have a carnivorous terrarium but im an amateur at this so it would be great to see a proper one being made

[@AndrewsJars]

This cleared up a lot of my questions. Great video.

[@Lastman737]

Thanks for the great videos! Free info that's entertaining and well made. Props man.👊

[@corteltube]

I really like all the alternative ideas you give.

[@robzizou5]

I'm glad you're back Tanner! Hope to see the results of the July contest soon Lol...keep up the good work & great video about false bottoms!

[@SerpaDesign]

Good to be back and they will be published next Saturday!

[@robzizou5]

SerpaDesign Great! Thank you for replying.

[@AussieAquatic]

Making my first terrarium now. Fantastic information!!!

[@sonoffalco3773]

I poured charcoal in then coated it in black sand to help make it look like a far more solid layer. I also added some gravel to put more spacing in it. Its a 6 gal terrarium for a tarantula

[@loefoto2824]

i've been watching your channel for so long! now that we're in quarantine I finally have the motivation to make a jar terrarium :D thanks

[@laughingc0w]

Really like your vids! You make it look so easy and are comprehensive in your explanations. Thank you!

[@JMemski]

this is exactly what I was looking for and I watch you regularly... I've been googling how I could substitute mesh and wondered if spagnum moss would work. as always, informative and I'm very grateful for all your time and effort ^.^

[@kekambas79]

Enjoyed watching this DETAILED video! So educational. Thank you for putting this video together!!

[@jage5256]

Tanner, u got me hooked. I bought a large round open vase. I have my screen ( which I gonna cut it the shape of the bottom of the vase,y moss which I soak first then add to my dirt and of course the rock bottom. No wonder when o make these they stink? Now I also add the charcoal from the pet Dept and my 5 plants. 2 will be spider ( I have lots growing with tons of babies plus another diff kind of spider a teeny Vine and a pink and green vane plant. I'll let u know how it comes out!🤗

[@susanboyd1422]

This was very helpful in making my first terrarium. Thank you.

[@lamcb.9476]

Thank you very much for this video. I plan on filling this second hand terrarium with local plants like you covered in an earlier video, for an art project. I really hope it works out

[@kennedycamarena4998]

This channel just keeps getting better and better! I’m a huge whites tree frog fan, I only own one at the time in a 13 gallon bio tank. For Christmas my dad got me a 75 gallon tank, as excited as I am because I love keeping frogs and building these Vivariums, I plan on putting at least 4 in this huge tank. I’m so worried I’m going to make a mistake building my first big Vivarium. 😂 This channel is a life saver for this reason, thank you SerpaDesign!!

[@txgemini1979]

Thank you for making this video. Very informative!! I learned a lot from watching it.

[@AliRadicali]

I don't think using a decomposing material for the mesh necessarily dooms the setup in the long run. For one, the substrate tends to consolidate into a semi-solid mass over time as water passes through it and gravity does its thing. What's more, as your plants grow their root systems will further help bind the substrate into a solid unit. Anyone who has repotted a plant before will have noticed this phenomenon.

[@TuckerSP2011]

Very good information, and cleared up some of my questions!

[@corteltube]

Great video...good explanation and information.

[@lifeinslowmotion7336]

Your videos are great! Very informative!

[@hanekochan]

Amazing video. After watching some videos in yt, as well as yours, I couldn't understand or more so, decide, which one to use and how will it impact in the future of the terrarium I want to make. So this made me decide to a 100% level ! :D

[@migueltorres6924]

I’m thinking about making one thank you for all the info definitely subscribing.

[@mjjayful]

Absolutely brilliant, so much useful information. Thanks!

[@Lulab3ll3]

You post videos with music because you say people say your videos are soothing.... but I hobestly think your voice adds to the soothing-ness (lol)

[@Melokaliju]

Love you for your videos! Simply love your work and how you present it. Such a lovely style! Please go on doing this :-)

[@dangerine73]

super helpful! i'm just starting this hobby. thank you!

[@crafts33]

Awesome information! Thank you!😀

[@brittanymacedo3522]

Best explanation video. Thank you.

[@drezdogge]

Another satisfying video!

[@baileydoesthings2945]

Yep.

[@andrewkurniawanhalim359]

This really helped on my school project, thanks

[@RebelCowgirl01]

This is such a helpful video!! Thank you!!! ❤ 😎

[@McGeek_NLD]

Great explanation! Love your video's. Started to build my own bottle terrariums 😃

[@kchstudiophx9843]

Another great explanation and general video 👍🌚

[@fiiamanillah555]

This is very helpful. Thank you so much brother

[@Benjamin-wr2sd]

your videos are so helpful man

[@SalmonBoa420]

Keep up the stellar vids bro!

[@jagritibhatt]

Very nice tips !! Thx for sharing

[@YesItis1776]

I love this channel!

[@mushlove6933]

love the vids! have you ever thought of selling some terrariums and making some sort of company where you give steps to keep it alive, etc etc? that would be cool for beginner terrarium hobbyists!

[@SerpaDesign]

Eventually this platform will be something like that, but I just don't have the resources and space at the moment.

[@mushlove6933]

SerpaDesign good to hear! you have a big future ahead

[@AliRadicali]

What about using a layer of pebbles followed by a layer of sand? I've seen this described in several older gardening books for potting plants, and intuitively it looks like it'd work for closed terrariums as well. I figure that so long as the sand isn't washed down into the pebble layer it could function as a mesh while leaving the larger cavities between the pebbles intact for evaporation.

[@greenjars_]

I think that would be good for succulent heavy terrariums because water passes through into the false bottom slowly, leaving a lot of time inbetween for the soil to dry out

[@AliRadicali]

@@greenjars_ Since posting I've grown a bunch of cacti from seed in small, closed jars with a false bottom. Surprisingly, they don't seem to mind a permanent state of semi-humidity, and it's very low maintenance because you don't really have to interfere with the system once it's set up. I think having a good amount of sand in the top layer of soil helps keep the roots from rotting.

[@jfrey6304]

Great tutorial! Loving the vids and your art. Question: would it be just as well to omit the gravel and go straight to the charcoal, followed by mesh then substrate? Can the charcoal serve as the false bottom as well as gravel?

[@greenjars_]

Some terrarium-makers dont even use false bottoms, so yes! It makes things a bit trickier and sometimes causes water to run up through the soil and keep it wet but if you do it right then yes. If its a smaller terrarium then a barrier isnt really needed a lot of the time because there isnt much water.

[@jr.freeallday5152]

Great vid! Earned a new subscriber!!🙌🙌🙌

[@Sam-ul4zq]

So well explained

[@madilynpowell1167]

So helpful, thank you!

[@heruhcanedean]

Hey, I'm wanting to make a few sealed terrariums so I binge watched your videos this week. I have a couple questions that you'll probably be able to answer to help me out. The first question is about false bottoms. Is lava rock a good media to use? I have buckets of 3/4 and smaller that I use for weed control in my gardens. The other is you say to not use fertilizer if you use live animals, does this include aged horse manure, garden lime, potash and bone meal? I want to use springtails (learned from you), earthworms and dwarf isopods. The soil I use for gardening is a mix of compost and horse poo, a little lime to help with ph, and a little of the other 2 to help the plants, and this is the mix I was going to use. Yesterday I found 4 tree frogs and a toad in my greenhouse and my soil doesn't seem to bother them, but it's not sealed. Also will those critters live together? Thank you for making all this content, I really did learn a lot from you.

[@AnneStanDesigns]

very helpful and very informative...thanks so much

[@quartzgrace1816]

I used knitting mesh as my barrier. For me it was easier to buy that than 6ft worth of window screen. Terrarium is doing great so far! But my friend made one and her false bottom is full of water. What's the easiest way to lower the water level when a false bottom gets full?

[@SerpaDesign]

Roll up a paper towel, tip the terrarium slightly and dip the paper into the water. Then the paper towel will suck up all the water.

[@jivejunior8753]

I have a question about the activated charcoal. What prevents it from being "filled up" with contaminants? Do you have to replace it occasionally?

[@rebel1980warrior]

Superb video! Thank you.

[@Anthony-eg7pw]

Would you recommend putting a drainage hole in if I decide to go with false bottom made from the grating?

[@harrypeng9028]

I have a question: how will the water that got built up in the water reservoir get trough the soil to evaporate?

[@TheJLAMAR23]

Great video!!!

[@missfatiha7099]

very helpful and useful. I aporeciate

[@bird7336]

Hey, I think your videos are very helpful and enjoyable. In what kind of store can I find a small-sized mesh barrier? So far I have only been able to find actual window screens that are way too big and expensive.

[@lander1591]

I have old books on this subject, they suggest using a layer of activated carbon charcoal above the gravel/sand bottom layer. Any toxins in the soil and water will be drawn below the carbon layer and be trapped there.

[@thewrongmechanism]

i love your videos so much

[@Johnnie895]

Awesome videos Serpa, I m starting to fall in love with the terarrium hobby, on my way to creating my first one! Keep creating great content! One question: do you think that insect window mesh will do the trick for the false bottom (hole diameter is 2mm)? I cannot find a material that comes closer to your suggestion. Thanks!

[@SerpaDesign]

Awesome and yeah that should work fine if it's not metal.

[@Johnnie895]

Sweet, thanks again!

[@vonndlee530]

I made a terrarium today using the mesh bottom barrier. I used pebbles, a mesh layer, activated charcoal, damp orchid spagnum moss, blue sand, dirt, plants, more dirt, sheet moss & decor. The question I wanted to know is should the blue sand layer be between the spagnum moss and the dirt? Or would you place the sand onto of the activated charcoal layer?

[@jeremibren5565]

Awesome n great info

[@michaelsarmstrong38]

I'm doing a 20 gallon long terrarium. I'm also doing a false bottom like you say. My question is how thick should i make my false bottom in a 20 gallon long aquarium?

[@deaglebeagle9147]

Is there any light (preferably a certain wavelength so I can use LEDs) that makes the green color of plants stick out more? I've just made myself a terraium for all the different kinds of moss I've collected and I'd like to make it more beautiful with lighting. The plants get enough daylight so I don't have to worry about that.

[@SonOfFurzehatt]

deaglebeagle Plants reflect most in the 540-560nm range, so try starting there, but experiment. LEDs struggle to compete with daylight though, so consider having them run at night. I built a terrarium with a low-powered cold white LED which simulates moonlight nicely.

[@deaglebeagle9147]

Simulating moonlight is a great idea! I even got some cold white LEDs ready to use! :)

[@enricocaldarone]

Hey, I've seen some of your videos about terrariums and you seem to know lots about them! I wanted to ask you: how much water should I put in my closed terrarium? Let's say for example that i'm using a jar like the one you used at 5:13 in the video. Thank you in advance!

[@SerpaDesign]

It's tough to give a specific amount, but around a tablespoon should be good. Since plants and soil already have moisture in them, they will also factor into the equation.