---
title: Forest floor: a leaf litter woodland terrarium recipe
description: A medium sealed leaf litter woodland in a octagon of 17.4 L, with 3 plants and 3 mosses. an octagonal case with oak leaves on the soil Every layer, plant and...
url: https://glassjar.garden/starter-jars/forest-floor/
---

Starter jar · medium

# Forest floor
leaf litter woodland

medium · Sealed · octagon

A medium sealed leaf litter woodland in a octagon of 17.4 L, with 3 plants and 3 mosses.

[Open this jar in the simulator](https://glassjar.garden/?starter=forest_floor)

## The container

- Glass: octagon, 30 cm across, 26 cm tall, 17.4 L

- Note: an octagonal case with oak leaves on the soil

- Lid: Sealed

## Layers, bottom to top

- [LECA (expanded clay)](https://glassjar.garden/guide/soils/leca/), 3 cm (2.01 L)
- [Substrate barrier mesh](https://glassjar.garden/guide/soils/mesh-barrier/)
- [ABG mix](https://glassjar.garden/guide/soils/abg-mix/), 7 cm (4.69 L)
- [Oak leaf litter](https://glassjar.garden/guide/soils/oak-leaves/), 1 cm (0.67 L)

## Stones and wood

- [Cork bark](https://glassjar.garden/guide/hardscape/cork-bark/), about 14 cm
- 2 x [Tufa moss rock](https://glassjar.garden/guide/hardscape/moss-rock/), about 7 cm

## Plants

- [Bird's nest fern (dwarf)](https://glassjar.garden/guide/plants/asplenium-nidus-dwarf/)
- [Lemon button fern](https://glassjar.garden/guide/plants/nephrolepis-cordifolia-duffii/)
- 2 x [Trailing watermelon](https://glassjar.garden/guide/plants/pellionia-repens/)

## Moss

- [Fern moss](https://glassjar.garden/guide/moss/thuidium-delicatulum/), about 25% cover
- [Rough-stalked feather-moss](https://glassjar.garden/guide/moss/brachythecium-rutabulum/), about 20% cover
- [Cushion moss](https://glassjar.garden/guide/moss/leucobryum-glaucum/), about 10% cover

## Cleanup crew

- 150 [Temperate white springtail](https://glassjar.garden/guide/critters/folsomia-candida/)
- 8 [Common rough woodlouse](https://glassjar.garden/guide/critters/porcellio-scaber/)

## Water and light

- Water at build: 1550 ml, distilled or rain

- Watering: mist only when no morning condensation

- Light: 3,500 lux, 12 h a day

- Light source: east window

## How to make it

- Pour the layers, bottom to top: LECA (expanded clay) (3 cm), Substrate barrier mesh, ABG mix (7 cm), Oak leaf litter (1 cm).
- Set the hardscape: Cork bark, 2 x Tufa moss rock.
- Plant Bird's nest fern (dwarf), Lemon button fern, 2 x Trailing watermelon.
- Lay the moss: Fern moss over about 25% of the ground, Rough-stalked feather-moss over about 20% of the ground, Cushion moss over about 10% of the ground.
- Add the cleanup crew: 150 Temperate white springtail, 8 Common rough woodlouse.
- Water with 1550 ml (distilled or rain).
- Close the lid and give it 3,500 lux, 12 h a day: east window.

[Open this jar in the simulator](https://glassjar.garden/?starter=forest_floor)

[Moss and stone](https://glassjar.garden/starter-jars/moss-and-stone/) · [Rainforest tank](https://glassjar.garden/starter-jars/rainforest-tank/) · [All starter jars](https://glassjar.garden/starter-jars/)