Wimpy Schleffera Branches?

[AZJ0SH]

So my cham seems to be too heavy for the branches on the schleffera plant now, I have tons of vines going every direction in his enclosure but he seems to prefer climbing around on the branches.

When he get's on a branch, it droops down and I am worried it will just snap off and he'll fall?

What other plants have stronger branches and are chameleon safe? I have a pothos in there already but I need more of a tree style plant for the base.

Any suggestions?

 

[jannb]

I like the ficus. Home Depot usually has some good size ones.

 

[AZJ0SH]

I like the ficus. Home Depot usually has some good size ones.

Do you need a grow light to keep them alive?

The only ficus I can find at Home Depot is 6' tall and costs over $200.

 

[ChameleonsInMyHouse]

Do you need a grow light to keep them alive?

The only ficus I can find at Home Depot is 6' tall and costs over $200.

$200.00 FOR A FREAKIN TREE!? I could make one out of paper for $5!

 

[JackP308]

You can make ficus trees out of paper for $5? That's impressive. BTW i see people pay more for trees. Maybe not a ficus


Check lowes they usually have ficus as well for around $20 or less

 

[panther67]

I use bamboo sticks tied to some of the branches of my umbrella plants. Seems to work perfect.

 

[MrHarris]

I have purchased a few ficus trees from Home Depot. One costing me $18 and the other $14. They are out there you just gotta find them. Try a different location. Some times different Home Depots carry different inventory. Also try craigslist. Often times people give them away for free.

 

[Jakedn]

I use a Cape Honeysuckle, it flowers, thrives in sunlight, non-toxic, and has very sturdy branches. It has required no extra care, I put the plant in the cage, the cage in the sun, and the water it gets just from mistings it does perfectly on.

My veiled chameleon loves to eat the flowers as well. It completely fills my 24x24x48 cage, and I threw in a couple dead thick branches to give him something with a wider diameter to climb on as well for basking perches etc, he seems to really enjoy it all.

To grow indoors though, it probably would require a grow light to thrive like mine is.

 

[Audacity]

If there is a local plant nursery near by, such as Pike, I would go check it out. They would likely carry stronger umbrella plants than yours. Umbrella plants that were older and had stronger branches. You could probably get one of those for around $50.

 

[AZJ0SH]

Any pictures of what a small ficus would look like, maybe I am not looking for the right thing or overlooking it somehow.

I went to Lowes today, no luck but they had some larger schleffera which I might go back and get, the branches looked more sturdy.

 

[MrHarris]

Any pictures of what a small ficus would look like, maybe I am not looking for the right thing or overlooking it somehow.

I went to Lowes today, no luck but they had some larger schleffera which I might go back and get, the branches looked more sturdy.

My braided tree was $18 and the large one was $14. They do exist! You just have to hunt for them.

 

[kongchi]

One time I went to one Home Depot and there was nothing, then drove to another one and there was alot, just look around. Ficus' are my favorite tree for chams.

 

[AZJ0SH]

My braided tree was $18 and the large one was $14. They do exist! You just have to hunt for them.

The branches look tiny, do they support the weight of your chameleon? And it looks pretty dense too, does he get in the plants or just go around it?

Also, I saw a braided money tree that looks like the same thing?

 

[MrHarris]

Well mine is younger then yours so I can only assume he is smaller as well but the branches have no problem supporting him. Also he gets in the tree. I have a photo in my album of him in the taller ficus. I was told to avoid money tree for it might be is toxic.

 

[AZJ0SH]

Well mine is younger then yours so I can only assume he is smaller as well but the branches have no problem supporting him. Also he gets in the tree. I have a photo in my album of him in the taller ficus. I was told to avoid money tree for it is toxic.

Money Tree isn't toxic, there just isn't enough information to determine weather it's safe or not to use in a chameleons enclosure.

 

[MrHarris]

Like I said i was told to avoid them. And you are right there isn't enough information out to conclusively say they are or are not but why risk it? Back to the ficus, best bet is just to call around before you venture to multiple nurseries. It's has so far been a wonderful plant for me and my cham. Best of luck to you on your plant mission!

 

[AZJ0SH]

Like I said i was told to avoid them. And you are right there isn't enough information out to conclusively say they are or are not but why risk it? Back to the ficus, best bet is just to call around before you venture to multiple nurseries. It's has so far been a wonderful plant for me and my cham. Best of luck to you on your plant mission!

I never said I was going to risk it, I was just correcting your post so other members aren't misinformed.

 

[MrHarris]

I never said I was going to risk it, I was just correcting your post so other members aren't misinformed.

Oh you are very correct sir. I went ahead and edited my post to say "might be". I wouldn't want to miss lead anyone. I am no expert but I usually go by what the majority says on this forum. And the majority is uncertain (at least from the threads I've read). But again you are correct, I retract my previous "toxic" statement.

 

[AZJ0SH]

So I called a Lowes today and they assured me they had 3-4' tall ficus trees, when I got there the lady in the nursery section said they didn't have anything shorter than 6'.

After that I drove to the Home Depot that was nearby, one I usually don't go to. All I could find was some small schlefferas, and a few dying pothos, no ficus.

I am going to keep looking today, call around some more. Maybe there is a ton of chameleon owners in AZ that are snagging up all the good plants.