Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a planted vivarium set up currently, with a bio-active substrate. I'm looking to set up another tank similarly(although I think this one will have plants contained in rubbermaid type containers, rather than planting the whole bottom, so it can be broken down easier), and I was wondering something-

Are there any non-toxic fertilizers I can use for my planted reptile cages? Currently, I water my potted plants with the dirty water from my aquarium, but I don't want to do that with plants in a cage.

Most fertilizers from Wal-Mart are toxic.. So, other than replacing my topsoil every couple months, what can I do to help my plants grow well? Right now, I mix topsoil with peat humus and sand, the same as "organic potting soil", but the nutrients are still sucked out of it pretty fast..
Any advice?

Who are the residents of the enclosure?

You can also buy worm casings and make a tea of sorts that is completely natural and a very good fertilizer.
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.10 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child -coming soon-

That was supposed to be "Castings"
-----
Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.10 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child -coming soon-

Right now, the inhabitants are plastic frogs. Both tanks are going to get a crested gecko, and when they're old enough to be housed together, they're both going to go into one. The other.. I'm not really sure; I could end up with another crested, some tree frogs of some kind, or an ATB. It'd be big enough for any of those.

So, what are worm castings? How does that work?

Worm castings is another name for worm poo. Castings are one of the best fertilizers you can find, and they are very safe to use around animals. Castings, in addition to having an abundance of available nutrients, also contain beneficial microbes and bacteria. To make "worm tea" you simply mix castings and water(preferably chlorine-free) at a 1:3 ratio. You let the mixture soak over night and then you use it. The soaking allows the microbes in the castings to multiply. You can filter out the casting from the water using a coffee filter or cheese cloth so you can put the worm tea in a spray bottle, or you can just use it as is. You can also just add the pure castings to your soil mixture, but it should not be more than 20-30% of the mixture. You can find castings at most garden centers, or you can buy online. Josh