gneesy
New Member
How do you sterilize soil? Asking because I'm interested in doing so.My tortoise's table is very dry and dust. How can I make it more humid for her? I don't use sand, only sterilized top soil.
Thanks,
Mia.
How do you sterilize soil? Asking because I'm interested in doing so.My tortoise's table is very dry and dust. How can I make it more humid for her? I don't use sand, only sterilized top soil.
Thanks,
Mia.
You don't. You buy it that way from the store, and it isn't really "sterile", it just doesn't have a bunch of additives. Soil shouldn't be used under tortoises because you can't know what composted material it is made from, and because its very messy.How do you sterilize soil? Asking because I'm interested in doing so.
The easiest at home way to "sterilize" is by baking. 300 for 30min, same as boiling water. As Tom said it's not a good idea to use commercial topsoil because both "organic" and "sterile" are just buzz words for companies and you never really know what you're going to get. I use "organic" garden soil for tort food plants and have found glass shards multiple times in the dirt. A bit of extreme example but any plant material is "organic" but the material could be poisonous to torts. There's no way to know what material your going to get. Even with mulch (better alternative than soil) I would recomend baking any substrate you bring into your home. If any insect eggs are in the substrate they will take over your house in a few weeks.How do you sterilize soil? Asking because I'm interested in doing so.
The easiest at home way to "sterilize" is by baking. 300 for 30min, same as boiling water. As Tom said it's not a good idea to use commercial topsoil because both "organic" and "sterile" are just buzz words for companies and you never really know what you're going to get. I use "organic" garden soil for tort food plants and have found glass shards multiple times in the dirt. A bit of extreme example but any plant material is "organic" but the material could be poisonous to torts. There's no way to know what material your going to get. Even with mulch (better alternative than soil) I would recomend baking any substrate you bring into your home. If any insect eggs are in the substrate they will take over your house in a few weeks.