Casket_Case
Avid Member
Can I wash plant foliage with water outside? I can’t do the bathtub wash because my parents would not be happy about that. Also can I just throw some gravel in the pots to stop my Chameleon from getting into the potting mix?
Cleaning plants?
- Thread starter Casket_Case
- Start date
bbyoda
Chameleon Enthusiast
Yes I just hose my branches and plants down outside in my front yard. Gravel might be too small. You want river rocks that can't be swallowed by the chameleon.
LukeTheLizard
Avid Member
I mean, if it’s just with water, I don’t see why it would hurt.
not gravel, but you have the right idea. You should put in stones that are to large for her to accidentally eat, but if you put in gravel, your Cham might accidentally eat a little gravel,and get impacted.
Casket_Case
Avid Member
Do I need to change the soil if I put in rocks?
LukeTheLizard
Avid Member
Nope, you can just set the rocks on top of the soil to cover it up.
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
I don't see why not—water is water. Missus is the green thumb—she's cleaned plants outside, bathtub/shower, kitchen sink, & kitchen table.
Not gravel—river pebbles. A couple of caveats...
- The black ones are painted, and may contain lead.
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/despite-bans-most-countries-still-have-lead-paint - The 'polished' ones are coated with some kind of oily substance.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/thr...-a-polished-river-pebbles—slightly-ot.183322/
Mmm... No, but we generally transplant new arrivals (many are root-bound, and you never know what else you may find (molds, fungus, bugs, etc.) as a matter of course. It also gives us a chance to:
- Make sure there's a drainage level at the bottom (which can be gravel).
- Leave 1-2" at the top for the river pebbles.
Casket_Case
Avid Member
Oof it’s probably gonna mess with my Canna’s growth, the rocks
Casket_Case
Avid Member
Also I like how you knew I’d go for the black ones so you mentioned the paint lmbo
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Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
I thought they looked nice too. I thought they were just black pebbles when I first bought some, but it's pretty obvious—the paint was all globby & runny on a few.
In lieu of pebbles, here's an alternative (which can be DIY with a shallow cone of screen).
https://www.amazon.com/Flower-Repellent-Safety-Protect-Children/dp/B07NTX5FDF
Casket_Case
Avid Member
Am I able to take rocks from a nearby creek? If so how would I clean them?
bbyoda
Chameleon Enthusiast
Wash em off with a hose, dawn soap, and let them bake in the sun.
Casket_Case
Avid Member
No sun here right now but I can use a hair dryer
Casket_Case
Avid Member
The plants I hosed down and sprayed each leaf I had just gotten the palm Wednesday so I made sure I rubbed each leaf to make sure theres nothing on it and now the rocks are in. I need to put more small pieces of gravel in cause some dirt peeks through the holes. I’m sorry I keep posting I’m just so anxious
Casket_Case
Avid Member
Yeah I can do that thanks
Klyde O'Scope
Chameleon Enthusiast
Sure. I've cleaned rocks with 10% bleach (dropped them in a bucketful for 10 minutes), rinse with a hose, and let dry in the air/sun. Just wait until you can't smell the chlorine at all anymore.
I don't like Dawn (personal opinion)
is dawn dish soap safe
is dawn dish soap toxic
is dawn dish soap carcinogenic
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Casket_Case
Avid Member
Back at this. I just get so anxious when I get a new plant, I don’t want him to get hurt. I got a shefflera:
I put sand and stones in the pot and I just really rinsed the plant. There’s too many leaves to actually wash them so I just rinsed them with cold water and now they’re sitting and almost dried. Should I just add them in now?
Casket_Case
Avid Member
Like a little beach in there
