If the "funny smell" from that soil is offsetting, putrid, kind of sewage like,, that soil is anaerobic and is too wet. The presence of "bugs" may or may not be significant depending on whether those "bugs" are pests, beneficials, and/or predators. The stones may or may not be contributing to the problem depending on the depth of the stone mulch, but stones do not contribute much in the way of organic matter to the soil, although they do allow some to accumulate over time. You may have a drainage issue that needs correcting or it may simply be that the drip line is being run too often.

Just wanted to update everyone on the plants in the tank. I've changed some of the plants around and now the plants in the tank are: Fittonia 'Red Anne' Sansevieria trifasciata ÂGolden Hahnii Baby rubber plant Ludisia discolor (Jewel orchid) Macodes petola (Jewel orchid)- I've researched this one and it says it only reaches 18 inches at the tallest) Philodendron ÂPrince of Orange Silver Philodendrum Goodyera pubescens (Downy Rattlesnake Orchid) Mounted Resurrection fern I have grown the Ludisia discolor for several years before putting it in the tank and it doesn't seem to be a tall growing orchid. Also, I've had the Macodes petola for about 2 years and it doesn't really seem to be one of the taller growing ones. The Philodendron 'Prince of Orange' is a hybrid that only gets 6 to 8 inches tall. I don't know if the baby rubber plant is the minima hybrid that stays small so that might have to be taken out if it grows too tall. Jewel orchids do like to remain slightly on the moist side. Actually, plants in my tank have to like soil that stays slightly moist because my soil in the tank always seems to remain on the slightly moist side so there really is no danger of my frog dehydrating. The jewel orchids have been in there for a month or two and are really thriving in the soil. I will try using the fruit flies that can't fly (they won't put larvae in the peat moss soil in the tank, will they). Another problem I had with the fruit flies was that the culture kept getting bad and killing the flies. The reason I don't want larvae getting in the soil is that last year I had to change the soil and wash off all the plants due to some baby recluse spiders showing up in the tank through infected plants (I now wash off any plants - roots and all - before they come into the tank) so I'm kind of wary of any critters living in the soil.

Thanks Brandon. That is something to think about. Maybe I could transfer the spring blooming ones in the fall, and the fall blooming next spring? Something like that? I really am so tempted to do it now! But: a) the bed is not ready, and I'm not even 100% sure exactly where it goes. I'm also pondering whether or not I would like to do a raised bed. And b) I told my husband no more beds this year, and he will kill or divorce me if I even look like I am thinking about it. LOL!

Those gaps of missing mortar between bricks on the bottom course are known as weep-holes. They're there primarily to let any moisture out that accumulates between the back of the brick and the moisture barrier. Depending upon how/when your house was built, the ledge that the brick sits on might only be an inch or so lower than the main slab where walls and flooring reside. So even covering just the bottom portion of the holes is a bad idea since it can enable water to backup to the base plate. Amount of roof overhang, 1 story vs 2 story, and other factors affect how much water will penetrate and drain behind brick veneer... but it is a surprising amount. We learned about their importance when the builder's subcontractor inadvertently left them off our first house. A 2-story with no roof overhang made mess of our first floor carpets the first few heavy rains until the problem was identified and a mason chiseled out the weep-holes. Roselee's experience with termites entering these is very common and something a good inspector will warn about. Ours recommends keeping any soil or mulch at least an inch below the bottom row of bricks. We've had to regrade the uphill side of our house to accomplish this and get some slope away from the slab.