I'm considering making a vivarium for my gray tree frogs. I really want to use native plants in it, but I'm worried that they might not like the conditions in there. If anyone knows any hardy plants that grow here or in this part of the U.S. that would grow easily in a vivarium, I'd appreciate it if you could let me know. Thanks! Also sorry if this isn't the right place for this post, I haven't been a member very long.
I'd say that tropical houseplants are the best suited for aquariums since they're used to kind of dim light and they're usually fairly hardy. A lot of midwest plants are prairie types (I think) and need full sun.
But I'm sure there are some that would go well in a tank. I'd look for shade and groundcover and plants that don't mind having their "feet" wet. Maybe violets, ferns, vinca (not sure if it tolerates damp), dichondra (kidney weed), moss, trillium, jack in the pulpit (might be too tall), siberian iris (too tall or needs too much root space),
Good luck!
Honestly a tank of just moss and ferns can look good. If you can keep the moss alive. I can't.
Thanks. I've found some nice ferns and mosses native here, and I should be able to buy some or grow it myself...
With research, anything is possible. Ive been looking for suitable California native plants for a while now. There are a number of things I've learned that may be helpful. One is that while ferns are generally a good possibility in vivarium, you can also look for other signs. Darker green colored leaves show that a plant is efficient at photosynthesis, so they generally will require less light. Evergreen plants are often prefered so that the whole vivarium doesnt die back. There are various resources for checking the native range of plants. While I wouldn't recommend against using Wikipedia I would find a resource to check it against. Sometimes Wikipedia has some mistakes on plant range.
https://www.kew.org
I used this to check plant ranges for my Australian tank, it may have some American species. If not you may need to find another site that carries plant info, maybe even a state specific one. Good luck!
1 Male Giant African Bullfrog
2 Woodhouse's Toads
11 Pacific Treefrogs
1 Dubia Roach Colony
2 Australian Green Treefrogs
The Autumn Brilliance Fern, English Ivy, Iris plants, Pachysandra, Moss, Spleenwort Fern, Japanese Pictum Fern (with good humidity) I have a PA Vivarium.
https://youtu.be/IdxfbLiIB4U
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Thanks!
The most difficult aspect of temperate plants is that they often require a wet/dry cycling as well as a cold and warm season to do well. Ferns and mosses tend to be better acclimated to terrarium conditions, as well as evergreens like Bryce said.
“Life is a journey, not a destination.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
It depends on the plant because the Iris and Day Lilly and Pachysandra all will grow without having to go dormant along with evergreen ferns. As long as you can water the plants at a moderate rate and have higher humidity they should be fine.
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I thought about not actually planting them in the tank and just removing them when they go dormant or need different conditions. The frogs won't care, and I can make it look nice...
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