Leaf Rot! :(

[BlueSky]

Hey chams and chamettes,
I keep a couple live plants in Jabba's enclosure, and rotate them out weekly. However, some of them have slowly died over the course of several weeks due to rotted leaves. My roommate (also my personal Plant Doctor,) told me that leaf rot happens if the leaves are frequently doused in water. I need to mist my guy twice a day, and the plants hold water so well, but I don't want to keep replacing them every month or so.
Do you guys have any tips on how to avoid leaf rot, or any plants with hardy leaves?

Thanks a ton!
-Blue

 

[Carlton]

What types of plants are they? Check the soil in the pots....leaves don't live forever and will die periodically. If the cage gets a chance to dry out between mistings there shouldn't be too many leaves dying all at once. However, if the soil sits saturated all the time the plant's roots will rot and this will kill off the foliage. Some plants handle the daily wet sprayings in cham cages better than others. Read about this in the care articles under the Resources tab for suggestions.

 

[Ilike4hornedchams]

I've gotten that is many plants myself, but many other plants are resistant to this, go for tropical plants. I mostly use Umbrella plants, Crotons, Bromiliades, different kinds of vines too many to list but the simple English vines are a nice fast growing addition. There are tons of others but the stable to every cage for me now is the umbrella plant even though I sue to not like em. They are just so reliable.

 

[nick barta]

I have spent several hundreds of dollars on plants, from the commonly used to the exotic, and finally went into a local nursery(not a Home Depot or Lowes) and spent some time with their indoor plant expert, explaining what plants I had tried, and the hot, extremely wet environment the plant had to live in. As I listed all the plants I had killed, she said that there is narrow range of plants that do well long term, and her top choice was Pathos. Pathos is a tropical plant that can grow in standing water, can tolerate the lack of water, is non-toxic, and grows fast. There are several color variations, one Pathos will fill your 2 x 2 x 4 cage quickly, and you can create vine highways for your chameleon to walk on.

CHEERS!

Nick

 

[ChamLB]

Pothos are the best plants to survive a brown thumb or a cham cage.

 

[BlueSky]

Thanks for the help, guys!
The one I'm having problems with is a dracaena, and my old hibiscus died of the same causes. So far my one croton is doing alright, though it has lost quite a few leaves since I got it. Looks like I'll stock up on some pothos next time I get the chance!