Potted Live Plants

[kimbosaur]

I've been looking at ways to spruce up my snake's enclosure and have been considering using some potted live plants. Came across a little how-to on potting in eco-complete for snakes and thought I'd share in case anybody else might be interested.

Keeping Snakes | Tips, Advice and info on keeping Snakes
(http://www.freewebs.com/daz-snakes/liveplants.htm)
After reading through some old threads, I think I might just stick to fake plants for less headache. If I do add some live ones, I think they'd be potted in eco-complete like here.

[guidofatherof5]

Fake plants are the way to go in my opinion. Easy to clean and move.
The best part is you don't have to worry about all those problems that live plants create. ;)

[kimbosaur]

Yea, it really seems like the cons outweigh the pros.

[thamneil]

I actually use a lot of live plants in my enclosures. My litter of baby garters actually has an ivy potted in coconut fiber. Havent had any problems. When it dries out it starts to wilt but a quick watering and everything looks good again. I find that they really like the plant when they enter a shed cycle. They will stay in the moist pot and then shed within the twigs of ivy. Plants can be hard to maintain in a viv with adult snakes though! My ratsnakes and adult garter are expert plant exterminators! :)

-Neil

[Light of Dae]

I had a 'hen n chicks' plant for a bit, but my snake would borrow under it and ripped up all the roots lol but she loved it.

[kimbosaur]

I had to google 'hen and chicks plant'. Lol! There is something about keeping live planrs that seems fun and appealing to me...bur my naturally planted aquariums have been incredibly neglected. That's what's stopping me most. It's different with fish though because plants play a huge part in water quaility. From what I understand, the plants in a terrarium act no differently from the fake ones.

[thamneil]

They actually do play quite an important role in terrariums. They may not be so useful with Thamnophis but with other species they are. Live plants actually cause an increase in ambient humidity. This is really important and can save you from having to keep it high through artificial means. In a living terrarium they also use up excess nutrients and keep the soil biologically stable. Live plants in reptile enclosures are extremely underated!

-Neil

[EasternGirl]

I wish there were a way to put a plant in a pot...so that I can take it out when I need to clean the tank...in my female eastern's enclosure. Do you think I could put a small plant in a pot or a dish and she wouldn't destroy it? What kind of plant would you recommend? I really need to increase the humidity in her tank because she had trouble with her last shed...and I was thinking a live plant would really help with this.

[kimbosaur]

Visit the link in my first post! Its step to step and includes recommended plants. They also tell you a little trick of putting a thin layer of PVA childrens glue over the soil so the snakes dont dig it up!

[EasternGirl]

Okay thanks!

[snakehill]

Great link! I'm going to try it! My garter tank is VERY humid! I've tried everhything else!! :)

[Kantar]

Bamboo plants are the best by far

I have 2-3 in every enclosure and snake poo helps fertilize

[Kantar]

I just picked up 2 awesome looking potted bamboo plants, They were from walmart for $10

This brings me to 17 bamboo plants and the snakes often climb all through them, one of the plants is getting so big that the snakes are starting to hide within them