Yet Another Plant Question

[Sammag]

I wish to venture into keeping chameleons. I have been researching for a few months now and so far i seem to grasp everything so now i have moved on to enclosure "landscaping" if you will. I have kept many tropical geckos so I am no stranger to tropical tank layouts, but as I scanned through the various plant databases there are, I found no mention of a plant that I often use, not noted as OK or otherwise. The plant I am refering to is Hedera Helix Ivy (a.k.a. English Ivy, Common Ivy)

I have housed roughly 7 gecko enclosures with this plant and it has always helped in keeping more humidity, providing things to climb on, and lastly and most important in my book, the way the leaves are shapped act as little cups to retain fair amounts of water from mistings!

My question to you all is if I can employ this plant in my soon to be cham enclosure? Also will the common fern be ok to use?

I know a good amount about gecko safe plants. Chams, well not as much

P.S. Another reason i love this plant is that it is fast growing and soon covers much of the cage, making it feel quite tropical.

-Thanks,
Sam

 

[Chameleon Caretaker]

You will get the same results with Pothos. There a fast growing vine like plant with a great leaf patern. It's the only plant I'll use and my chams love them.

 

[Dnectrum]

I know I am not answering your question but I have been in the same situation as you.

I have done a bit of researching and through the advice of many experienced forum members they have shown me some of the better plants to use so I will just list them here.

Golden Pothos, DWARF Umbrella Tree (Shefflera Arboricola), Ficus Benjamina, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis

Alot of these can be found at a local garden shop/lowes/home depot, It is advised that you take the time to clean these plants and repot them in an organic and un-fertalized soil - However there are also many alternatives to repotting that does not involve soil what so ever.

Alternatives
I have found members that have used a Coconut Fiber/Sand Mix to aid in drainage and the plants water retention as you don't want to drown your plants any more than they may already be between mistings.

This is only 1 alternative, I know it isn't much but I am sure some of the members here may jump on this post and give a little insight with links and such!

Good Luck!

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Considering that many species will at least bite at their plants and others consume great quantities (veiled)
I have to say no.

http://www.scib.gc.ca/pls/pp/ppack.info?p_psn=98&p_type=all&p_sci=sci&p_x=px

http://www.aun.edu.eg/distance/pharmacy/poison/hedera.htm

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Hederhe.htm

-Brad

 

[Sammag]

Considering that many species will at least bite at their plants and others consume great quantities (veiled)
I have to say no.

http://www.scib.gc.ca/pls/pp/ppack.info?p_psn=98&p_type=all&p_sci=sci&p_x=px

http://www.aun.edu.eg/distance/pharmacy/poison/hedera.htm

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Hederhe.htm

-Brad

Allright good to know, I suppose ill just use pothos then as already reccomended.

P.S. Does anyone know if it is ok to use ferns?

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I believe most (if not all) ferns are okay.
Boston fern is safe.

-Brad

 

[Sammag]

Well today I bougt my interesting pothos plant as well as a luna hibiscus plant (I have read this plant is acceptable, is that true?) and reppotted them both in organic soil mixed in with sand and a little cocnut husk (For aiding in drainage, will both plants take to the soil mixture) after washing them a bit. Now I like to keep my plants thriving as much as possible and have read that hibiscus plants do best when given plant food. Would an organic plant food be cham-safe? Where could I find such a product?

-Thanks
Sam