chris cham
New Member
i recently bought a umbrella tree and i wanted to know what i need to do to treat it of fertilizer and pesticides
new plant
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chameleon97
New Member
Bleach, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, Give the plant ORGANIC soil with no fertilizer Or anything in it, And thats about it.
luevelvet
Avid Member
Bleach? Really?
First you need to make sure it's not the "bad" kind of umbrella tree. If you mean Schefflera, make sure its Arboricola Variety. If it's tall and has proportionally large leaves, then it may be one that is often considered to be "not safe".
I usually give the plant a good long rinse in the shower. I usually go the extra mile and gently wipe each leaf as it's being rinsed. Rinse it for a good 30 mins and make sure you get under and around all of the leaves and stems etc...
Now you want to repot the plant. I usually use an organic potting soil from the local hydroponics shop, but you can use a mixture of compost, coco coir and sand (if it's too muddy). Just as long as there isn't any perlite (little white rocks) in the mix you'll do fine. Some place river rocks on top of the soil to prevent their chameleons from eating the dirt but I haven't had that issue in a little while so I simple just place a layer of coco coir on top of the soil just in case. It's very fine, so there's little concern for impaction and retains moisture well for the plant itself.
Rinse the leaves one last time while you water the plant after repotting.
HTH,
Luis
First you need to make sure it's not the "bad" kind of umbrella tree. If you mean Schefflera, make sure its Arboricola Variety. If it's tall and has proportionally large leaves, then it may be one that is often considered to be "not safe".
I usually give the plant a good long rinse in the shower. I usually go the extra mile and gently wipe each leaf as it's being rinsed. Rinse it for a good 30 mins and make sure you get under and around all of the leaves and stems etc...
Now you want to repot the plant. I usually use an organic potting soil from the local hydroponics shop, but you can use a mixture of compost, coco coir and sand (if it's too muddy). Just as long as there isn't any perlite (little white rocks) in the mix you'll do fine. Some place river rocks on top of the soil to prevent their chameleons from eating the dirt but I haven't had that issue in a little while so I simple just place a layer of coco coir on top of the soil just in case. It's very fine, so there's little concern for impaction and retains moisture well for the plant itself.
Rinse the leaves one last time while you water the plant after repotting.
HTH,
Luis
ZippiesPal
New Member
Im just getting set up...
Where can I get coco coir? Well, first, what is coco coir?
I am planning to get a Panther Chameleon in a few weeks. I already have a cage (2x2x4) ordered and I just bought a new ficus tree from a local nursery.
I cannot recall where I have heared that vermiculite and perlite are bad, but I do recall reading that somewhere. The tree I got is about two and a half feet tall in its new pot, and there is perlite in the soil. I asked the nursery to wash all the leaves of chemicals, and I believe they have done so.
The nursery told me that there is a good chance that my ficus will drop all of its folage just from the stress of repotting. After the new leaves have sprouted, they should be clean, right?? I do not plan to add any fertalizer, but there is undoutably some traces still inside the plant (from the nursery or its supplier). How pure is pure enough?
Is there any need to allow the plant time to "flush" the fertalizer (or whatever) from its system, or are we only concerned with the surfaces of the leaves? It seems like the Chameleon could be exposed if the crickets eat the leaves and then are eaten by the Chameleon. Or maybe just the chameleons physical contact with the leaves is the route of intake.
One route of intake described above is ingestion, and the other is adsorbtion. Which 'route of entry' are we actualy concerned with when getting a new plant?
I have done some reading already, but this is the first time I have cunsulted a forum about chameleons.
I am wondering why you would hatch babies in vermiculite or perlite if it is so bad for the adults?
Where can I get coco coir? Well, first, what is coco coir?
I am planning to get a Panther Chameleon in a few weeks. I already have a cage (2x2x4) ordered and I just bought a new ficus tree from a local nursery.
I cannot recall where I have heared that vermiculite and perlite are bad, but I do recall reading that somewhere. The tree I got is about two and a half feet tall in its new pot, and there is perlite in the soil. I asked the nursery to wash all the leaves of chemicals, and I believe they have done so.
The nursery told me that there is a good chance that my ficus will drop all of its folage just from the stress of repotting. After the new leaves have sprouted, they should be clean, right?? I do not plan to add any fertalizer, but there is undoutably some traces still inside the plant (from the nursery or its supplier). How pure is pure enough?
Is there any need to allow the plant time to "flush" the fertalizer (or whatever) from its system, or are we only concerned with the surfaces of the leaves? It seems like the Chameleon could be exposed if the crickets eat the leaves and then are eaten by the Chameleon. Or maybe just the chameleons physical contact with the leaves is the route of intake.
One route of intake described above is ingestion, and the other is adsorbtion. Which 'route of entry' are we actualy concerned with when getting a new plant?
I have done some reading already, but this is the first time I have cunsulted a forum about chameleons.
I am wondering why you would hatch babies in vermiculite or perlite if it is so bad for the adults?
dodolah
Retired Moderator
You don't need all that stuff. Just get an organic potting soil at your local nursery. Make sure it does not contain chemical fertilizer or any plant conditioner.
http://chamworld.blogspot.com/2008/01/veiled-and-panther-chameleon-care-101b.html
yes. Please avoid having them laying around in your chameleon enclosure
I do not believe this is a normal practice of any nursery (at least the one i have visited). Better be safe than sorry. Just wash the leaves yourself
and repot the soil. It's not that hard of a job. (I list the process on the link I provided earlier)
Yes.. Ficuses do have tendency to drop their leaves when there is a change to their environment. But, so far, I have never had one completely stripped ALL of their leaves after one repotting incidence.
I think you are being overly critical here.. but, that doesn't mean a bad thing.
As far as cricket eating ficus and the cricket gets to be eaten by chameleon, that certainly a possibility. But, let me give you an even more direct route.
Your chameleon is eating the ficus leaves. (Veiled especially do have tendency to eat plant matters). Hence, this is why we tried to do the best we can to remove any chemical trace and poison from the plants.
crickets love to bury themselves into a soil. Your chameleon might ingest the perlite accidentally during the hunt.
Another thing is.. chameleon has been observed to eat soil matter once in a while for unknown reasons.. So, if you have perlite laying around on the soil, you might risk them ingesting the perlite/ vermiculite.
hatched babies don't eat until they finish their yolk supplies.
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DGray
Avid Member
Cleaning a plant
First, I should say I'm in the nursery and plant business. I know the worst sides of it, too.
Sad to say, no one is growing house plants organicly.
The green houses and houseplant growers use a variety of horrible stuff to fight pests and diseases, and they may be not just on the surface of the leaves, but throughout the plant's tissue and roots. They often use a separate product to keep their sprays on the leaves called a "spreader/sticker". This can make it really hard to clean the leaves well. I wash the outside of the plant with soap. I keep the pot covered so the soil is inaccessible. Only time will reduce the amount of pesticides inside the plant. Hopefully your cham won't eat too much of the plant in the mean time.
For the actual cleaning, I spray the plant with Safer's Insecticidal Soap; then wipe with a very soft cloth while wet. Often, the greenhouse sprays are pretty stuck on, and require another round of soap and wiping. Simple Green or another mild soap might be good, but I would not use Dawn or any other detergent.
I'm not worried about organic vs. inorganic soils, just providing a positive barrier against the animals getting to it. Nylon window screen and large rocks seem to work.
And I can tell you in the long run, your potted plants will not grow well without additions of fertilizers. I feed my plants with a good quality chemical fertilizer about every two weeks. I know it can be done with organic fertilizers, but they present their own dangers, and bad smells I don't care for.
If your going to repot, winter is not the best time for it. I wait until spring where possible. And if you don't like perlite, vermiculite, or pumice (danger of impaction), your only choice in drainage materials is sand. Coarse sand mixed with potting soil should give a great free-draining mix that takes misting and drippers and urates and so-forth...
Hope all your plants grow lushly, and your lizards are all happy.
First, I should say I'm in the nursery and plant business. I know the worst sides of it, too.
Sad to say, no one is growing house plants organicly.
The green houses and houseplant growers use a variety of horrible stuff to fight pests and diseases, and they may be not just on the surface of the leaves, but throughout the plant's tissue and roots. They often use a separate product to keep their sprays on the leaves called a "spreader/sticker". This can make it really hard to clean the leaves well. I wash the outside of the plant with soap. I keep the pot covered so the soil is inaccessible. Only time will reduce the amount of pesticides inside the plant. Hopefully your cham won't eat too much of the plant in the mean time.
For the actual cleaning, I spray the plant with Safer's Insecticidal Soap; then wipe with a very soft cloth while wet. Often, the greenhouse sprays are pretty stuck on, and require another round of soap and wiping. Simple Green or another mild soap might be good, but I would not use Dawn or any other detergent.
I'm not worried about organic vs. inorganic soils, just providing a positive barrier against the animals getting to it. Nylon window screen and large rocks seem to work.
And I can tell you in the long run, your potted plants will not grow well without additions of fertilizers. I feed my plants with a good quality chemical fertilizer about every two weeks. I know it can be done with organic fertilizers, but they present their own dangers, and bad smells I don't care for.
If your going to repot, winter is not the best time for it. I wait until spring where possible. And if you don't like perlite, vermiculite, or pumice (danger of impaction), your only choice in drainage materials is sand. Coarse sand mixed with potting soil should give a great free-draining mix that takes misting and drippers and urates and so-forth...
Hope all your plants grow lushly, and your lizards are all happy.
skully23
New Member
These are two kinds of umbrellas.
If it looks like this --> http://www.flickr.com/photos/44910169@N07/4213952028/ or http://www.flickr.com/photos/44910169@N07/4213950614/in/photostream/
Then I was told its toxic and not good to use.
If it looks like this --> http://www.flickr.com/photos/44910169@N07/4213957890/in/photostream/
Then it should work as long as there is no fertilized soil.
Do any of these look like yours?
ZippiesPal
New Member
Thanks for all the good help.
Zippy doesnt come home for another month, so I have some time to get my act together.
I asked the nursery specificaly to wash the leaves, and I explained WHY such measures are to be taken. I am sure they did so, but I can go over each with some mild soap between now and when Zippy comes home.
There is Perlite in that soil, but I think I can use some flat rocks or even a piece of screen to keep the perlite away from my new friend. I think I could even use some sand in amoung the shoots as they come out where the screen cant cover.
As for the chemicals heald up in the actual plant matter, there just isnt much I can do about that. I have a month to keep it watered and free of fertalizers and pesticides. Given the slow metabolic rate that a plant would have, I suspect that internal chemicals and fortalizers will take a long time to clear. I think I will just have to live with that.
How long do MOST cham-keepers wait before putting a new plant into an enclosure?
Zippy doesnt come home for another month, so I have some time to get my act together.
I asked the nursery specificaly to wash the leaves, and I explained WHY such measures are to be taken. I am sure they did so, but I can go over each with some mild soap between now and when Zippy comes home.
There is Perlite in that soil, but I think I can use some flat rocks or even a piece of screen to keep the perlite away from my new friend. I think I could even use some sand in amoung the shoots as they come out where the screen cant cover.
As for the chemicals heald up in the actual plant matter, there just isnt much I can do about that. I have a month to keep it watered and free of fertalizers and pesticides. Given the slow metabolic rate that a plant would have, I suspect that internal chemicals and fortalizers will take a long time to clear. I think I will just have to live with that.
How long do MOST cham-keepers wait before putting a new plant into an enclosure?
