Base – The base makes up the core of your mix and provides both support and water retention. It typically makes up about half of your overall substrate. Just like planting with soil, there are many different uses of hydroton that you can try out. The process you choose will entirely depend on your plants and the growth phase. Crushing Hydroton or not? You can also try adding this material at the bottom of your growing container below the soil layer to improve the drainage Thankfully, there are some tried-and-tested tropical mixes that are going to hit the mark 99.9% of the time. As waste is broken down by the clean-up crew, plants utilize the nutrients created for growth, completing the nutrient cycle in a terrarium. Live plants also provide clover, clean the air, and help increase the humidity in the terrarium. Live plants will require bright lighting and a stable substrate with good drainage. There are several different factors that should be taken into consideration when choosing live terrarium plants:

Fake plants and other decoration are great. Examine the decorations to ensure they don’t have sharp edges or anything that could be harmful. Also, don’t overdo it. Leave enough open soil for burrowing. I hope you found this guide useful! If you enjoyed it, or know someone who will, please consider sharing this post with family and friends. Thanks! 22 CommentsIts light and porous composition could, in theory, bring a variety of benefits to tropical terrariums. It’s a precise mix of tree fern fiber, peat moss, coco fiber, charcoal, and orchid bark. Though the proportions seem to vary depending on where you see the recipe. Here’s a batch I whipped up earlier. This will bring no effect on the current soil used in the garden. You can combine it with any plant solutions and foundation you need for your garden, without worrying its impact. These pellets are an inexpensive method of making nourishment go a long way. Easy for harvest and transplantation It’s able to retain moisture thanks to its porosity and is often described as being able to store and provide nutrients to plant roots. Charcoal has been a horticultural staple for a long time, but its use in terrariums is a lot more varied.

Pest resistant – No soil, no problem. Pests that reproduce in soil (fungus gnats, I’m looking at you) can’t get a foothold in a leca medium. Leaf litter is rarely a requirement but it’s always a welcomed addition to any terrarium. Leaves create additional hiding opportunities which help your toad feel safe. Oak and Magnolia leaves are among the most popular choices due to their size and how slowly they break down. Also, it’s a good idea to place your terrarium where you want to keep it. It will become very heavy after everything else is added. Step 3: Add the Substrate The unique structure allows it to hold on to water on its outer surface without absorbing it internally – making it a solution to provide consistent water to plants without creating a soggy mix. Due to being so light, I have heard of them “floating” toward the top of a growth medium. I doubt you’ll wake up one day to find them all on top of your plants, but it’s something to bear in mind.The types of Anura (frog and toad) going into an enclosure like this are often the types that don’t climb, jump very high, or require as much water as other frogs. Oh, did I mention it includes an instructional book? Well, it does! Whether you read it or not is entirely up to you but I recommend watching some YouTube tutorials on this topic before buying. Buying a waterfall for your terrarium has its benefits – we can all agree on that. As for which one is best for you, well, that ultimately depends on you and your pet’s needs. Eco-friendly – It’s made exclusively from clay (which isn’t exactly endangered), and it’s completely inert and non-toxic. So it’s safe to use with all manner of plants. Sharp, dark, and non-uniform, it can provide some real structure to a mix. Though it’s heavier than pumice, it still provides plenty of aeration and water retention.

As a general rule, most keepers recommend at least 10-gallons per frog. This means, if you want to keep 3 frogs in one enclosure, you’ll need a 30-gallon tank. I tend to agree with this rule. While you can offer a smaller enclosure for small species like Red Belly Toads, something larger is needed for Pixie Frogs. To risk sounding like a broken record, the size depends on the species. Anyway, without further delay, here is how to setup up acage for terrestrial frogs and toads. Image Vermiculite is often lumped in with perlite, but it has a very different appearance, structure, and use. The hydroballs are not designed to soak up water. Again, it is designed to let the water drain from the soil. Keep in mind, this is a guide for setting up a basic terrestrial frog enclosure; it’s not meant for one specific kind of frog because each species has its own needs. For example, American toads, Pacman Frogs, or Tomato Frogs would fit nicely into the example below, but if you were creating an enclosure for an Asian horned frog, you might want to alter this build by including a drainage layer and adding more leaf litter. With potted plants, pull the plant out of the expanded clay pellets, and rinse the pellets from the top. If there are no pots, just flush the garden from the top as the buildup rinses away. While rinsing, exclusively use fresh water with a balanced pH.The tank I used to build Mary Kay’s enclosure in is a 24” x 12” x 16” glass tank with a mesh top. Before I could add any living elements, I had to set up the hardscape for her enclosure, which was made up of dry driftwood pieces attached to the sides of the tank and some coconut fiber to add texture and a more natural look. There are a tonne of different kinds of pumice in all manner of sizes, colors, and compositions. Some of it can actually be quite soft/brittle, which I wouldn’t recommend if you’re using it to provide structure, too. It’s a chunky mix of bark shavings (named because it’s often used for orchids, it doesn’t come from them) that helps to provide structure and spaces in a soil medium. Another thing to consider is the size. Will you have enough room in the enclosure? While the waterfalls listed here are fairly small, it’s always a good idea to measure the free space in your terrarium first before you buy.