My sealed jar terrarium got a weird white film after a month

I was checking my first closed system, a big pickle jar from a local deli, and saw this fuzzy white layer on the moss. Turns out it was a mold bloom from too much moisture and not enough air flow. Has anyone else fixed this without starting over from scratch?

2 comments

2 Comments

andrew_kelly1mo ago

A big pickle jar from the deli? That's the real story here, those things are huge. Mold is a pain but honestly not a shocker in a setup that big with no air flow. You might be able to save it by cracking the lid open for a few days to let it dry out a bit, then close it back up. Just keep a close eye on the moisture level after that.

karenm491mo ago

Andrew_kelly is right about cracking the lid, but I'd take it a step further. For a jar that size, I leave mine open for a full week, not just a few days. After that, use a clean stick to gently scrape off as much of that white film as you can before sealing it back up. It's a waiting game to see if the balance is right, but it has worked for me before.