organic potting soil??

[lisagr07]

i've purchased a couple of plant so use in my upcoming chameleon cage, ( i know, it's kinda like i'm getting the cart b4 the horse, but i wanted them to get rained on a few times so as to wash off any pesticides or fertilizers the nurseries might have used on them.)
there has been mention of repotting plants and using an "organic mix". the other day when i was at Home Depot they had something by Miracle Gro called "Organic Choice" potting mix. it advertised that it "continuously feeds up to 2 months", so i'm thinking there are fertilizers in it...

is this something that is OK to use, or is there another product i need to look for?

thanks,, lisa

 

[Goggles]

I mixed an organic soil without fertilizer with sand to help with drainage.

 

[ghettomike]

im guessing that if miracle gro makes it that there is some kind of fertilizer init, it should say on the bag? If unsure about it and you cant find anything else another option is to get a bag of river stones and cover all the dirt with them, just make sure they are large enough that your cham cant eat them.

 

[Elizadolots]

According to their website:

Contains an exclusive mix of 100% organic ingredients: compost, sphagnum peat moss and manure. Natural fertilizers provide both quick- and slow-release feeding to get plants off to a fast start and keep them growing. Delivers nearly double the yields of topsoil naturally.

**edited to add**

From the label (pdf file):

Ingredients
This product is regionally formulated with organic
materials (derived from one or more of the following:
forest products, peat humus, or compost), sphagnum
peat, composted manure (in Florida, cow manure) and
poultry litter.
In California and Texas, regionally formulated from
forest products, compost, sphagnum peat, composted
manure and poultry litter.

 

[dodolah]

i've purchased a couple of plant so use in my upcoming chameleon cage, ( i know, it's kinda like i'm getting the cart b4 the horse, but i wanted them to get rained on a few times so as to wash off any pesticides or fertilizers the nurseries might have used on them.)

Actually, you are practicing a proper husbandry.
You SHOULD get everything readied first before the chameleon arrived.
You are doing a good job.

As far as washing pesticide trace on the plant, you do not need to wait for rain.
Here is what you can do:
http://chamworld.blogspot.com/2008/01/veiled-and-panther-chameleon-care-101b.html

I don't use miracle Gro. So, I am not familiar if it's actually ok to use. I used supersoil potting soil. I heard a rumor, however, supersoil used avian's feces as fertilizer. So, i am in process of finding one better.. So, i am sure other members here can provide a better option.

 

[lisagr07]

I mixed an organic soil without fertilizer with sand to help with drainage.

that's what i'm looking to find, something organic without fertilizer... do you recall what brand it was??
thanks,, lisa

 

[lisagr07]

im guessing that if miracle gro makes it that there is some kind of fertilizer init, it should say on the bag? If unsure about it and you cant find anything else another option is to get a bag of river stones and cover all the dirt with them, just make sure they are large enough that your cham cant eat them.

unfortunately i didn't have time to check out the ingredients but my impression was, that since it was a Miracle Gro product there was probably some type of fertilizer in it.. and that was defeating the purpose of "fertilizer free organic".


thanks,, lisa

 

[lisagr07]

According to their website:


**edited to add**

From the label (pdf file):

so does that mean it's a "yes" or a "no" as far as being the type of mix that is acceptable?

thanks for looking for me,,, lisa

 

[lisagr07]

Actually, you are practicing a proper husbandry.
You SHOULD get everything readied first before the chameleon arrived.
You are doing a good job.

As far as washing pesticide trace on the plant, you do not need to wait for rain.
Here is what you can do:
http://chamworld.blogspot.com/2008/01/veiled-and-panther-chameleon-care-101b.html

I don't use miracle Gro. So, I am not familiar if it's actually ok to use. I used supersoil potting soil. I heard a rumor, however, supersoil used avian's feces as fertilizer. So, i am in process of finding one better.. So, i am sure other members here can provide a better option.

thanks Frans,,
i appreciate your approval as to the preparation of my future chameleons arrival.. it will be at least a couple of months b4 my chameleon is ready for me...
i assure you the whole set up will be functional b4 he gets here, i may have some tweaking to do but most of his needs will have been worked out and met!!

so, back on topic, i will wash the plants with the appropriate soap b4 the arrival time but i just figured having the plants outside and getting exposed to the elements would get rid of a fair amount of "toxins"..

i think i'm going to have to bypass the Miracle Gro Organic potting Mix in hopes that someone else here can recommend a better alternative..


thanks again,,lisa

 

[Elizadolots]

so does that mean it's a "yes" or a "no" as far as being the type of mix that is acceptable?

thanks for looking for me,,, lisa

Oh, you're welcome.

I looked up "poultry litter" because of what dodolah said, because "bird poop" is pretty high on the list of things I don't feel comfortable with. I'm going to say I don't feel comfortable with this. "Poultry Litter" can mean the bedding that is tossed on the ground of the coup (stuff like wood shavings, nut hulls, things like that) or it can mean the bedding and all the poop that's collected along with it when it's picked up off the floor later. As they are calling it a "fertilizer" I strongly suspect it's the "post use" version of "poultry litter".

 

[jannb]

I use top soil and cover the tops with LARGE river rocks or screen. You really don't want your cham to eat allot of dirt because it can also cause impaction.

 

[lisagr07]

I use top soil and cover the tops with LARGE river rocks or screen. You really don't want your cham to eat allot of dirt because it can also cause impaction.

this is probably what i'll end up doing. removing much of the original soil and just add top soil to it them cover with large flat stones. my husband manages an SW aquarium store and has stones of many shapes and sizes i can pick from...

thanks again,, lisa