Bioactive terrarium

In recent years, the term "bioactive" has become very popular and is now frequently used in the context of terrariums. But what does it actually mean and why is it so good?

In short, a bioactive terrarium is an exciting and new way to create a living and natural environment for certain types of plants, animals, and microorganisms. It is a form of terrarium customization that attempts to mimic the ecosystem found in nature by adding various organisms that interact to create a balanced and self-sustaining system. It has a lot of benefits:

• Organic material is slowly broken down. This minimizes mold, rot, and bad odors
• If you have animals, there will constantly be a supplement of food available
• The terrarium becomes a self-sustaining ecosystem

In a bioactive terrarium, there are several components that contribute to maintaining a stable and healthy environment. First and foremost, there is a need for a suitable soil mix that provides a good substrate for the plants to grow in and the microorganisms to live in. This mix often contains organic material such as coconut fiber and bark, as well as activated charcoal, and it provides necessary nutrients and drainage for the plants. Our terrarium soil is specially adapted for this exact purpose, just as we have activated charcoal for this purpose.

In addition to plants, a bioactive terrarium is home to living organisms that help maintain the balance of the system. These small microorganisms are also often called "cleaners". This often includes animals like springtails and small woodlice (isopods). These small animals help with the decomposition of organic material (e.g., waste from reptiles and snakes) and therefore help to clean the terrarium. Most often, these microorganisms require humidity, which is why forest and rainforest terrariums are the easiest to make bioactive. We offer these "cleaners" for the bioactive terrarium ourselves:

• Subulina octona snails
• Cuban isopods
• Porcellio laevis isopods
• White tropical isopods
• Springtails

Bioactive terrariums can house different types of plants and animals, depending on your personal preferences and skills as a terrarium owner. Some popular choices include tropical plants like bromeliads, orchids, as well as small reptiles like geckos and lizards.

If you don't feel quite ready to create your own bioactive terrarium from scratch, we also have ready-made bioactive terrariums here.

Enjoy your own bioactive project