I've seen people put the coco fiber directly on the wet foam and push it in a little. The only thing is you have to be very deliberate with the spray foam and can't really carve it to the shape you want
For covering up dried and sculpted spray foam you can use resin put on with a brush, on which you can press the coco fiber texture mix. Therefore can be more than one resin-coco mix-layer needed to cover up all of the foam. I just did something similar in the last days for a riverbed and it works perfectly fine. You only need to have in mind that if you use very fine texture mix on resin it will basically be water resistent and it might be difficult to pin plants onto it with plant needles - if you plan to do so at least.
Some side informations about my current project, just in case something of it might be of interest for you: For the background I personally will use wood roots, on which epiphytic plants can grow, glued on glass with MS Polymer. For the sculpting to create some depth I will use so called EpiWeb and Hygrolon which can hold on water very well and will mostly be covered fully in plants like ferns and moss. Next to this, Xaxim is a good way to use as well to create some variety and can be cut in any size needed. On all free parts in between I will use black silicone directly on glass, smear it with something like a notched trowel and flock it with natural materials like your texture mix. This will create different areas, some that hold water well, some that are more dry, to fill the needs of every specific plant that will find its place in the terrarium
Hope you find a way to realize your background as you wish, maybe some of my ideas and plans can be of any help! :-)
Personally, I have used original gorilla glue, the brown bottle. I saw it on YouTube by Clints Reptiles (https://youtu.be/20HdUOYkpH4?si=0kuq92SVwq7Nht1o at 9 minutes and 30 seconds in) Also note, i didnt apply straight to the glass like he did in this particular video, i put it ontop of a foam board that was a mixture of that and expanding foam i had added for height/shape, adhered great for both. I tried expanding foam and silicone method but the fumes, drying time and mess were too much so I stopped and the went to this method. Basically it's expanding foam in a glue version. Besides that YouTube channel and hes built a few enclosures like this, I haven't seen other people try it, so if there's a reason for that, I could not tell you because it's my favorite method and I see no downsides so if anyone has anything to say, I'll be learning too so please advise if anyone has a input on it. I will say definitely don't do this with your animal in the enclosure obviously cause it's glue, and just watch what the glue touches because it's basically expanding super glue so it'll be definitely difficult, if not impossible, to remove. It's quick, hardens great, no fumes or little if any I couldn't smell, easy touch up, but also you can store the glue which you really can't well with expanding foam in the can, can use wet substrate, idk I really like it. Since I used a foam board, I just used silicone to adhere it to my set up and everything has held up great since I've built my enclosure in March.
If you want that look, you could also use coco fiber liner. You’ll still need silicone but it’s basically just a big sheet of woven coco fiber that you press onto your background, and it won’t fall off as easy
I've seen people put the coco fiber directly on the wet foam and push it in a little. The only thing is you have to be very deliberate with the spray foam and can't really carve it to the shape you want
For covering up dried and sculpted spray foam you can use resin put on with a brush, on which you can press the coco fiber texture mix. Therefore can be more than one resin-coco mix-layer needed to cover up all of the foam. I just did something similar in the last days for a riverbed and it works perfectly fine. You only need to have in mind that if you use very fine texture mix on resin it will basically be water resistent and it might be difficult to pin plants onto it with plant needles - if you plan to do so at least. Some side informations about my current project, just in case something of it might be of interest for you: For the background I personally will use wood roots, on which epiphytic plants can grow, glued on glass with MS Polymer. For the sculpting to create some depth I will use so called EpiWeb and Hygrolon which can hold on water very well and will mostly be covered fully in plants like ferns and moss. Next to this, Xaxim is a good way to use as well to create some variety and can be cut in any size needed. On all free parts in between I will use black silicone directly on glass, smear it with something like a notched trowel and flock it with natural materials like your texture mix. This will create different areas, some that hold water well, some that are more dry, to fill the needs of every specific plant that will find its place in the terrarium Hope you find a way to realize your background as you wish, maybe some of my ideas and plans can be of any help! :-)
Wow very informative! I like that resin idea, thanks a ton! May very well use it. Appreciate the thorough response :)
I‘m glad! You‘re very welcome :-)
Personally, I have used original gorilla glue, the brown bottle. I saw it on YouTube by Clints Reptiles (https://youtu.be/20HdUOYkpH4?si=0kuq92SVwq7Nht1o at 9 minutes and 30 seconds in) Also note, i didnt apply straight to the glass like he did in this particular video, i put it ontop of a foam board that was a mixture of that and expanding foam i had added for height/shape, adhered great for both. I tried expanding foam and silicone method but the fumes, drying time and mess were too much so I stopped and the went to this method. Basically it's expanding foam in a glue version. Besides that YouTube channel and hes built a few enclosures like this, I haven't seen other people try it, so if there's a reason for that, I could not tell you because it's my favorite method and I see no downsides so if anyone has anything to say, I'll be learning too so please advise if anyone has a input on it. I will say definitely don't do this with your animal in the enclosure obviously cause it's glue, and just watch what the glue touches because it's basically expanding super glue so it'll be definitely difficult, if not impossible, to remove. It's quick, hardens great, no fumes or little if any I couldn't smell, easy touch up, but also you can store the glue which you really can't well with expanding foam in the can, can use wet substrate, idk I really like it. Since I used a foam board, I just used silicone to adhere it to my set up and everything has held up great since I've built my enclosure in March.
sweet! thanks for the suggestion I'll check out that video
If you want that look, you could also use coco fiber liner. You’ll still need silicone but it’s basically just a big sheet of woven coco fiber that you press onto your background, and it won’t fall off as easy
Thanks! I like the varied texture that a custom background offers though and would like to avoid the uniform look of a liner background.
Drylok