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Thread: Local Plants for a Vivarium?

  1. #1
    100+ Post Member Larry Wardog's Avatar
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    Default Local Plants for a Vivarium?

    I have been fascinated with the idea of a setup of local plants from plant nurseries for a Vivarium for American Toads and Northern Leopard Frogs. I was wondering if anyone has ever used these plants before or if they are adaptable for a Vivarium? The plants are:


    Cinnamon Fern
    Yellow Flag Iris
    Picasso Canna Plant "Dwarf"
    Myrtle
    Ribbon Grass
    Duck Weed
    Water lettuce
    Water hyacinth





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    100+ Post Member bcreps's Avatar
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    Default Re: Local Plants for a Vivarium?

    i had water hyacinth and i have two kinds of duckweed. there was a sweet link to a caudata thread where some guy said he kept them alive for years under a single grolux tube. but for some reason caudata says the site is suspended for the time being

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    Default Re: Local Plants for a Vivarium?

    heres the link anyway, it will work whenever the site is back. Caudata.org Newt and Salamander Forum

    you should give the hyacinth a go indoors. it would be an experiment. the only real success i saw online stating exactly how it was cared for, was in that link.

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  7. #4

    Default Local Plants for a Vivarium?

    Most of the plants you listed will just simple outgrow any tank rather quickly. Cinnamon ferns alone can grow up to 4 feet tall.
    Duckweed is not an issue to keep, but it is a nightmare to get rid of if you choose you no longer want it anymore. Water lettuce (depending on the species) and water hyacinth are great pond plants, but will never be happy in the confined spaces of a small vivarium.

    You best bet is to choose plants that are vivarium friendly, but have the same look and feel of the plants you are interested in.


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    100+ Post Member Larry Wardog's Avatar
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    Default Local Plants for a Vivarium?

    Thanks for the response guys. I was wondering if you can trim back the cinnamon fern and the iris when they grow too large?


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  10. #6

    Default Local Plants for a Vivarium?

    You can trim a cinnamon fern, but why, when you can get smaller native species, like asplenium x ebenoides? As far as the iris, I'm unsure of. The main attractor for an iris is the flower, whose flower stalk will probably grow taller than the tank. Otherwise, it would just be foliage, similar to something like a sansiveria plant


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    100+ Post Member Larry Wardog's Avatar
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    Default Local Plants for a Vivarium?

    I can look into one. I just felt because of its appeal and it can survive a moist to wet climate, it would do well on one side if the Viv. I have heard about the iris being very hardy and has a similar care to the fern. Do you have any suggestions of local plants that may do as well or even better? The Vivarium will be 5ftx2ftx2ft


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  12. #8

    Default Local Plants for a Vivarium?

    Cinnamon ferns are some of my favorites. In fact, I am planting several in my garden this spring. But they would lose their character and appeal in a Viv, since they most likely grow to their full potential. Many, many ferns do well in moist climates. In fact, most prefer it. A lot depends on the style fern you are looking for. Autumn ferns, Japanese painted ferns, tassel ferns and Korean rock ferns work well in tanks. While they aren't native ferns, they would work well.

    The iris, a lot depends on the cultivar. Some don't mind drier conditions, like those people plants as bulbs to bloom in late spring, but others are true bog plants that need similar conditions.

    Height of the tank is a big restriction. 24" sounds big until you add a drainage layer of some sort and then a proper amount of substrate. On average, you lost about 6" just for drainage and substrate. So when making decisions, you can check out the plant's growth height to get an idea.


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    Default Local Plants for a Vivarium?

    I agree 100% I looked into some plants like ribbon grass and the canna "dwarf" plant that may work. As for the Iris I feel it would be worth a shot because it would bring some height to the tank and possibly bloom. It's also one of my favorite plants to look at in my moms pond. I'll have to get pics of it. I'll look into the ferns you listed also. Maybe I'll find one that looks cooler and is smaller. Lastly what do you think about Myrtle? Would it grow in a Vivarium?


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  14. #10

    Default Local Plants for a Vivarium?

    If you are talking about myrtle as in periwinkle that creeps along the ground. It may do well. Any of the myrtle shrubs though, you may be trimming a LOT!!

    What are the specs of the tank going to be? As far as temp and humidity?


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    Default Local Plants for a Vivarium?

    For the day mid 70's to exactly 80 and at night lower 70's to upper 60's if I can get it that low. Humidity I wanted to keep at 60% in the day at least and about 80% at night. The animals are in that kind of weather right now. In the Tank I mean haha


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  16. #12

    Default Local Plants for a Vivarium?

    The humidity may be high for some of the plants. We don't typically have that high humidity here across the country. Look into plants native to The southeastern US, namely, florida.


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    100+ Post Member Larry Wardog's Avatar
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    Default Local Plants for a Vivarium?

    I was talking about periwinkle sorry for not elaborating. Where the tank is the humidity goes up at night about 20-25% of what it was in the day. I may be able to adjust it though. I use an Exo Terra Monsoon & Exo Terra Fogger occasionally. I could decrease the amount of times I either turn them on or spray the tank if that would help.
    Also I do not have this Viv either I am saving up for it currently. I do have a toad and leopard frog though

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