Cleaning and Sterilizing Leaf Litter

Leaf litter is an essential component of any poison frog enclosure.  It provides hiding places for the frogs, food for the clean up crew, and nutrients for the plants as the leaves decompose. I’m fortunate to be in an area in the US that has several oak species and Southern magnolias.  Oak and magnolia leaves are sturdy and take a long time to decompose.  This tutorial explains how I sterilize the leaves before putting them in enclosures to remove unwanted pests.  Some folks  do not sterilize their leaves because they want some of the microfauna on the leaves to populate the enclosures.  To each his own.  I want to mitigate the risk of possibly introducing harmful pests by cleaning and sterilizing the leaves.  I like the option of seeding the enclosures with springtails.

Supplies:

  • Colander

  • Large pot

  • Leaves

  • Sheet pan

  • Aluminum foil

  • Large plastic Ziploc or similar bags for sterilized leaf storage

  • Tongs

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Wash the leaves in a colander to remove any dirt and debris

Wash the leaves in a colander to remove any dirt and debris

Boil a large pot of water. Place the leaves in the pot and boil vigorously for 15-20 minutes.

Boil a large pot of water. Place the leaves in the pot and boil vigorously for 15-20 minutes.

Remove the leaves with a pair of tongs and place a thin layer on an aluminum foil-lined sheet pan. Bake the leaves at 225°F for 15-20 minutes or until the leaves are dry.

Remove the leaves with a pair of tongs and place a thin layer on an aluminum foil-lined sheet pan. Bake the leaves at 225°F for 15-20 minutes or until the leaves are dry.

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Store the leaves in a large Ziploc or similar sealable bag for future use. That's it! Super easy!

Store the leaves in a large Ziploc or similar sealable bag for future use. That's it! Super easy!