live plant care?

[irishgal]

So I am definitely planning on using live plants for my chameleon habitat but I am wondering how you go about caring for the plants? I mean, they are living things that need food and proper lighting.

So I'm wondering do you have to pull the plants out every once in a while to care for them?


Have you had a lot of plants die on you? etc....?

 

[Carlton]

So I am definitely planning on using live plants for my chameleon habitat but I am wondering how you go about caring for the plants? I mean, they are living things that need food and proper lighting.

So I'm wondering do you have to pull the plants out every once in a while to care for them?


Have you had a lot of plants die on you? etc....?

First, select plants that others have used. There are some that handle the typical cham cage situation better than others. The cultivated potted Ficus trees, Hawaiian Schefflera, Pothos are some many of us use. The main issues with cham setups is relatively low light intensity (other than right at the top where the basking and UV lightbulbs penetrate) and soil that stays saturated from multiple daily misting or fogging. Some chams chew on the leaves, others don't. Your cham will be climbing around on the plants too, so delicate types won't like that.

You'll want to get rid of systemic pesticides many commercial nurseries use on all their houseplants. Hose the plant down thoroughly to remove residues from the leaves and repot the plants with potting soil without added perlite. Some chams just love those little white balls that float to the surface over time. Perlite can help aerate and drain soil, so if you use it make sure it is confined to the lower levels in the pot instead, not the surface. Your plants will need occasional feeding just like any other houseplant. I like to use diluted liquid fertilizer, not pellet types. If your plants start dropping leaves or dying they may have soggy roots or not getting enough light. Putting them too close to a basking bulb can burn the leaves.

 

[pigglett79]

My misting system waters them well and I have a plant grow light on top of the cage as well. They are growing very well.