Magnolia leaf litter is very useful tool in the isopod enclosure. They are long lasting and durable. They are also thick and leathery which gives them additional uses beyond a food source. They are very ideal for humidity retention. Place a few of them over some moistened sphagnum moss and they will act as an insulator keeping it moist much longer along with the substrate underneath. When the isopods eventually wear them down you can simply replace with new ones.
Please note each bag of leaf litter will contain around 30-50% crushed leaves with the remainder whole or very close. This gives you some that's already partially broken down and easier for the isopods to eat along with some for other purpose where whole leaves are more desirable. As and added bonus, every bag of magnolia leaf litter will include 1 FREE magnolia seed pod!
The long lasting nature of magnolia leaves also benefit isopods by creating additional hiding spots where they can feel secure. Arrange them in a few layers to create several "micro climates" that give your pods many options to self regulate thus making a healthier stronger culture.
Our magnolia leaf litter is ethically sourced on private property that is not treated with pesticides. We have a strict in house process to ensure you receive quality leaf litter safe for isopods while also sparing you the time consuming treatment process.
Our Leaf Litter Treatment Process
1. Leaves are rinsed under an RO (reverse osmosis) water faucet to remove dust, dirt, and any other small debris. This also washes away any unwanted hitchhikers like small insects, spiders or other invertebrates.
2. Next the leaves are placed in a sealed container of RO water to soak for 24 hours. This further ensures other possible unwanted pests are eliminated while also allowing any remaining dirt or debris to soften and separate from the leaves.
3. After 24 hours the leaves get a quick secondary rinse to wash away any remaining particulates.
4. We then light bake the leaves in small batches for 15-25 minutes. Enough for them to dry, but not cooked which would rob them of the valuable nutrients your isopods need to thrive.
5. Lastly the leaves are given a good visual inspection as they are packed into their respective quart and gallon bags.
Please note although we do take stringent and thorough steps to ensure your leaf litter is good to go as is, mother nature sometimes has a way of surprising us. With that said, we highly recommend you also give the leaves a good look over before placing them in with your isopods.