live plant help

[Momma Lauren]

I currently have a Schefflera Arboricola live plant in my cham's enclosure. When I purchased it 2 weeks ago I washed it, re-potted it in organic soil and put large river rocks on top of the soil to prevent my cham from eating the dirt.
I have been watering it everyday, however, it isn't doing so well the stems are drooping and a lot of of the leaves are turning brown and falling off. It seems as it's slowly dying.

Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? Can you suggest a better plant to care for? I obviously wasn't blessed with a green thumb

 

[tyler]

Sounds to me like you are over watering it. I had the same problem when I first started, not having much experience with the plant/animal combo. If you are running a dripper and misting your cham, this should be enough to keep your plant thriving, I never deliberately water my plants anymore. I would recommend changing the soil and keeping the plant outside for atleast a week or more to try and revive it. Problem is if the stays to wet, the roots start to rot.

I could be wrong though, I'm by no means a green thumb, and it could be a number of other problems, including insects. This is just my take on the issue, like I said i'm thinking it's root rot from to much water.

 

[seanUTD]

I would say maybe one of two things (I have more experience with plants than chams )... May have been when it was washed the chemicals used (not sure if you even used any...) could have not been rinsed off enough so the plant has been "stunted" in a sense and can't absorb the right nutrients... Or it could be that schefflera are a moderate light required plant and the extra heat light and UVB light are too much for it... The heat could also be the main culprit... How hot is it at the closest point to the basking area? And I would recommend palnts that can deal with more light such as hibiscus and ficus and pothos... the ficus is hardier while the hibiscus LOVES UVB and the pothos is just an AMAZINGLY hardy grower....

 

[Momma Lauren]

Sounds to me like you are over watering it. I had the same problem when I first started, not having much experience with the plant/animal combo. If you are running a dripper and misting your cham, this should be enough to keep your plant thriving, I never deliberately water my plants anymore. I would recommend changing the soil and keeping the plant outside for atleast a week or more to try and revive it. Problem is if the stays to wet, the roots start to rot.

I could be wrong though, I'm by no means a green thumb, and it could be a number of other problems, including insects. This is just my take on the issue, like I said i'm thinking it's root rot from to much water.

I have a dripper, however, it is set up in the back corner of the cage and I couldn't position the pot far enough back to have the water drip directly into the pot. I do not have a mist king. Planing on getting one in the near future.

 

[Hoj]

i love pothos, so easy, and you can just do cuttings to get more.. no real good branches tho,

 

[Momma Lauren]

I would say maybe one of two things (I have more experience with plants than chams )... May have been when it was washed the chemicals used (not sure if you even used any...) could have not been rinsed off enough so the plant has been "stunted" in a sense and can't absorb the right nutrients... Or it could be that schefflera are a moderate light required plant and the extra heat light and UVB light are too much for it... The heat could also be the main culprit... How hot is it at the closest point to the basking area? And I would recommend palnts that can deal with more light such as hibiscus and ficus and pothos... the ficus is hardier while the hibiscus LOVES UVB and the pothos is just an AMAZINGLY hardy grower....

I'm not exactly sure on the temp of the heat. I ordered a temp/humidity gauge and when it arrived it 2 days ago it was broken. I have opted to just buy one from my local pet store. I'm going today to get a new one while I make a trip for crickets.
I have heard the ficus plants could be harmful to my cham's eyes?
I also hear that hibiscus plants need more light than what a UVB can provide?
I really need a plant doesn't require a lot of maintenance. A potho maybe?

 

[Momma Lauren]

i love pothos, so easy, and you can just do cuttings to get more.. no real good branches tho,

no branches? didn't think about that. How does your cham like it?

 

[Hoj]

no branches? didn't think about that. How does your cham like it?

they seem to like them the leaves hold water well and if you hang it up the vines will grow down and around stuff. once it grows into the cage it can be really kool

jmo
hoj

 

[seanUTD]

The hibiscus I have in my cage is EXTREMELY low maintenance... All I do is let the water from the dripper go into the pot and voila water every day... And I'm not sure about UVB being not enough but mine grows out of control (not literally just a lot ) under my UVB... Mine even flowered in spring which is saying something even outside... And its the sap from the hibiscus that CAN do eye damage... Just be sure that your not leaving open wounds on the tree when its in his/her cage or doing a lot of major trimming... I agree ficus are not the greatest but they give great leaf cover at very little maintenance... And Hoj- I have been convinced to put a pothos in Stanley's cage... He is roaming for new room and all your pothos talk has convinced me so congrats haha

 

[jannb]

i love pothos, so easy, and you can just do cuttings to get more.. no real good branches tho,

I too love the pothos. They do very well in a chameleon environment. They also hold the water and help to keep up the humidity. Just add some branches and that's all you need. Take your Schefflera outside and doctor it up and then you'll have a nice plant for your little guy to hang on when he's out of the cage.

 

[Elizadolots]

One advantage of smaller chameleons: they climb all over those Pothos vines.

 

[Momma Lauren]

they seem to like them the leaves hold water well and if you hang it up the vines will grow down and around stuff. once it grows into the cage it can be really kool

jmo
hoj

Unfortuantely the enclosure I currently have won't allow for me to hang it but I may get one and see how it does sitting on the bottom. The leaves holding some water may be a great thing for my enclosure, humidity wise, seeing that I don't have a mist king yet.
Thanks for your input!

 

[Momma Lauren]

The hibiscus I have in my cage is EXTREMELY low maintenance... All I do is let the water from the dripper go into the pot and voila water every day... And I'm not sure about UVB being not enough but mine grows out of control (not literally just a lot ) under my UVB... Mine even flowered in spring which is saying something even outside... And its the sap from the hibiscus that CAN do eye damage... Just be sure that your not leaving open wounds on the tree when its in his/her cage or doing a lot of major trimming... I agree ficus are not the greatest but they give great leaf cover at very little maintenance... And Hoj- I have been convinced to put a pothos in Stanley's cage... He is roaming for new room and all your pothos talk has convinced me so congrats haha

what type of UVB do you have?

 

[Hoj]

there are alot of ways to hang them what type of enclosure do you have, but they also do ok on the bottom once the vines start to get going you can prop them up in your setup.

 

[Momma Lauren]

I too love the pothos. They do very well in a chameleon environment. They also hold the water and help to keep up the humidity. Just add some branches and that's all you need. Take your Schefflera outside and doctor it up and then you'll have a nice plant for your little guy to hang on when he's out of the cage.

Thanks for your input. I will try to doctor my schefflera back to health
In the meantime I'm thinking I'll get a hibiscus and a potho plant. My enclosure isn't very tall so it may be difficult to fit a hibisus in there... we'll see. I wasn't thinking about live plants when I bought the enclosure. Silly me.

 

[Momma Lauren]

there are alot of ways to hang them what type of enclosure do you have, but they also do ok on the bottom once the vines start to get going you can prop them up in your setup.

I bought the fresh air by Zilla (one the pet store reccomended). It is 30 long x 30 tall x 18 wide

attatched is a picture of it when I first had the cage set up. No worries- I no longer have the floor bedding, I have more branches/leaves along with my schefflera plant and a different lighting set up.

The pet store didn't quite "lead me in the right direction" when I bought all the stuff to set up his cage. SO glad to have found this site.

 

[Momma Lauren]

Sorry- here it is.

 

[allencg101]

where do you have your uvb lighting placed i put mine directly over my plants and have their basking light away from it cause that can cause problems due to the heat it puts out. so try moving your uvb light directly over the plant. i have ficus and the only thing thats killing them are my chams they are going to town on them and everytime i look over the plant i see leaves with marks of being chomped on!!!

 

[allencg101]

Sorry- here it is.

lmfao i was just about to suggest about getting rid of the water bowl then i noticed your dripper right above it silly me he he he he!!!

 

[Momma Lauren]

where do you have your uvb lighting placed i put mine directly over my plants and have their basking light away from it cause that can cause problems due to the heat it puts out. so try moving your uvb light directly over the plant. i have ficus and the only thing thats killing them are my chams they are going to town on them and everytime i look over the plant i see leaves with marks of being chomped on!!!

I have the UVB on top of the cage towards the back with the basking light in front of it. I guess I could switch it up and put the basking light in the back and the UVB in front of it?

Did that make sense? lol