Do your live plants thrive?

[Ashley89]

Always struggled to keep my plants alive especially ficus!!! I've got umbrella plants, parlour palms, ferns and some others

They are misted every day for the chameleons however this could be an issue overwatering? Light wise I have 60w bulb and Arcadia t5 lighting over some cages others have a higher wattage bulb. Some plants are showing new buds but the ficus always drop their leaves. What are your secrets

 

[guanagator]

How does the soil feel? Could be not enough water if just misting. Stick your finger down to the second knuckle and it should be damp. Otherwise lighting is potentially an issue as well, try to zone the plants so high light varieties are closest to the top. A spot style grow bulb can be added aimed specific plants that need more light, a quad T5 fixture with one UVB one grow and 2 6500k bulbs has worked well for me however I don't use ficus.

 

[guanagator]

Very nice looking orange eye as well, he's incredible!

 

[guanagator]

Quad T5 from light your reptiles has this one growing out nicely it's only about a month old and new growth on everything.

 

[guanagator]

I'm going to switch the halogen basking bulb out for a 50 or 75 want spot grow bulb to try and induce the shefflera to spread across the back instead of going towards the T5s.

 

[Calval24]

Try the 40 watt jungle dawn from lightyourreptiles.com my ficus grows great under that light

 

[Courts_spyro]

I have a pothos vine that has flourish! It has adjusted fine to the misting and lamps. I did re plant it in Eco earth coconut fiber which may be holding more moisture around the roots.

 

[Ashley89]

Great stuff guys thanks for help I've heard good stuff about the jungle dawn too

 

[Davecameos]

I would try jungle dawn. Plants need a specific type of light to grow. Some plants are a bit easier than others, but jungle dawn bulbs are the best.

One pic taken 2 days ago.

 

[Twitchet]

Jungle dawn all the way!!! My plants grow so successfully there are outgrowing the vivs- the plants are incredible under them- they never grow leggy or yellow- just green strong and healthy- they make red leaved plants colour up to super reds too, I have them on all my vivs. Couldn't do without them.

 

[Craigwyatt]

Ficus trees are notorious for not doing well. If you just look at them wrong they loose 10 leaves.
They look like the most absolute perfect tree for a chameleon but if you can't keep them alive what good are they really.

 

[WAMBO]

You might also try to buy one more and rotate the plants inside then outside the cage [to recover].

 

[ChamNewton]

Air plants can be hung about the cage as well easy care low light requirements & just mist every day or two.

 

[Nicholasdeaan]

Definitely the Jungle Dawn. All you'll do is make more heat by hanging a large halogen or flood light over your cage. They aren't meant to make plants grow. The Jungle Dawn makes your plant life greener, grow, and all around makes your enclosure look more naturalistic. While also providing great lighting, it aslo provides shade! Which in my opinion, is just as important.