Hello new person need advice on plants in the cage

Fool

New Member
Hello Im planning to get a chameleon and Im going to get his enclose made first. I beleive in being proactive now because of past expierences have made me fail at great expenses. So what I plan to do is get a setup going for a baby then buy a bigger cage as well for when he gets bigger. Im following this guide http://www.screameleons.com/How_to_care_for_chameleons.htm

I was gonna get their starter kit and also wait before I buy the lizaard to get the 36x18x18 cage and also try growing some ficus and pothos and umbrella plants in the mean time as he or she grows. and move him in the bigger cage then eventually get him a 48 cage. My queston is do the plants grow bigger than the enclosure itself? if I get a 36x18x18 will the plants outgow thw cage? Im very new to this whole plant thing everything else like the misting basking light heat uv and cricets are understandable but the plants are another life form so they themselves need care on their own.

so these are what I need to know

1. Do the plants outgrow the cage if so which are good for a 36 enclousre.

2.I want to grow the plants before his an adult if I grow them outside how do I keep bugs out or flies? I have spiders and scorpians and I dont want the flies killing them by getting inside and laying eggs I read in a book that can happen.

3.Also whats better growing the plants outside or inside the thing is im on a budget and controlled income.

Thanks for any help provided I may not respond in a few days because im only on the internet a few times im also goning to move this weekend so I may not be here for a week or 2 to see your response.
 
hey there!!!

welcome to the forums..here there is alot of info you can look up and many members are willing to help...

So about the plants....you can of course use a ficus, hibiscus, umbrella plant, and pothos...

ficus-(benjamina) are very hardy and can tolerate alot of stuff-but leafs do fall off but continues to grow more leafs....:)

hibiscus- flowers edible, loves the sun and needs more watering-dont drown it-have drainage--can wilt easily if not getting proper sunlight(recommened for screen cages that are outdoors with your chameleon)

umbrella-very good plant has leafs for drinking water from for cham after misting....

pothos- just a hanging plant to add foilage used for drinking too and to add humidity in screen cage like all other live plants.


For all plants they can grow but not too fast...i suggest get a plant that fits in easily in the cage- dont worry these plants dont shoot up right away out of nowhere:D

if they do get too big then just trim the plant until it fits in the cage

IMPORTANT: PROPER DRAINAGE OF PLANTS OR CAN CAUSE EARLY WILT AND DEATH...

Overall do some research....GOODLUCK!!!

P.S: WHAT CHAMELEON ARE YOU GETTING? pANTHER ???
 
Thank you yea ill grow the plants inside and if they get big just trim them also if I do put them outside I heard of a net I can get that will keep flies out.Yep I do want a panther a 5 or 6 inch one then go from there. Ill look at this site after I move and search for things.
 
I would have to 2nd Ace's recommendation on the hanging pothos. They grow quickly but you can use the vines as walkways. Mine have grown huge in the adult cages but I dont trim them. I arrange the vines for vertical and horizontal walkways. Of all the plants I have tried, these seem to be the best for practical reasons as well as being more hardy. I usually lose a lot of leaves on my sheffrela since it cant get enough light.
 
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I use the pothos plants in my cage. Yeah they do make good walkpaths with there vines. You dont have to worry about it outgrowing the cage, just trim the vines back like you would any plants in a flower bed. Also the pothos is a good indoor plant, it wont mind the house conditions. And you can keep it bug free in the house. I have two baby pothos in my panthers cage to help with water and humitity. All my other plants are fake, so I can clean them better.

Hope this helps

Are you getting a panther from screameleons?
Thats where I got mine.

Amanda
 
Hello Im planning to get a chameleon and Im going to get his enclose made first. I beleive in being proactive now because of past expierences have made me fail at great expenses. So what I plan to do is get a setup going for a baby then buy a bigger cage as well for when he gets bigger. Im following this guide http://www.screameleons.com/How_to_care_for_chameleons.htm

I was gonna get their starter kit and also wait before I buy the lizaard to get the 36x18x18 cage and also try growing some ficus and pothos and umbrella plants in the mean time as he or she grows. and move him in the bigger cage then eventually get him a 48 cage. My queston is do the plants grow bigger than the enclosure itself? if I get a 36x18x18 will the plants outgow thw cage? Im very new to this whole plant thing everything else like the misting basking light heat uv and cricets are understandable but the plants are another life form so they themselves need care on their own.

so these are what I need to know

1. Do the plants outgrow the cage if so which are good for a 36 enclousre.

2.I want to grow the plants before his an adult if I grow them outside how do I keep bugs out or flies? I have spiders and scorpians and I dont want the flies killing them by getting inside and laying eggs I read in a book that can happen.

3.Also whats better growing the plants outside or inside the thing is im on a budget and controlled income.

Thanks for any help provided I may not respond in a few days because im only on the internet a few times im also goning to move this weekend so I may not be here for a week or 2 to see your response.

hey Foo! lol

1) for the most part, a great majority of all tropical plants will outgrow the standar sizes of cages we use. if not in height, then it will do so in width. but all in all, a great majority will out grow.
*which are good for a 36''?*
- i would prefer schefflera arboricola and ficus benjamina because they do take a little bit of time in the house to grow. also, you can prune them to size to promote better growth and a better fit.
- smaller corn plants & dracaenas, hibiscus and golden pothos would do fine. i would however suggest corn plants and dracaenas for 48'' cages.

2) are you afraid of the eggs and bugs destroying your plant or chameleon? if you are keeping your plant outside to grow it bigger, than unless you are spraying it, there isnt realy a way to keep them away. if you are nervous about eggs being laid in the soil or the plant itself, you will need to replant and repot it as well as rinse it thourghly in the shower or outside. *This should be done regardless before introducing it to your animal*

3) it all depends on the type of plant you have. some plants grow great in bright light (ficus, hibiscus especially) while someothers can and have adapted to dimmer lights (pothos and schefflera). It is your prefrence and your decision based on what you have researched


hope this helps buddy, and hope all goes well when you recieve your little guy. best of luck on him and the new move

-Phil
 
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