Help making new cage, plants and such

[darthink]

Hi everyone,

I'm getting a big, new cage to hold my lovely chameleon and would like to put some live plants in it, but I have a couple of questions.

1. My first concern is, do I re-pot the plant, using some other kind of soil? I don't want any kind of dangerous soil to hurt her.

2. Could I use any of the "approved" plants, and just cover the top of the plants soil with rocks or something?

3. I bought Forest Moss (Tropical Terrarium Substrate), I feel like that will be good going in the bottom. It holds moisture, It shouldn't be dangerous or anything, right?

4. I was going to go to Lowes, or Home Depot, or something like that to get the plant, any suggestions from anyone or are those places a good place to go?

5. Any particular plant suggestions?
​

Thanks for any help y'all can provide!

 

[reptilover]

Okay first off congrates on making ur Cham an improved home

Next. Yes tge soil does need to be changed to an organic soil (one with no fertilizers or pesticides.

Then ur plant needs a wash. Washing the plants leaves with a light dishsoap and water solution to take away in existing pesticides..

When repoting I recommend mixing in sand to the soil to make it drain well. With all the mistings the slow drainage can rot plant roots. And drown them.


After ur washed and repoted do cover the soil with large rocks such as river rocks.. ur cham if like mine WILL eat dirt. Little amounts won't hurt but mouth fulls can hurt by causing impaction.

I highly recommend ficus trees and pothos plants. I also and using a spider plant I like and a dracanea I don't like haha.

http://flchams.com/safe_plant_list.asp
The link above is a great list of safe plants. It's important to check for the plant to be safe ur Cham may and probably will try to eat it. Which isnt bad at all if found on this list

 

[Txherp]

I got my most recent plants from Lowes, they had a good selection of indoor plants.

 

[darthink]

Okay first off congrates on making ur Cham an improved home

Next. Yes tge soil does need to be changed to an organic soil (one with no fertilizers or pesticides.

Then ur plant needs a wash. Washing the plants leaves with a light dishsoap and water solution to take away in existing pesticides..

When repoting I recommend mixing in sand to the soil to make it drain well. With all the mistings the slow drainage can rot plant roots. And drown them.


After ur washed and repoted do cover the soil with large rocks such as river rocks.. ur cham if like mine WILL eat dirt. Little amounts won't hurt but mouth fulls can hurt by causing impaction.

I highly recommend ficus trees and pothos plants. I also and using a spider plant I like and a dracanea I don't like haha.

http://flchams.com/safe_plant_list.asp
The link above is a great list of safe plants. It's important to check for the plant to be safe ur Cham may and probably will try to eat it. Which isnt bad at all if found on this list

Thank you, reptilover! Your information is very helpful. For the sand, did you just use playsand? I'm sure that part doesn't matter too much.

I got my most recent plants from Lowes, they had a good selection of indoor plants.

Thanks Txherp, I will certainly check there!

 

[nimmitz]

I got my plants at home depot They were super dirty but a decent price Everyone does things differently I put rocks at the bottom of my pots then organic soil with large river rocks on the surface the rocks at the bottom help with drainage.
As for moss on the bottom I would say no It is easier to clean the bottom when it is either bare or you can use paper towels. Moss might cause impaction if accidently ingested We wouldn't want that D:
Good luck!

Sent from my RM-820_nam_att_100 using Board Express

 

[reptilover]

I got my plants at home depot They were super dirty but a decent price Everyone does things differently I put rocks at the bottom of my pots then organic soil with large river rocks on the surface the rocks at the bottom help with drainage.
As for moss on the bottom I would say no It is easier to clean the bottom when it is either bare or you can use paper towels. Moss might cause impaction if accidently ingested We wouldn't want that D:
Good luck!

Sent from my RM-820_nam_att_100 using Board Express

this is a good idea! with rocks at the bottom soil then rocks ontop..

and yes i do use just a bag of playsand from homedepot. its cheap and does the trick.

i also agree with no moss. chams will try to eat anything (most will anyways)