Buying guide
The Best Terrarium Supplies & Building Materials
A terrarium lives or dies on what's under the plants. The drainage, charcoal and substrate layers keep roots from rotting and the air fresh, and a bit of hardscape (and even a tiny cleanup crew) turns a jar into a real miniature ecosystem. Here are the building materials worth buying.
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Our quick picks
Supplies worth buying
How we chose
We chose the materials that make up a sound terrarium "layer cake", drainage, a charcoal layer, and a substrate matched to your plants, plus the extras that elevate a build: cork bark for structure and a springtail culture for bioactive setups. We favoured well-reviewed, correctly-graded products (fine charcoal, proper horticultural LECA) over generic garden bags that clump or break down.
What to look for
Layer from the bottom up:
- Drainage (LECA or gravel) 2–3 cm so roots never sit in water; essential in vessels with no drainage hole.
- Activated charcoal a thin layer that keeps a sealed terrarium fresh and filters the water cycle.
- Substrate moisture-retentive mix for tropical/moss builds; gritty cactus mix for succulents.
- Hardscape & cleanup crew cork bark and stone add depth; springtails turn a closed terrarium into a self-cleaning bioactive system.
Buying terrarium supplies in Australia
Bulk substrate and drainage are heavy, so local buying saves on shipping, browse terrarium supplies on Amazon AU and Bunnings stocks LECA (hydroponic clay balls), horticultural charcoal and cheap gravel. Live cultures like springtails are best bought from Australian reptile/bioactive suppliers to avoid quarantine issues.
Frequently asked questions
What do you put in the bottom of a terrarium?
A drainage layer of LECA or gravel first, then a thin layer of activated charcoal, then your substrate. This stops roots sitting in water and keeps a closed terrarium fresh.
Do you need charcoal in a terrarium?
It's strongly recommended for closed terrariums, activated charcoal helps keep the sealed environment fresh and filters the internal water cycle.
What substrate is best for a terrarium?
A moisture-retentive mix (often a bioactive blend) for tropical and moss terrariums; a gritty, free-draining cactus mix for succulents and cacti.
What is a cleanup crew in a terrarium?
Tiny detritivores, usually springtails and sometimes isopods, that eat mould and decaying matter, keeping a closed "bioactive" terrarium balanced and self-cleaning.
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