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Thread: Where do you get your plants? What to look for?

  1. #1
    ScubaTalonAWD
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    Default Where do you get your plants? What to look for?

    Where does everyone get their plants? I have been looking around fish stores, and the selection is very limited. If I go to a plant store, finding appropriate plants with very little knowledge is going to be difficult. Plus most will be closed for the season. If I go up to a worker and ask for pothos, I have a feeling they are going to look at me like Im crazy. I am sure most plant store workers can not recommend good vivarium plants.

    What do I do?

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  3. #2
    Badger
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    Default Re: Where do you get your plants? What to look for?

    Honestly I get most of my plants from Walmart/Home Depot/ Lowes. They usually have a pretty decent selection and right now there are probably some nice end of season deals. I got a brom for $2.50. For more exotic plants you can order from Welcome to Black Jungle Terrarium Supply - The Natural Choice! , they have a great selection and shipping usually isn't too bad.

  4. #3
    mdtalley22
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    I like to get mine from tropiflora.com especially their ferns.

  5. #4
    ScubaTalonAWD
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    Default Re: Where do you get your plants? What to look for?

    Ok, what are some names that I look for. I see mostly scientific names listed, and it is difficult to find these in a store. What are some common viv safe plants available in a typical walmart, or nursery?

  6. #5

    Default Re: Where do you get your plants? What to look for?

    Quote Originally Posted by ScubaTalonAWD View Post
    If I go up to a worker and ask for pothos, I have a feeling they are going to look at me like Im crazy. I am sure most plant store workers can not recommend good vivarium plants.
    Have you actually tried at a dedicated plant store or garden centre? If I had a quarter for every time I've gotten funny looks when searching for frog related stuff when I tell store employees what I plan to do with the items I'm after... well I'd have ample spare change that's for sure.


    Some garden centres will carry appropriate house plants and anyone who actually sells house plants should know what a pothos aka devils ivy is. They might not be able to tell you what's frog friendly, but they should be able to tell you want will be good in a viv and you can do some more research once you know what's available near you. I get most of my plants from a garden centre that has a huge houseplant selection and I also check out walmart/homedepot/grocery stores whenever I go near one. I'm cheap so I usually only buy a type of plant once then propagate it if i need more and I aim for the cheapest discount deals I can find.

    My usual favorites (for my treefrogs):
    Pothos,
    Sansevieria, aka Snake plants aka mother in laws tongue,
    Peperomia, many varieties,
    Dracena, also many varieties,
    Maranta, aka prayer plants

    But I suggest you have a look around you and make some notes on what's available then look them up online for frog friendliness.

  7. #6
    Badger
    Guest

    Default Re: Where do you get your plants? What to look for?

    I agree with the above poster
    I'm currently using

    Pothos,
    Dracaena
    Dieffenbachia (Be careful with this if you have cats/dogs/other pets that may swallow this, It's cells irritate the throat and cause it to close (kind of like anaphylaxis) Frogs usually dont eat it, so it's pretty safe for them.
    Ficus Pumilia (Creeping Fig)
    Snake plants are great, especially for heavier frogs
    Also some random Bromeliad that I got from walmart


    Plants I'm not using but will in the future:
    Ananas lucidus, available from Black jungle
    Any "earthstar" bromelaid...earthstar being a common name.
    Calathea pretty common large leafed plant

    Those are just some of the many plants available. Like Brian said, look around and then make sure it's safe for frogs. Have fun, and good luck!

  8. #7
    100+ Post Member ViperJr's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Badger View Post
    Dieffenbachia (Be careful with this if you have cats/dogs/other pets that may swallow this, It's cells irritate the throat and cause it to close (kind of like anaphylaxis) Frogs usually dont eat it, so it's pretty safe for them. for heavier frogs
    I agree about the toxicity, but I just want to add that pothos are toxic too if digested. Not a problem with frogs like you said, but still. For some reason, the toxicity of pothos seems to be very much more unkown that the toxicity of dieffenbachia.

  9. #8
    Badger
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    Default Re: Where do you get your plants? What to look for?

    Quote Originally Posted by ViperJr View Post
    I agree about the toxicity, but I just want to add that pothos are toxic too if digested. Not a problem with frogs like you said, but still. For some reason, the toxicity of pothos seems to be very much more unkown that the toxicity of dieffenbachia.
    Thanks for the tip, I had no idea :O

  10. #9

    Default Re: Where do you get your plants? What to look for?

    A list of plants hazardous to cats and dogs is enormous, pothos is always on it but I think must be pretty low as my cats have eaten a good amount of it over the years. Dracenas are often listed as well, as are Philodendron, Ficus, and many others common to frog vivariums. The general rule is to try not to let your furry pets eat any of your plants as it's potentially harmful to the animal and generally not in the plants best interest either.

    I don't use Dieffenbachia partly because I don't really like the look or feel of them and Tony has mentioned it has a possible frog hazard a few times: http://www.frogforum.net/tree-frogs/...html#post59559 How dangerous it turns out to be for frogs I don't really know though.

  11. #10
    100+ Post Member ViperJr's Avatar
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    I know some people say that the dieffenbachia is more dangerous than pothos because of higher concentration of... the posionous stuff. However, I've never actually found anyone that've actually had a bad experince or accident with them. I'm guessing it's because the zap is never in contact with the frogs anyway, unless you actually use a knife to cut the "veins" and rubb the zap all over the plant.

    Just for the record, I'm no biologist, zoologist or anything. Just recapping what I've read and encountered on forums and from talking to people.

  12. #11
    Badger
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    Default Re: Where do you get your plants? What to look for?

    ^^ agreed :P

  13. #12
    heeyyparis
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    Default Re: Where do you get your plants? What to look for?

    is the soil that the plants are in from home depot/lowes safe for the frogs? i noticed white things,i have no idea what it is, in the soil. i wanted to make sure it was okay to still use those plants before i bought any.

  14. #13
    Badger
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    Default Re: Where do you get your plants? What to look for?

    The soil is not safe due to fertilizers...Basically re-pot them in un fertilized/pesticide/fungicide free soil or Eco-earth or similar product and let them grow in that for about 3-4 weeks for the fertilizer to grow out of them.

  15. #14
    BG
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    Default Re: Where do you get your plants? What to look for?

    Its funny you mentioned the pothos other name aka devils ivy. In some cultures pothos is considered bad luck,so is goldfish, and so on.lol I even used to hear my aunts say that when i was a young boy.Pothos is the Greek word for 'longing', a divine power (daimon).
    Quote Originally Posted by UncleChester View Post


    Have you actually tried at a dedicated plant store or garden centre? If I had a quarter for every time I've gotten funny looks when searching for frog related stuff when I tell store employees what I plan to do with the items I'm after... well I'd have ample spare change that's for sure.


    Some garden centres will carry appropriate house plants and anyone who actually sells house plants should know what a pothos aka devils ivy is. They might not be able to tell you what's frog friendly, but they should be able to tell you want will be good in a viv and you can do some more research once you know what's available near you. I get most of my plants from a garden centre that has a huge houseplant selection and I also check out walmart/homedepot/grocery stores whenever I go near one. I'm cheap so I usually only buy a type of plant once then propagate it if i need more and I aim for the cheapest discount deals I can find.

    My usual favorites (for my treefrogs):
    Pothos,
    Sansevieria, aka Snake plants aka mother in laws tongue,
    Peperomia, many varieties,
    Dracena, also many varieties,
    Maranta, aka prayer plants

    But I suggest you have a look around you and make some notes on what's available then look them up online for frog friendliness.

  16. #15
    heeyyparis
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    Default Re: Where do you get your plants? What to look for?

    well, im going to a reptile expo tomorrow, so should i just wait and buy plants from there that already are fertilizer-free? i have never been to one of these expo's, so i dont know what to expect.

  17. #16
    100+ Post Member ViperJr's Avatar
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    Default Re: Where do you get your plants? What to look for?

    Quote Originally Posted by heeyyparis View Post
    well, im going to a reptile expo tomorrow, so should i just wait and buy plants from there that already are fertilizer-free? i have never been to one of these expo's, so i dont know what to expect.
    They might be, but I would not risk it. Use the standard cleaning procedure for every plant you buy, if you ask me.

  18. #17
    Badger
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    Default Re: Where do you get your plants? What to look for?

    I agree with viper...you may get a better selection at an expo though

  19. #18
    heeyyparis
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    Default Re: Where do you get your plants? What to look for?

    thanks!

  20. #19
    Badger
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    Default Re: Where do you get your plants? What to look for?

    No problem, here to help :P

  21. #20

    Default Re: Where do you get your plants? What to look for?

    Quote Originally Posted by heeyyparis View Post
    is the soil that the plants are in from home depot/lowes safe for the frogs? i noticed white things,i have no idea what it is, in the soil. i wanted to make sure it was okay to still use those plants before i bought any.

    It's probably perlite, little bits of volcanic glass used to help prevent soil compaction. This stuff is an impaction risk to your frogs and make absolutely sure that you remove all of it before putting the plant in your vivarium. I just rinse the potting soil off, rinse the plant, and triple check that no perlite is still attached to the plant before using in a vivarium.

    I've only been to a handful of reptile expos, but I've found much better deals on plants elsewhere. It's a good place to go for ideas though, you'll hopefully find a few planted tanks on display.

    Quote Originally Posted by ViperJr View Post
    I know some people say that the dieffenbachia is more dangerous than pothos because of higher concentration of... the posionous stuff. However, I've never actually found anyone that've actually had a bad experince or accident with them. I'm guessing it's because the zap is never in contact with the frogs anyway, unless you actually use a knife to cut the "veins" and rubb the zap all over the plant.
    It could be that it will never cause problems for frogs, I don't really care for the plant in any case so I don't bother with it.

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