Grrr plants

[KarmaChameleon1337]

As we all know it's getting to be winter, and low and behold my biggest plant which took up 60% of karma's walking space died after a year of being perfect. It decided to die in a time where I have no cheap nursery's (80 bucks for a scheflera my butt) and Lowes is basically no help in this season, now the cage feels bare.. I had to crawl INSIDE the cage to set up all the vines and branches in that cage around the plant.

 

[ChameleonRave]

I have that same problem with mine. At my work they sell tons of schefflera plants, but they are always about 45-65$ for a large schefflera.. $25 for a tiny one. >.>

 

[Pilotman800]

Those are some crazy prices!

 

[davthevieled]

Here I thought I had a hard time filling up Bo's tank D:. Good luck and hope you can figure out something soon!

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

His homemade cage is around 2x2x4-5 ish, and he's only a 5 inch senegal! When I get a red barred ambilobe or melleri one day just imagine what they're gonna get.

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

Also at the nursery there are hundreds of bees, of which I'm terrified of after an incident at 8 yrs old my brother dared me to throw a huge rock at the huuuuge beehive near our house, I didn't even know what it was.

 

[eeekroar]

Wow, I literally bought a schefflera at Walmart today for $5. Large ones were $10.

 

[JonRich]

There is a 4" Ficus near me. They want $160

 

[lindseymeder16]

I just bought a nice sized schefflera for 10 bucks and a 4.5ft tall weeping fig for 20 bucks at home depot this past weekend.

 

[JonRich]

I just bought a nice sized schefflera for 10 bucks and a 4.5ft tall weeping fig for 20 bucks at home depot this past weekend.

:hateyou:.. Sorry , i have a cold!

 

[Trin]

I know it's a bit late since your plant has died... but in the future, you can use the processes described here : http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/ornamentals/airlayer/airlayer.html that is known as air layering... it should be safe to do even while it's in a cham's tank (I'm afraid I don't quite know enough to guarantee that, but from what I do know, it should be fine) and will allow you to buy one plant and (over time) get multiple plants from it so you always have a backup. Just make sure you do stake it (and attach the layered portion to the stake both above and below the wrap) so the cham doesn't break off the spot that's being air layered when using the plant as a jungle gym!

A year is more than enough time to get two or three plants from one so you don't need to worry about having to pay those amazingly high prices again. It does work with Pothos, most Dracena, Ficus Benjamina, and Schefflera. It will take time to grow to the size of the original but it's better than nothing when it comes to a sudden plant death!

Schefflera have a medium growth rate, but if you're going to keep one of the propagated ones as a backup, you can fertilize it regularly to help it grow faster and then just replace the soil if you need to turn it into a cham home.

^^; I hope this helps you avoid those ridiculous prices in the future and best of luck finding a plant that is decently priced for the size!