Humid Vivarium Substrate Mix | DIY Substrate Recipe

Here's the recipe for the Vivarium substrate mix I've been using for a year and a half or so now in my dart frog and arboreal gecko enclosures. Several clients are now using it as well with great results for plant growth.
1 part coco fiber
2 parts top soil
1-2 parts tree fern fiber
2 parts orchid bark (can also use reptile bark, but it's just overpriced orchid bark)
1 part crushed charcoal
1 part chopped spagnum moss (can use milled as well)
If you prefer to just order finished substrate, message me through my page / engagingecosystems and I'll get some headed your way!

[@stevenneill468]

What kind of top soil are you using?

[@Trentoo2010]

you have an alternative for Tree fern. So expensive hard to find.

[@EngagingEcosystems]

trent oler I don’t. However, I’ve been experimenting with leaving it out and upping the topsoil and seeing how it lasts. Will report back when I’ve been running tanks for longer with the simpler mix. I’ve done a bare ore version without the charcoal too for my Pacman frog (see latest video), and that version I’ve used in two dart frog tanks now, one that’s been running fine for about a year and a half. I suspect that soil mix will need to be added to at some point but we will see.

[@johnnystamper195]

Thanks for the info

[@blakesoller9623]

Love the vid can you do this for arid mix

[@EngagingEcosystems]

Blake Soller the arid mix is in the second leopard gecko series. You’re right I should do a separate video :-P

[@clementinexxxx3101]

Thankyou 💓

[@EngagingEcosystems]

Clementine Xxxx you’re welcome!

[@bobietiner4422]

Where do you buy the charcoal at

[@EngagingEcosystems]

Lowe’s. The cowboy charcoal. Any plan charcoal would do