the ultimate (?) plant thread

[deranged chipmunk]

Can someone try to identify this plant please.
http:// [IMG]http://i173.photobucket....jpg[/IMG]

i will work on it. you have any info on it??

[Bdimas]

Thanks man. Not really. I bought a growers choice package off eBay a while back. They were labeled but I think I threw the labels out.

[NickHendrix007]

Hey ya'll! I've moved on to the plant planning for my 20gal long FBT tank. I came across genus Platystele which are types of orchids. They are miniature in size, making them (I think.... Bill does this make sense?) ideal for smaller enclosures such as a mini desktops, 10, or 20 gal enclosure. Plus, quite a few I've researched enjoy wet, humid environments and can also function as epyphitics (sp?) I have a huge list of plants I'm slowly pruning down (pun intended) into a smaller list so that I can fit everything into my tank without looking overcrowded. Here's a site I've been using to check out some possible platystele types ----> Platystele

Tons of 'em!!! Enjoy and hope it helps someone!

[deranged chipmunk]

Orchids are wonderful plants. Some like high humidity, some do not. Almost all are epipytes. And yes, minis are exactly that. Small ones for terrariums and such. Just research the species well since even some minis throw out 12-14" spikes.

[DFM]

So I have a plant question, how does someone with very minimal knowledge of plants and no knowledge about individual plant species choose the right plants for an enclosure? I have no live plants in any of my tanks. well thats not true, there are some random branches that were gathered from where the frogs were found that have been stuck in the soil to provide something for the frogs to climb on. The branches are starting to grow leaves! all this time i thought there were dead, then one day randomly (months after removing them from nature) they start to grow.

Anyways, I want something more than some live branches. I've tried doing research about this on my own but I dont really know enough to know how to learn more if that makes sense. I just need some tips on choosing the right plant for the frogs.

[fish4all]

Lots and lots of research. I researched for 3 weeks before I found Peperomias to be ideal for what I needed. There are books out there that are supposed to be really good but I have not bought one yet. Other than that, ask people on here that already know.

[DFM]

I think im going to write a book that details plants that are good for frog vivariums, what species and environments they work well with, and most importantly WHY they work with them. I was hoping I would find something like this somewhere but it looks like im going to have to write it myself (when i have the knowledge to do so that is).

[UncleChester]

So I have a plant question, how does someone with very minimal knowledge of plants and no knowledge about individual plant species choose the right plants for an enclosure?

Being cheap, this is the approach I took:

1.) Go to places that sell house plants.
2.) Take notes of anything that looks interesting, include name if available. Or take pictures. Or ask the people selling the plant what it is.
2.5) Use picture to try to find an ID, post here if you like
3.) Go home, google "name of plant + frog vivarium" or something along those lines to see if the plant is safe in a frog tank.
4.) If yes, find out it's growing conditions and go to step 5.) otherwise go back to 1.)
5.) If it will work in your vivarium, go back and buy plant and proceed to step 6.) otherwise go back to 1.)
6.) x number if plants is not enough. You want at least x+1 plants, so return to step 1.)

Eventually, if you keep reading posts in the vivarium section, you will start coveting Bill's tanks and if you know where he lives you will head over with pruners and a small shovel. Or you'll enter the world of online plant shopping which my wallet wants no part of.

[DFM]

Thank you brian, this is exactly the nudge in the right direction that I needed. As my wallet can barely keep up with the basic care of having 6 frogs and 2 tanks I think i will leave the online plant trading and shopping to the experienced ones for now.

[fish4all]

Remember when it comes to plants that a lot of them will produce more or can be propagated with ease. A couple plants can become 50 in as little as 6 months in the right conditions. I can't afford to buy a lot of plants. I started with 3 Peperomia and I now have 27 after giving away 9 of them. It is time to do some more trimming and start some more. It helps that I really like to grow plants and start new ones. There really aren't too many that I have found that are not fairly easy to propagate or they will produce more in a few months.

[deranged chipmunk]

Being cheap, this is the approach I took:

1.) Go to places that sell house plants.
2.) Take notes of anything that looks interesting, include name if available. Or take pictures. Or ask the people selling the plant what it is.
2.5) Use picture to try to find an ID, post here if you like
3.) Go home, google "name of plant + frog vivarium" or something along those lines to see if the plant is safe in a frog tank.
4.) If yes, find out it's growing conditions and go to step 5.) otherwise go back to 1.)
5.) If it will work in your vivarium, go back and buy plant and proceed to step 6.) otherwise go back to 1.)
6.) x number if plants is not enough. You want at least x+1 plants, so return to step 1.)

Eventually, if you keep reading posts in the vivarium section, you will start coveting Bill's tanks and if you know where he lives you will head over with pruners and a small shovel. Or you'll enter the world of online plant shopping which my wallet wants no part of.

Like he'd be the first to come to my house with pruners....lol

A simple rule of thumb i always tell people is that "most" plants at big box stores that are labeled "tropical" will do well in a viv. I will admit, i went through a bit of trial and error. I still do. Great beginner plants are fittonias, peperomias, some dracaenas, bromeliads, calathea, and my favorites, ferns. You can never go wrong with a nice fern.

[deranged chipmunk]

I forgot, an excellent source of info is a garden center that has a terrarium section. They are getting more popular. Talk to the people who work there. They are a wealth of info. Try not to base your knowledge from folks at home depot or lowes. Not that they don't have any knowledge, just that they normally have no knowledge as it pertains to our hobby. There are some bright folk working the garden sections of those places, but tell them you want to put the plants in a tank with 90% humidity and you'll get funny looks....lol

[Heatheranne]

I forgot, an excellent source of info is a garden center that has a terrarium section. They are getting more popular. Talk to the people who work there. They are a wealth of info. Try not to base your knowledge from folks at home depot or lowes. Not that they don't have any knowledge, just that they normally have no knowledge as it pertains to our hobby. There are some bright folk working the garden sections of those places, but tell them you want to put the plants in a tank with 90% humidity and you'll get funny looks....lol

Isn't that the truth, lol! I used to get that look a lot. Now they enjoy helping 'the frog lady', lol!

[arielgasca420]

just bought two cuttings of plumeria frangipani and some dragon fruit seeds. Fingers crossed that my novice knowledge of plant propagation will yield some healthy plants this year and hopefully some yummy fruit in the few years to come!

[deranged chipmunk]

I don't think the plumeria is gonna fit in a viv long. Iol using rooting powder in a wet substrate?

I just acquired a couple plugs from my buddy who is a commercial grower. Sent me a nice miniature herdera sp.and another i forgot the name of.

[arielgasca420]

Bill. My whole room is a greenhouse! thats why I run the humidifier all the time!
The plumeria will be in my room with the rest of my tropicals until it is established to go outside.
Since my window is south facing it is perfect for most plants that need a lot of sunlight.

[Heatheranne]

I forgot, an excellent source of info is a garden center that has a terrarium section. They are getting more popular. Talk to the people who work there. They are a wealth of info. Try not to base your knowledge from folks at home depot or lowes. Not that they don't have any knowledge, just that they normally have no knowledge as it pertains to our hobby. There are some bright folk working the garden sections of those places, but tell them you want to put the plants in a tank with 90% humidity and you'll get funny looks....lol

...and/or tell them it's for your frogs, lol!

[flybyferns]

A "Billy Begonia" sticky for an awesome thread!

[deranged chipmunk]

funny, i have been posting in forums for a LONG time, and this is my first sticky!!LOL Billy Begonia....LOL

[lucidremedy]

Hello all! Im new to the site, and new to making living terrariums.

I just wanted to say, the past couple of days I have been reading and looking over this thread and its helped me alot!