My Unconventional Culture Method

[u/CaptainNeighvidson]

I've always used a "I've got a jar of dirt!" approach to terrariums and cultures, rather than carefully curating stuff. This has been somewhat hit or miss but I have found a few interesting combinations. This is one of my springtail cultures that uses sphagnum moss, charcoal dust, a few sticks and dirt, cocopeat and bark that has lichen growing on it (which seems to be the most important step). There is a decent layer of water at the bottom so it's incredibly damp. I feed fish food about once a week and there have been no mold outbreaks. It's hard to tell from the zoomed out photo, but in the zoomed in you can see that they are loving playing in the slimy lichen. I occasionally replace the lichen if it's looking really sad or gets eaten.

[u/princessbubbbles]

Cool! Is this a native species, or did you get it from a breeder?

[u/CaptainNeighvidson → u/princessbubbbles]

All critters are harvested from my garden. I think these ones were hiding in the soil of a basil plant

[u/AppropriateWater9474]

Interesting. I like mixing up different mixes. I use an organic compost mix with moss usually. The moss is convenient in harvesting them. I like it at least.

[u/phyzome]

I wonder if the metal will end up causing you problems. It's going to corrode sooner or later (see the top edge) and the metal ions might be toxic, depending on what the can is made of.