Fake Plant in Real Soil?

[PhxKarma]

Will planting a fake plant in a pot of real soil help with the humidity? I want to do this so the soil can catch the water from the dripper, and hopefully help with the humidity issues.

Arizona is known for it's dry summers, I am considering using a humidifier in the apartment as well?

 

[Texas Panther Man]

Why not just use real plants then? If your going to mess w/soil you might as well have the added benefit of better air quality by using real plants.

 

[Brad]

A fake plant itself will not help with humidity, but the soil could retain water and possibly increase it a little. However, be careful with using soil to trap all your water. Over time this can cause serious problems without proper drainage.

 

[Carlton]

Depending on what the fake plant stem is made of it could mold or rot away (fabric or paper surfaces). Live plants also contribute to cage humidity through transpiration, not just the moist soil surface. They help with air quality too. In AZ you will have trouble with humidity so live plants would be much better. Yes, look into room humidifiers just in case. They aren't really expensive and if you price shop before you desperately end up needing one it would give you options.

 

[Syn]

I live east of you in Apache Junction. I have a swamp cooler for those dry summer days that I will turn on and it will keep ambient temperatures around 70-75 depending on how large the room is, and it can keep humidity at ~50%, give or take.

But when it's winter and I don't need more cold and I just need the humidity I add more real plants and cover the back of the cage with a garbage bag.

Let me know if this helps or if you need more help.

 

[saltwaterguy02]

I wouldn’t suggest using dirt or soil for the bottom of the cage. Over time it will get so wet that it will turn muddy and start to smell nasty. What I use is Zilla’s coconut husk with moss on top of that to catch the extra water that falls, it also keeps the humidity up. I also use both fake and real plants.

 

[Syn]

I wouldn’t suggest using dirt or soil for the bottom of the cage.

Will planting a fake plant in a pot of real soil help with the humidity?

Well it's a good thing he isn't doing that then, eh?

 

[Chris Anderson]

I wouldn’t suggest using dirt or soil for the bottom of the cage. Over time it will get so wet that it will turn muddy and start to smell nasty. What I use is Zilla’s coconut husk with moss on top of that to catch the extra water that falls, it also keeps the humidity up. I also use both fake and real plants.

Coconut husk and moss is difficult to pass and can cause impaction. Organic soil or dirt without additional additives (perlite, etc.) passes much easier if ingested. With proper drainage, the soil won't get overly wet or muddy or smell bad. Ideally it should be used in glass terrariums where misting frequency and duration are lower anyway but proper drainage could be set up either way.

As already mentioned, the best way for you to increase your humidity would be to use live plants.

Chris

 

[saltwaterguy02]

Coconut husk and moss is difficult to pass and can cause impaction. Organic soil or dirt without additional additives (perlite, etc.) passes much easier if ingested. With proper drainage, the soil won't get overly wet or muddy or smell bad. Ideally it should be used in glass terrariums where misting frequency and duration are lower anyway but proper drainage could be set up either way.

As already mentioned, the best way for you to increase your humidity would be to use live plants.

Chris

Chameleons will sometimes eat the leaves from plants. The leaves from a fichus plant are a lot denser then a few stems of moss. I wouldn’t go as far as to say it would cause impaction. It depends on the cage that’s being used. This is just my option. I didn’t have a drainage opening in my cage and the soil over time started to collect to much water and made the marsh affect

 

[Chris Anderson]

Chameleons will sometimes eat the leaves from plants. The leaves from a fichus plant are a lot denser then a few stems of moss. I wouldn’t go as far as to say it would cause impaction. It depends on the cage that’s being used. This is just my option. I didn’t have a drainage opening in my cage and the soil over time started to collect to much water and made the marsh affect

Naturally it would depend on the type of moss but when ingested, leaves are generally intentionally bitten off in small pieces, while moss or coconut husk is typically picked up while hunting and likely to get ingested in a long fibered strand since it is not anchored to anything requiring it to be bitten off. Those long, fibrous strands are difficult to pass and that is what can cause impaction.

Back to the drainage with soil, again its all about doing it correctly. Out of the 25 fully planted chameleon terrariums I have, however, I do not have any problems with drainage or water buildup.

Chris

 

[PhxKarma]

I guess I should just keep an eye out for a real plant then, everything I have found is either too small, or too large.

 

[Syn]

I guess I should just keep an eye out for a real plant then, everything I have found is either too small, or too large.

I'm going to be in Phoenix this weekend and can find you a plant the size you need. PM me and let me know.

 

[PhxKarma]

I am going to check out a few nursery's and lowes, if I can't find anything today I will let you know, thanks.

 

[Syn]

Safe Plants List for Chameleons
Edible Plants List

Print those out for reference.

 

[renzo0684]

I am going to check out a few nursery's and lowes, if I can't find anything today I will let you know, thanks.

you live in Arizona so you may get lucky but here in Colorado Lowes is not selling anything worth buying yet I am there almost eveyday right now, because I am building some chinchilla cages, and I always stop and look at the plants and nothing so far...

 

[PhxKarma]

you live in Arizona so you may get lucky but here in Colorado Lowes is not selling anything worth buying yet I am there almost eveyday right now, because I am building some chinchilla cages, and I always stop and look at the plants and nothing so far...

The weather here has turned around, lately it's been 80ish out during the day, so I am hoping stores are stocking spring/summer plants now.

 

[Syn]

Any luck, PhxKarma? Need to know soon, I plan on being in the area tomorrow evening.

 

[PhxKarma]

Any luck, PhxKarma? Need to know soon, I plan on being in the area tomorrow evening.

No luck, but I will be out of town tomorrow, it's my day off so I am going camping up north. Thanks for the help though, if you happen to see anything while you're in town let me know but don't go out of your way to look for me.

 

[PhxKarma]

I found a few schlefferas today at Fry's, they're $10 but too short for my enlcosure, bummer!

Heading to Lowes this afternoon.

 

[Syn]

They have 10" ficus (that are actually ~18") for $10 at this Fry's, but I will not be back in your area anytime soon. Sorry.