Plant Help
- Thread starter Dumzy
- Start date
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
Check the plant's potting soil. You can protect it from the effects of too much water by speeding up the drainage and making sure no water stands in the pot saucer (better yet, if your cage bottom can handle the runoof, don't use a saucer). Make the soil drain faster by adding in pebbles, coarse sand, perlite (in the lower parts of the pot).
Chamifornia
Established Member
I mist wayyy motr than most people and mines doing fine. You could do what carlton said above if you see its not doing well. Mine lost alot of the bottom leaves before i had a dedicated plant bulb. I dont use a saucer either
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
Many potted plants will drop the leaves in their "lower" shaded parts. The plant is self-pruning...getting rid of leaves that are not contributing much because they are not exposed to enough light. Supporting these leaves does cost the plant energy, so they get rid of the "freeloaders". You can keep the plant fuller by adding light in the lower area of the cage.
Dumzy
Established Member
Do i need a drainage pan? I have no room in the cage for one...
Chamifornia
Established Member
I just built 2 new stands with a shower pan liner and a bathtub drain and it was super simple. Wood cost me 30$ and liner 35 for both stands. Pretty simple if you have a saw to cut wood and a drill
Dumzy
Established Member
Hm, i looked through that forum, is there any way i can do something without drilling? Or spending alot of money? My cage is only 16 x 16 x 30..
Chamifornia
Established Member
I have a cage that size an I use one of the wire shelving racks and just drilled holes on bottom and put a bucket under it. You can get one for around $20
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
Well, what's your cage bottom like? So many commercially-produced cages just don't handle all the water necessary for cham care. If there isn't a lip or sides around your cage floor the water will eventually leak through the mesh at the bottom. If you set the entire cage inside a pan or over a sweater box the water can drip into that. Kind of messy, but it would work. Raise the cage up off the pan slightly so the wetness doesn't mold or corrode the cage frame. You could run a bead of caulk around the inside of the cage bottom to hold the water on the bottom, but you'd have to sponge it up eventually. So your choices are to create a drain or soak, sponge, or mop the water up with something from inside.
Crashbandit05
Avid Member
Excuse the clutter and whatnot, but I have a schleffera and simply drilled holes in the PVC bottom that measure the dimensions of my water collection container. I dump the water every two days or so. The schefflera is heavy enough that majority of the water drains towards the middle. Works for me and my carpet lol.
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Dumzy
Established Member
Yea.. Im just gonna do this, ive heard wire racks are pretty cheap and sturdy.. Does it work well?
Dumzy
Established Member
I cant seem to be able to find a wire shelf big enough.. Any ideas where to find a 24 x 24 shelf for under $30?
Chamifornia
Established Member
I'm not sure about that depth but target has a 36x36x18 for around that price
Dumzy
Established Member
Yea.. I need one big enough to fit a 24x24x48 ReptiBreeze ontop..
Chamifornia
Established Member
They most likely make something that would fit that but it probably is gonna cost you more than you want to spend
Crashbandit05
Avid Member
It serves its purpose. I've heard of people buy two 16x16x36 (or whatever the dimensions are) and placing them side by side to fit a 24x24x48 cage. That is actually my plan when I upgrade to the adult enclosure.
Dumzy
Established Member
Hm, i think im just gonna get some eggcrate grid, put that ontop of a plastic storage bin, drill some holes in the bottom of the cage and put the cage ontop of the grid.. I was also thinking of putting large rocks in the bottom of the plants pot, but i dont know how to seperate the dirt from the rocks, any ideas?
Dumzy
Established Member
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