What large plants do you all suggest?

[Mr Wilson]

We are upgrading Shooter and Sinatra into 2, 24x24x48 cages. Currently in their 18x18x36 they both have large umbrella trees (scheflera sp?) along with vines and things that create "highways".

I know a lot of you have some pretty large cages, so I was wondering what types of plants you all like to use that have height, are safe for the chameleons, and are hearty. Thanks, in advance!

 

[Texas Panther Man]

I use schefflerra just like you. I just prune away all the small limbs and let them grow tall like a tree instead of bushy. I have used ficus also but I think the sch. do better inside and ficus seem to do better in outside cages.

 

[Syn]

Schefflera, pothos, dracaena, hibiscus..

edit: Oh yeah ficus.

 

[Mr Wilson]

We use to have a ficus and the leaves were always such a mess!! So the Schefflerra will get nice and tall though? That's definitely good to know!

 

[Warrix642]

In my adult cages I use Ficus and Schefflera. Schefflera will get very tall but they grow kinda slow, I like the Ficus a lot more. I have not used hibiscus yet but I hear they are hard to keep alive.

Dustin

 

[Mr Wilson]

We've used hibiscus. The one we have in our Ambilobe's cage has leaves only at the top and hasn't flowered since we put it in there. We're planning to switch it out after we move our chameleons into their new places. How did you keep your ficus growing so well? When we had it in our cage, it was always getting over watered because of the drips and misting so the leaves were always falling off. Since we moved it outside it's been doing so much better.

 

[jamncristian]

ficus alli are a good choice

 

[Mr Wilson]

Do you have a picture of that kind of ficus? I checked the live plant data base and they don't mention that one. Is it definitely a safe plant?

 

[Monkeykungphu]

Do you have a picture of that kind of ficus? I checked the live plant data base and they don't mention that one.

http://www.avianweb.com/ficusaliibushes.html

I believe all kinds of ficus are safe. However, I have only heard of a couple of different kinds. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong...

 

[Mr Wilson]

Next question about that ficus! How sturdy are those branches? I know the Benjamina (sp?) is pretty flimsy and won't hold up our chams, granted it was a small potted benjamina.

 

[gegeland]

ficus alli are a good choice

I agree, my ficus alli has very sturdy branches, and has grown to the size of a small tree. Definitely would recommend them.