Terrarium Putty (Terrarium Paste)

Biota Terrarium Putty: 5L dry mix

Enough to cover the back wall of a 60x45x60cm enclosure.

Build living walls that grow. Biota Terrarium Putty, also known as terrarium goo or sticky substrate, is a mouldable, clay-based mix that holds onto glass, cork and foam backgrounds. It comes as a dry mix, so it stores easily and you make up only what you need: just add water. Use it to create vertical moss walls, sculpt ledges and slopes, and anchor plants and hardscape exactly where you want them. It’s the same putty we use in our own custom bioactive enclosures and terrarium workshops.

Ideal for:

• Vertical moss walls and living backgrounds
• Paludarium and vivarium builds
• Anchoring ferns, moss and epiphytes on steep or vertical surfaces
• Fixing cork bark, driftwood and rocks onto glass or background panels
• Frog, gecko and invertebrate enclosures, and closed terrariums

What’s in our terrarium putty
We publish our recipe so you know exactly what goes into your enclosure. It’s made by volume:

• 2 parts Rainforest Substrate: lightweight structure and organic texture
• 2 parts worm castings: organic nutrients and healthy microbial life
• 1 part bentonite clay: the binder that makes it sticky and helps it hold moisture
• 1 part aqua soil: nutrients and pH buffering for healthy plant growth
• 1 part finely cut sphagnum moss: fibre, volume and water retention
• 1 part crushed LECA: extra surface area for beneficial microbes, and volume
• 1 part peat moss: natural colour and a plant-friendly pH

How to use terrarium putty

1. Mix it up. Tip the dry mix into a bucket and add water slowly, mixing by hand, until it holds its shape like clay dough. Make up only what you’ll use in one session.
2. Prepare the surface. Mist the glass or background where the putty will go. A damp surface grips better.
3. Apply the layer. Press the putty firmly onto cork bark, foam or glass to build ledges, slopes or a moss wall. A 1–2cm layer works well.
4. Embed hardscape and plants. While the putty is wet, press in wood, rocks, fern cuttings or moss fragments.
5. Keep it humid. Terrarium putty works best in tropical and humid enclosures. It needs moisture to stay alive and to stop it drying and cracking, so mist regularly.

Storage: keep unused dry mix sealed in a cool, dry place.

Terrarium putty FAQ

What is terrarium putty?
A sticky, clay-based growing medium that clings to vertical surfaces. Unlike loose substrate, it holds its shape, so you can grow moss and plants on walls, backgrounds and ledges.

How much terrarium putty do I need?
One 5L bag covers the back wall of a 60x45x60cm enclosure at a typical thickness. For larger walls or thick ledges, order two or more bags.

How do you make a moss wall in a terrarium?
Mist your background, press on a layer of terrarium putty, then press moss fragments or sheet moss into the surface. Keep humidity high and mist daily while the moss establishes.

Will terrarium putty stick to glass?
Yes. Mist the glass first and press the putty on firmly. It grips best on textured surfaces such as cork, foam and coated backgrounds.

Does terrarium putty dry out?
It can crack in dry conditions. It’s designed for humid enclosures, so keep it misted. It isn’t suitable for arid or desert setups.

Is terrarium putty safe for frogs and reptiles?
It’s made from the same natural ingredients we use in our own animal enclosures. Let your build settle and the plants establish before adding animals.

Pairs well with: Black Paludarium Foam, Natural Cork Flat Background, Fern Moss, Sphagnum Moss, Terrarium Misting Bottle, Mycorrhizal Fungi.

Made in Surry Hills, Sydney, and shipped Australia-wide.