Plant question

[ridgebax1]

So after redoing Omar's cage and putting in a ficus, gardenia, and hibiscus, the only plant that seems to be doing well is the hibiscus! The gardenia and ficus have both lost a significant amount of leaves. I know they can do this as a reaction to being moved but would have thought they would have recovered by now. It is to the point where I feel I need to add some artificial foilage to these trees so Omar does not feel too exposed.
Does anyone have any insight as to how to help these plants? Is there some type of chameleon safe fertilizer that I can use or will that just stress the plant more? Or what about using the horn and silk worm poo?

 

[Andee]

Earth Worm Castings are a chameleon safe fertilizer. But they often just need time to adjust to their new surroundings from what I've heard. I don't think it would hurt the plant if you just sprinkled it on the top of the soil and then waited for the water to make it sink into the soil I don't think it'd make it lose anymore leaves. I know when I move my umbrella tree plants that they lose alot of leaves too hopefully they will come back for you.

 

[MelissaB]

I have no luck with gardenias as a houseplant. Love the way their flowers smell, but they don't like to live with me. I'm surprised your pothos isn't doing well. Is it too close to the basking light?

 

[Milgro12]

So after redoing Omar's cage and putting in a ficus, gardenia, and hibiscus, the only plant that seems to be doing well is the hibiscus! The gardenia and ficus have both lost a significant amount of leaves. I know they can do this as a reaction to being moved but would have thought they would have recovered by now. It is to the point where I feel I need to add some artificial foilage to these trees so Omar does not feel too exposed.
Does anyone have any insight as to how to help these plants? Is there some type of chameleon safe fertilizer that I can use or will that just stress the plant more? Or what about using the horn and silk worm poo?

I am having the same problem with my ficus. I have had it for about 2 weeks and it is still losing leaves. I have no idea what the problem is.

 

[ridgebax1]

I actually have two pothos and the one was in the corner but was not getting enough water but it has recovered now and I think it is going to be ok. The other was in a pot in the ficus and doing OK but Omar the dirt eater, found that little bit of dirt so I took it out and have to repot it and put rocks over the dirt! I am hoping they recover. I really was not thinking about timing when I redid his cage, so the fact that the weather is moving into winter probably does not help either!

 

[melble68]

Gardenias are definitely tough. High light, high acidic soil, well drained, high humidity, modest temps, and the list goes on. I say get another hibiscus. Use what works for you.

 

[qdude46]

Also try a schefflera, many people use them.

 

[TCMontium]

Unfortunately many scheffleras have not enough branchs until they will be like 2 meters tall. Ficus benjamin and Pothos are best ones i think.

 

[Andee]

Homedepot has these weird schefflera that I have been using that are almost like a bonsai version, they have huge thick branches and can hold the weight of my almost full grown panther, easily. They also have alot of branches, they stand around like 6 inches-a foot tall depending on the plant. I love them. Though they don't seem to like being moved much so I have to wait for them to grow leaves back sometimes when they are moved. I also use a camellia bush which is growing great, just gotta pick the flowers before they lose all the petals and make a mess.

 

[jamjam]

thought id just try to get some insight as well my brother bought a bonsai ficus in september and is doing terrible dropping lots of leaves atm but he said few weeks after we brought it home wasnt doing very well. its not being used for a chameleon but for box turtles. right now its inder a sunglow was watered like every 5 days

 

[TCMontium]

Ficus benjamin will drop leaves almost everytime when you change its room or weather but usually leaves will grow again after 2 or 3 months later.

 

[qdude46]

Unfortunately many scheffleras have not enough branchs until they will be like 2 meters tall. Ficus benjamin and Pothos are best ones i think.

There are actually many scheffleras in homedepot that are like 4'-6' tall with many branches and look great.

 

[TCMontium]

There are actually many scheffleras in homedepot that are like 4'-6' tall with many branches and look great.

Yes, i sad that, they will have many branches when they are like 2 meter (nearly 6 feet) tall. Sometimes even smaller ones have many branches but not often, sadly.