Hot take: I chose charcoal over false bottom for drainage in my 10 gallon jar

Everyone says to use LECA or gravel as a false bottom but I went with a thick layer of horticultural charcoal instead and honestly my terrarium has been thriving for 8 months with zero mold issues. Has anyone else tried skipping the false bottom and just going heavy on the charcoal layer?

2 comments

2 Comments

nina1801mo ago

Read an article last year that argued charcoal can actually work better than a false bottom in small setups because it absorbs toxins while still letting water pass through. Your success makes total sense to me, especially in a 10 gallon jar where space is tight. I've been considering trying it in my next build because dealing with a separate drainage layer always feels like extra steps. How thick is your charcoal layer, and do you mix it into your soil at all?

mia_lee1mo ago

That "absorbs toxins" claim is mostly marketing, and charcoal just turns into a muddy mess over time.