Bamboo??

[ChameleonClem]

is bamboo a safe plant for chameleons to have as their main/ only live plant? In the future i was to get a spider plant and maybe a pathos vine. But a bamboo would be very easy for me to care for if itll be safe.

I know its hard for them to climb on with the large smooth stalks but ill have plenty of vines and such for it. Is it safe for chams to eat?

 

[theintouchable88]

Not an expert here but from what I've read, the mine concern with bamboo is the grip thing. Pothos and schefflera are so easily maintain that it shouldn't be an issue with the proper lighting. (6500k bulb) I made the mistake to leave my pothos in the sun and many leaves burnt but I still placed it in my chams cage and less than a month later, it has doubled in size! I already got vines hanging half way through his cage. The schefflera is doing dandy also, it'll need a trim next month.
Also, veiled are the known species to often munch on the leaves others not so much if ever but idk the health risks. I'm sure the experienced keepers will chime in

 

[ChameleonClem]

Not an expert here but from what I've read, the mine concern with bamboo is the grip thing. Pothos and schefflera are so easily maintain that it shouldn't be an issue with the proper lighting. (6500k bulb) I made the mistake to leave my pothos in the sun and many leaves burnt but I still placed it in my chams cage and less than a month later, it has doubled in size! I already got vines hanging half way through his cage. The schefflera is doing dandy also, it'll need a trim next month.
Also, veiled are the known species to often munch on the leaves others not so much if ever but idk the health risks. I'm sure the experienced keepers will chime in

Thats what i was concered about, ingesting it. Im glad to hear your plants did so well! The heat lamp in my chams cage would always cause my plant to burn and dry out. Im certain it was the potting soil i was using, it was powdery and wouldnt hold water so it caused my plants to dry out and die. In turn making it easy to burn. I think ill just try that kind of plant again with better soil.

Just heard of people using hibiscus trees. So could i use hardy hibiscus? Flowers and all? Thatd be fun!

 

[theintouchable88]

Thats what i was concered about, ingesting it. Im glad to hear your plants did so well! The heat lamp in my chams cage would always cause my plant to burn and dry out. Im certain it was the potting soil i was using, it was powdery and wouldnt hold water so it caused my plants to dry out and die. In turn making it easy to burn. I think ill just try that kind of plant again with better soil.

Just heard of people using hibiscus trees. So could i use hardy hibiscus? Flowers and all? Thatd be fun!

Yeah hibiscus is used but the problem is the amount of light they need. I've read here that the people that's have seen them actually bloom and grow healthy is because they use a quad fixture with 3 6500k bulbs or a couple 10k bulbs I also read somewhere they needed really high lumen levels to stay healthy but I'm not sure since I don't have them.

 

[ChameleonClem]

Yeah hibiscus is used but the problem is the amount of light they need. I've read here that the people that's have seen them actually bloom and grow healthy is because they use a quad fixture with 3 6500k bulbs or a couple 10k bulbs I also read somewhere they needed really high lumen levels to stay healthy but I'm not sure since I don't have them.

So then it probably isnt a good choice as an in cage plant, but it would be a good plant for free ranging correct? I already have a hibiscus plant and its happy, in good weather i take it outside in the shade.

 

[theintouchable88]

Yeah probably, that's another thing people do, they have 2, one in the cage and another one outside and rotate them every couple weeks or so. Same thing with the schefflera.

So then it probably isnt a good choice as an in cage plant, but it would be a good plant for free ranging correct? I already have a hibiscus plant and its happy, in good weather i take it outside in the shade.

 

[ChameleonClem]

Yeah probably, that's another thing people do, they have 2, one in the cage and another one outside and rotate them every couple weeks or so. Same thing with the schefflera.

Rotating is a great idea

 

[theintouchable88]

Yup, I was gonna do it with my schefflera but it's growing nice so no need. I also planted some cuttings to have another one when I upgrade to his big boy cage

Rotating is a great idea

 

[ChameleonClem]

Yup, I was gonna do it with my schefflera but it's growing nice so no need. I also planted some cuttings to have another one when I upgrade to his big boy cage

Im usually pretty good with plants so hopefully ill have better results with some good soil.