0.5 inch++ of charcoal on top of gravel,then cover up by peat moss subtrate. Is it good or needed? If so, how does it help? Does it help increase humidity by maybe absorbing the water or help evaporate it from the gravel layer? Charcoal absorbs moisture so would it somehow work the same for water? The got the idea from the evaporative cooling system thing. Its method is of moist or wet charcoal with the help of circulating warm air to aid evaporation thus increase humidity and lowers temperature if im not wrong about that. But will it still work under a layer of peat moss subtrate, minimum air circulation, maximum only by the help with a pipe tunnel or straw heading straight down to the charcoal layer from the surface. Any thoughts guys? I googled that evaporative cooling thing btw.
This is what it looks like









Im making a experiment. The box on the left is charcoal on top of gravel. Middle is only charcoal bellow the sphagnum moss, and the one on the right is gravel under sphagnum moss. 3have almost the same thickness of wet sphagnum moss on top and the same water level at the bottom, left it at the balcony. Its always summer here btw, so i think the results will be fast enough. The one fastes to dry out will be the most efficient. Its only a small experiment based on rough estimation, not sure if it would be accurate tho. Wish me luck


Theres already alot of moisture going on in the boxes


Will keep you guys updated. Wink*

Show me a photo Lehuis.

Charcoals main purpose is to sweeten the soil. It buffers the soil and helps to keep it less acidic. I would think that this would be the case if you are going to bury it under another layer.
It may add a little humidity if it is wet all the time.
Evaporative coolers work because you draw air in using fans across a wet substrate causing the air to become cooler.

The purpose of charcoal is different for tanks that have animals vs those that don't. In vivariums with animals it helps absorb some the the effects of the animal's waste (you also have to have other things in the viv that help break down the waste). In tanks that don;t have animals it is usually mixed into the growing substrate like it is mixed into some orchid bark mixes. I have not heard of a build that would use just a layer of straight charcoal over gravel covered by peat. 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 the gravel layer before anything else is placed on top of the gravel. The other alternative is to use plastic honeycomb as the false bottom layer, covered with screen mesh, to be the water reservoir.

The most important thing to consider is that you have to have a growing substrate layer deep enough over whatever fa;se bottom you use that the water in the bottom does not constantly wick up and make it too wet for your plants. Of the substrate stays too wet all th time you can get root rot in your plants

oneeyeluke said:Show me a photo Lehuis.

Sorry for the late reply. Edited. Just ran out off internet 😅

Hi and ... lots of helpful people here.

https://youtu.be/mC4earMBHIo
Check out the link above . It shows a terrariums build with charcoal in the substrate. He builds many types of terrariums , paludariums, vivariums, Aqua scapes, terrariums in an aquariums. I could watch this guy all day. Explains all the details .

I watched a ton of vids like these before I dove in and made mine. They are very helpful. There are lots of different ways to do it so its nice to have so much info out there.

Gina...
How did it turn out. I've been thinking about trying something . There so many to choose . This guy makes it look so easy. I like the globe terrarium this is speedy .... so I'll add it to Santa's list. 😜

Lehuis... all your samples of substrate look good except they are way tooo soggy. See if you can dry it out a bit and then add coarse sand and keep the substrate slightly moist use a turkey baster to add water. Open top to of terrarium to let in air after whipping off the inside walls if terrarium walls are dripping from to much moisture inside. Sometimes just a small mister added is better than water. I use tiny misters a few hours a day for my orchids. Works great never soils the flowers or creates water buildup on the leaves.

Keep us posted....

Results. The one only with charcoal wins, whereas the one with charcoal on top of gravel is the last. Dont know if its accurate tho. Thanks to aaaalllllll of your help!

bumplbea said:Gina...
How did it turn out. I've been thinking about trying something . There so many to choose . This guy makes it look so easy. I like the globe terrarium this is speedy .... so I'll add it to Santa's list. 😜

I have 4 setups and they are all doing great. I used the same method for all, I didn;t want to use honeycomb for the water reservoir so I used Aliflor and gravel topped with screening, then a thin layer of Sphagnum to keep the particles of the upper growing substrate from falling through into the water, then the growing substrate is based on the AGB (Atlanta Botanical Gardens) mix and consists of orchid bark, coarse perlite, chopped coir husk and small chunk charcoal. I have a fogger, I fog thoroughly once a day (may have to do twice a day in winter the the heater is on) and use a hand held pump up sprayer to wet down the walls for the climbers like the Marcgravias and Cryptanthus and for the plaqued and mounted orchids and dischidias, and to water the plants planted in the substrate. But for most I do not have to water them too much, they have made huge root systems that have grown root tips down into the water/aliflor layer and put themselves almost into semi-hydro. So my substrate stays drier, and I am not having any issues with root loss or rot.

Gina ... you are spot on. You have posted some rare beauties. Great to see such a beautiful collection. I really enjoyed seeing each plant. Thanks for sharing your collection and brief description is also appreciated.

I hope to get a pretty nice one.There is a gorgeous dome that I have seen on the videos and it might work. If I had more light in winter I would like to build a wall like the Seattle amazon home office. The spheres.
https://youtu.be/qmQUCupKMRk

Post your lovely terrariums. I would love to see them...I ordered a bunch of plants . Now I need a container, still researching .

There are wall systems that can be purchased in several sizes.

My desire is to have a wall system that would go in the living room. I am not sure hubby can be convinced though

Gina..the wall systems are very well designed. I have been considering that too and have the perfect wall. It's the winter conditions inside that may pose a problem . I just thought I would start out small and try a small wall hanging.