Exoterra pohjasubstraatti bioactive volcanic 4KG

Volcanic soil for a bioactive planted terrarium, 4 kg. The material is collected from the foothills of the Aso volcano in Japan.

Formed from andesitic and rhyolitic tephra, the soil is nutrient rich and therefore a good growing medium. Its porous surface drains and aerates well, which supports strong root growth.

The friable, low-density structure gives nitrifying bacteria a large surface area. These bacteria break down animal waste and leftover food, so the terrarium becomes a self-sustaining ecosystem. The absorbency of volcanic ash traps the decomposition products and eliminates odour.

Ingredients: natural volcanic soil (andisol), active carbon and live beneficial bacteria (Bacillus). The bacteria activate when the substrate comes into contact with water or waste.

Three ways to use it. As the sole substrate: add a 2.5 to 5 cm layer. Rinse and partly replace it every 12 months. As a lower layer: add a biological substrate (Plantation Soil, for example) on top, so plants anchor in the top layer while their roots grow into the nutrient-rich Sub Stratum. Mixed into another substrate: it brings calcium, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus and improves both water retention and root aeration.

For the best result add an inorganic drainage layer (Bio Drain) underneath, so excess water can flow away and anaerobic bacteria do not outcompete the beneficial ones. Bio Drain Mesh keeps the layers apart. A top layer of leaf litter provides dry areas and shelter and slows the drying of the layers below.

Water: in a bioactive terrarium use only tap water treated with Aquatize, so that heavy metals, chlorine and chloramines do not kill the beneficial bacteria.