Terrarium Substrate Mix
- Regular price
- $10.00
- Sale price
- Unit price
- $10.00/L
The soil behind every terrarium we build. Our Terrarium Substrate Mix is a plant-first terrarium soil for closed and open terrariums, blended with aqua soil, charcoal and live mycorrhizal fungi so plants and moss root quickly and stay healthy for the long term.
Ideal for: Closed and open plant terrariums, moss and fern displays, and our terrarium workshops.
What's in our terrarium soil mix
We publish our ratios so you know exactly what your animal is living on.
- 50% Coco Coir: holds moisture, stays soft underfoot and gives plant roots an easy medium to grow through.
- 15% Aqua Soil: nutrient-rich granules that feed live plants and add structure.
- 15% Horticultural Charcoal: keeps the mix open and helps it stay fresh-smelling.
- 10% Peat: holds moisture and gives the mildly acidic soil that forest plants prefer.
- 5% Sand: gives structure and drainage, and helps burrows hold their shape.
- 5% Mycorrhizal Fungi: partners with plant roots to help them take up water and nutrients.
Optional toppings: Leaf litter, bark bedding and live or dried moss.
Bag size: [add bag sizes, e.g. 5L / 10L / 20L]
How to use it
- Add a 2–3cm drainage layer of LECA, then a barrier of mesh or moss.
- Add 3–5cm of terrarium soil, deeper for larger plants.
- Plant, press moss onto the surface, then mist lightly.
- Water sparingly. Closed terrariums need very little once their water cycle is running.
Safe, tested and fertiliser-free
- Every batch is mixed from new or sanitised ingredients and contains no fertilisers.
- This is the same mix we test and use in our own custom bioactive enclosures.
- Don't let animals eat substrate. Feed from a dish or tongs, or cap feeding areas with sand or moss.
- These ratios are a broad guide. Research your species' needs and ask us if you're unsure.
Terrarium soil FAQ
What soil do you use for a terrarium?
A light, moisture-holding mix that won't compact, like our blend of coco coir, aqua soil, peat and charcoal.
Do terrariums need charcoal?
Charcoal helps keep the soil open and fresh-smelling, which is why it makes up 15% of our mix.
Is this the same soil used in your workshops?
Yes. It's the same mix we use in our terrarium workshops and in-house builds.
Pairs well with: Terrarium Plants, Expanded Clay Pellets/ LECA, Fern Moss (Thuidium delicatulum), Plant Growing Light.
Blended in Surry Hills, Sydney, and shipped Australia-wide.
Supplies ship within 1 to 2 business days, depending on stock, and usually arrive 1 to 3 days after dispatch.
Live animals ship on Mondays and Tuesdays only, so they are never in transit over a weekend. Order by 11am Sunday to ship that week. Orders containing a live animal ship together on the next live dispatch day.
We hold live animal orders during very hot or very cold weather and ship them once conditions are safe. We’ll let you know if your order is held.
We ship Australia-wide. Live animals cannot be shipped to the Northern Territory or Tasmania.
Read our full [Shipping Policy].
Our Surry Hills store is small, so we keep in-store stock deliberately limited. Not everything online is on the shelf, so call us on (02) 7813 9640 before visiting for a specific item.
All reptiles and amphibians are sold online only, due to permit requirements.
Visit us at Shop 5, 450 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010. Open Wednesday to Sunday.
Every live animal is checked before it leaves us and packed by an experienced keeper.
If your animal arrives dead, contact us within one hour of delivery with a photo, and we will send a replacement. You don’t pay shipping on the replacement. Photo helps us identify what caused death so we can help prevent it from happening again with your order, and others.
Someone needs to be home to receive the parcel. We can’t cover animals left at a depot, sent to an incorrect address, or reported more than an hour after delivery.
Reptiles and frogs: most states require a licence before you buy. After ordering, email your licence details to info@biotastudio.com.au or add them to your order notes. If we don’t have them, we’ll contact you by SMS or email before your order ships.
Insects, spiders and supplies: most don’t need a licence, but rules vary by state and species.
See our [Reptile & Frog Licensing Guide] for every state.
New to keeping reptiles, frogs or insects? Our free [Care Guides] cover housing, temperature, humidity and feeding for every species we sell. Need somewhere for your animal to live? Shop [Ready-made Enclosures] or have one [custom built]. Questions? [Contact us] and an experienced keeper will help.