Drainage layer for live plants?

Hello everyone,

Just wondering if the drainage layer is needed if I want to turn my viv into a planted viv. I have already got my Woodlice, Springtails and Worms in the soil, trying to make it bio-active, so I don't want to turf it all out just to put in a drainage layer afterwards. I have about 5 inches of soil in my viv and just wanted to know what you guys think?

I'm looking to put in:

-Alyssum
-Birds Nest Fern
-Hoya Exotica
-Creeping Fig
-Bamboo

Any opinions?

Thanks, George.

I would personally use a drainage layer, that way if you happen to over water your roots aren't rotting in saturated soil.

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Originally Posted by j claiborne

I would personally use a drainage layer, that way if you happen to over water your roots aren't rotting in saturated soil.

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Ahh, so the saturated soil could cause the roots to rot if the water isn't drained. I never thought of that. Hmm... Going to have to come up with a way to remove all the soil with the inhabitants and put in a drainage later! This will be fun haha!

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Originally Posted by George1994

Ahh, so the saturated soil could cause the roots to rot if the water isn't drained. I never thought of that. Hmm... Going to have to come up with a way to remove all the soil with the inhabitants and put in a drainage later! This will be fun haha!

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Yes you can get root rot, it will eventually kill off the plants, and it will STINK! What are you thinking for the drainage layer?

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Originally Posted by jclaiborne

Yes you can get root rot, it will eventually kill off the plants, and it will STINK! What are you thinking for the drainage layer?

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Something along the lines of this... http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/bio_drain_mesh.php... Any good?

Ya that works. You can use anything from gravel, to egg crate (the light diffuser, not the actual egg cartons haha), to hydroton, do some searching on false bottom vivs, a lot of pic on the frog forums will pop up with different methods.

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Originally Posted by jclaiborne

Ya that works. You can use anything from gravel, to egg crate (the light diffuser, not the actual egg cartons haha), to hydroton, do some searching on false bottom vivs, a lot of pic on the frog forums will pop up with different methods.

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Cheers man :) Might just have to turf it all out, install the drainage layer and then put it all back in again!

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Originally Posted by George1994

Cheers man :) Might just have to turf it all out, install the drainage layer and then put it all back in again!

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Haha no problems, I don't think it will be as bad once you get started. Good luck and be sure to post up pictures of the completed project!

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Originally Posted by jclaiborne

Haha no problems, I don't think it will be as bad once you get started. Good luck and be sure to post up pictures of the completed project!

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I hope not haha! I will make sure to post pics of the planted viv once I get it all sorted! Hopefully this weekend!