Potting Plants

[Amanda S]

I am setting up my terrarium and putting plants in it. I was going to use a dendrobium and a hibiscus or pothos or both, I don't know yet. I know I have to carefully wash the plant and possibly even use light soap and rinse well?

What type of pot should be used? Any? They are in ceramic pots right now and I can cover the drain area so the cham can't drink from it - just in case.

What type of soil should be used? Orchids for example require a mix of bark, charcoal, and a little perlite. I don't want my cham to eat the charcoal or perlite so should I cover the top of the soil with organic soil or should I use a substrate like coconut fiber?

Also, anyone, I read that it is really reccomended not to use any substrate for the floor but to use paper towels so you can tell when it gets dirty and so the animal won't eat the substrate. Any thoughts? I have a carpet chameleon, will she be happy with paper towel or would she like bark or coconut fiber?

Thanks!!!
Amanda

 

[wow]

I am setting up my terrarium and putting plants in it. I was going to use a dendrobium and a hibiscus or pothos or both, I don't know yet. I know I have to carefully wash the plant and possibly even use light soap and rinse well?

I have used both hibiscus and pothos in a cage, For washing i take the plant and put it in the shower then get an extra spray bottle and make up a lite soap solution then spray the leaves and rinse with shower. Also replace the soil with plane/organic poting soil.

What type of pot should be used? Any? They are in ceramic pots right now and I can cover the drain area so the cham can't drink from it - just in case.

ceramic wil be fine and i dont think you vave to worry about the drain area but covering it wouldnt hurt anything.

What type of soil should be used? Orchids for example require a mix of bark, charcoal, and a little perlite. I don't want my cham to eat the charcoal or perlite so should I cover the top of the soil with organic soil or should I use a substrate like coconut fiber?

I have never used orchids before but if you put large flat stones over the soil this should prevent the chameleon from ingesting any.

Also, anyone, I read that it is really reccomended not to use any substrate for the floor but to use paper towels so you can tell when it gets dirty and so the animal won't eat the substrate. Any thoughts? I have a carpet chameleon, will she be happy with paper towel or would she like bark or coconut fiber?

paper towle is really the best option. if the chameleon accidently ingests some of the substrate it could cause an impaction.

 

[Amanda S]

Ahhhh thank-you. I hadn't thought about just putting rocks over the soil mix. Chameleons seem so sensitive and I am a first time owner so I want everything to be perfect.

 

[wow]

Just make shure they are large enough not to be accidently picked up.