Reptile & Amphibian Forums

do you keep them in the pots or do you take them out? or is it only certain plants that you keep in their pots? and also how well do plants grow in gravel?

I've been wondering this too. So far I just shake all the dirt off the roots, rinse them off, and plant them directly into the top layer of coco. Some plants will grow in gravel, like the bog or water loving plants. I know java moss will grow about anywhere.

Most of the tropicals commonly used for dart vivariums will grow directly in the substrate, even though coconut fiber lacks nitrogen, at least for a long time until it begins to colonize with microorganisms and break down a bit.

You do want to wash off the roots and leaves though, as most potted plants will contain fertilizers or even pesticides. With many of the vining plants and many others, you can just take cuttings, strip off a couple of lower leaves and stuff them right in the substrate with the leaf nodes under the soil, where they will root.

For epiphytes such as most of the bromeliads we use, you can just wire the bare plant to a branch, or background such as pressed coconut fiber or cork bark, mist enough to keep the axils and center vase full of water, and they'll do just fine that way. They require very little nourishment, and get some from just the detritus that collects in the axils.

Some people do like to keep the plants in pots, and this is fine, as long as the soil is organic and not contaminated, but I find it rather difficult to space them where I want them to grow.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
6 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
7 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
6 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
6 P. terribilis mint and organe
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus
2 D. azureus
4 P vittatus
2 P. lugubris

Yes, I forgot to address the gravel question. Java, aquatic plants, as mentioned, (we talked about Anubias in a recent post) and even some vines such as Pothos, ivy and vining ficus will grow in straight water. Of course, these latter plants are going to straggle out of it and also root in the soil.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
6 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
7 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
6 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
6 P. terribilis mint and organe
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus
2 D. azureus
4 P vittatus
2 P. lugubris

it depends on the plant, most moss grows well in gravel and many ferns will do ok with just a little soil. air plant need nothing and shouldn't have anything, cause they will rot otherwise. bromeliad pups can be taken off larger ones and they usually have just a stem, so you can wedge those in most places. when i put plants in the background it's a lot easier to put them in pots, use the plastic ones because the humidity and water can make the paperish ones decomp. good luck!