dissenfecting and re-potting plants

[MALTReptiles]

Do I need to dissenfect and re-pot a plant before I put it in our guys cage? I know I need to re-pot it so there's no pesticide and fertilizer in the soil. How do we clean off the rest of the plant? THanks!

Mallorie

 

[BocaJan]

I take the plant and a bucket of soapy water outside. I squirt the roots off until I have gotten all the dirt off, then dip the plant into the soapy water. I take a sponge and wash the leaves down. You can even just do it with your hands when it is upside down. I swish and wash. I then put the plant back on the lawn and rinse it VERY well. I then take a new pot and put the plant into it with some soil that has NO fertilizers or those little white spongy things. My chams think they are food and will try to eat them. When that is all done I put river rock on top of the soil, pressing them into the soil and putting a second layer on top of the first. Water well and you've got it!

 

[Julirs]

Fill a bucket with dish-soapy water, swirl the leaves around in them, and then rinse well, repeat. Then either cover the soil in the pot with large enough river-type rocks to keep the cham from eating soil filled with fertilizers and perlite, or repot in organic soil.

 

[ScottChoc]

Thanks BocaJan,
That info was helpful for me as well. I lightly washed my plants with soapy water and rinsed them but i didn't re-pot. I like the idea of river rocks on top of the soil to prevent accidental ingestion

 

[MALTReptiles]

Thanks! I will re-pot with organic stuff since I don't want that fertilizer and crap around my big man. lol. Thanks again!

 

[Drone]

Doesn't this cause your plants to go into shock or even kill them?
I would think complet;y cleaning off the roots would NOT be recommended

Fill a bucket with dish-soapy water, swirl the leaves around in them, and then rinse well, repeat. Then either cover the soil in the pot with large enough river-type rocks to keep the cham from eating soil filled with fertilizers and perlite, or repot in organic soil.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Doesn't this cause your plants to go into shock or even kill them?
I would think complet;y cleaning off the roots would NOT be recommended

Haven't had a problem.
You could plant in a deep enough pot to be able to bury the old soil.
I have always busted up roots when re-potting, it's actually a pretty standard recommendation.

-Brad

 

[SYeretzian]

I have to do this when I wake up, have a nice pothos...but jeez couldnt find a ficus anywhere. 3 diffrent places no ficus, looks like ill be ordering a couple.

Hey on the topic I have old organic soil thats really dry is this still good? Or do I need to go buy some more? Im not much of a green thumb, killed my last ficus by trim the main stem haha. Poor plant survived a full leaf drop and no water for a month, then put it in some light and in the bathroom and it boomed only to meet its end at my hand cutting.

 

[summoner12]

I have to do this when I wake up, have a nice pothos...but jeez couldnt find a ficus anywhere. 3 diffrent places no ficus, looks like ill be ordering a couple.

Hey on the topic I have old organic soil thats really dry is this still good? Or do I need to go buy some more? Im not much of a green thumb, killed my last ficus by trim the main stem haha. Poor plant survived a full leaf drop and no water for a month, then put it in some light and in the bathroom and it boomed only to meet its end at my hand cutting.

lol i like your story!

What brand of organic soil?

I was buying this stuff that comes in green and white or red and white bags... earthgro brand or something... i forget the brand... its organic... but KILLS everything you pot in it.... well not everything........ but my GF's sister is somewhat of a green thumb and i guess this brand gives off to much methan gas due to the feces content used in the mix..... Maybe it works well in a yard setting but not good with potted plants. It killed all of my GF's plants within a week... same as my sheflera's...

 

[Drone]

Did you check out Home Depot?
The one her ein riverside has 4' plants for $15

I have to do this when I wake up, have a nice pothos...but jeez couldnt find a ficus anywhere. 3 diffrent places no ficus, looks like ill be ordering a couple.

Hey on the topic I have old organic soil thats really dry is this still good? Or do I need to go buy some more? Im not much of a green thumb, killed my last ficus by trim the main stem haha. Poor plant survived a full leaf drop and no water for a month, then put it in some light and in the bathroom and it boomed only to meet its end at my hand cutting.

 

[haleybobl]

Did you check out Home Depot?
The one her ein riverside has 4' plants for $15

My Home Depot was out of them the last time I went too. The current one I have is looking BAD, lol. I am checking one other place before I order one online.

 

[SYeretzian]

Summoner - I think its called Super Soil. It works good i used it before, just did nt know if you could use old dried up soil. Like I said im no green thumb.

Drone - Yup went to Home Depot, no go.

 

[BocaJan]

Doesn't this cause your plants to go into shock or even kill them?
I would think complet;y cleaning off the roots would NOT be recommended

It has never killed my plants. In fact it gives me a chance to remove the dried out roots, leaving viable roots. They grow like crazy after repotting.

PS A good yard dirt works without the "methane". Personally, I don't like to use manure in anything.

 

[MALTReptiles]

We just got a pretty ficus. I'll let you know how the treating of it goes!

 

[MALTReptiles]

Yeah so we bought a nicely shaped ficus and come to find out if was too tall so I had to chop a bunch of it off so it looks like it has a flat top. lol. But I didn't cut into the main braches...so it should be ok. Does anyone use a grow-light and where can I get one if I need one?

 

[summoner12]

Yeah so we bought a nicely shaped ficus and come to find out if was too tall so I had to chop a bunch of it off so it looks like it has a flat top. lol. But I didn't cut into the main braches...so it should be ok. Does anyone use a grow-light and where can I get one if I need one?

I use grow lights along side of my Reptisun lamps. Above my cages I use a dual 48" T12 fixture. Home Depot or Lowes or target sell 'grow' lights.

 

[DGray]

Super Soil isn't

Summoner - I think its called Super Soil. It works good i used it before, just did nt know if you could use old dried up soil. Like I said im no green thumb...

I hate Super Soil. I think its garbage. Its made from sawdust.

If its at all possible I would get an organic soil that is peat-based. I like Black Gold Coco-Blend, or Water Hold soils. Add coarse sand to increase drainage.

Don't worry about "disinfecting"; the plant doesn't have an infection its going to give to the chams. Wash the residues of pesticides off the leaves where possible.

Don't worry about getting rid of the old soil, just make sure they can't get at the soil. Washing off all the soil and repotting in new soil in the middle of winter is quite a shock to a plant. Take it easy.

Don't worry about artificial fertilizers. They aren't going to be present in a way that presents any kind of danger to your animals. Mild feedings with a liquid fertilizer are a good way to keep plants healthy and growing. If there is run-off from watering your plants, make sure the chams can't drink it.

If you fertilize with organic fertilizers keep a close eye out for mold and mildews. If you see any REMOVE the plant from the environment! Don't put it back until the fungus has been eliminated. Mold is not good for people either, BTW.

Growing plants should be easy and fun in a good chameleon environment.

 

[summoner12]

wow old post... update...

I use 48" T8 fixtures with zoo med UVB lamps next to 6500K color temp household lamps. the 6500K provides a spectrum of light that helps plants grow. the 'grow' lights at HD and lowes aren't really grow lights... the ones that are $10 are... but the lower price ones are 5000K color temp.. they don't make stuff grow as well.

 

[james L]

When I repot or grow a new plant i just use a mix of 60-70% peat and 30% or so vermiculite. Thats it. No ferts! I dont like the word organic, soils that say this may have animal waste in it like cow sh*t. Plants some how grow in this low nutrient mix and to me this is the safest soil. Peat is very acidic and doesnt really allow molds, bacterias, and other funks to live in it. I have been using this mix for years. But hey what the hell do i know.

 

[summoner12]

Peet moss is not good to use. You want something that can drain water away. Vermiculite isn't a good idea either because it shouldn't be eaten and retains water (it is used in shipping to retain fluids that break in shipment).

Using orchid mix and mixing sand (larger grains) will provide good drainage and not cause root rot.