Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey....I'm building a pretty decent size cage for my Tokays and I want to use live plants that would grow pretty well under standard plant lights. Has anyone tried using kudzu? Although it doesnt grow here in the midwest where I live I'm sure I could get a hold of some of it. Or does anyone have any better suggestions on good plants to use? Thanks!

I don't really have the answer you are looking for. Just a few words of caution though. If you don't already know about it, kudzo will take over just about anything it can grow on. I have seen buildings, boats and cars and trees that are litterly covered in it.

So if you do decide to try it, do not just throw it away when you are done with the scraps. They will take root and grow. If you want an ivey type plant, stay away from kudzu completly. Go talk to a local nursery and see what they have to recomend.

"...it doesnt grow here in the midwest where I live..."
You don't want it to.
Rob
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"I reject your reality and substitute my own" Adam Savage
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa-Ziggy
1.0 Creamscicle motley corn
0.1 Creamscicle corn
0.0.1 Normal corn
0.1 Black Pine - Spazz
1.0 Bearded Dragon - Gomer

As the previous poster warned, this plant is highly invasive and is a HUGE problem back east and in the south. Even if you were very careful, it would be very easy for it to escape and become established. If you value native wildlife and ecology, you do not want this stuff getting out in your area. Please do not use it!

I totally agree with the prior post. NEVER introduce kudzu into any envorioment. I use to live in the south and that stuff grows anywhere and everywhere. No matter how careful you are with that stuff some will get out and there is no controling it in any way, shape, or form.

Kudzu requires lots of light, and warmth. It roots along each "node" along the vine. It can be grown from seeds, but is not usually propogated that way as it is much harder to do so.

The flowers and leaves are excellent feed for herbivorous reptiles such as iquanas. We have kept iguanas for at least a decade on kudzu as the staple food. Tortoises usually don't like it. Same with uros. Flowers and leaves are so nutritous that it can be used during times of famine to sustain human life.

It is kept contained by hard freezes. Other than that, it spreads quickly and is difficult (but not impossible) to contain on the area it is intended to grow.

I would suggest other non-toxic plants that are more suitable to a vivarium. Low and medium light non-toxic plants such as Pothos. Kudzu is a high light plant.
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James and Vickie Bryan
Bryan Reptiles
bryanreptiles.tripod.com
bryanreptiles@lycos.com
A good name is more desirable than riches
Proverbs 22:1

My horse loves it, but I don't suggest it for a terrarium. I agree with the above post about Pothos (aka Devil's Ivy). Every natural terrarium book I've read suggests it.

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Holly

0.1 Lavender California Kingsnake (Lizzie Borden)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Charley Manson)
1.0 Orange Marmalade Cat (Oliver)
1.0 Egyptian Arabian (Bagan)

2.0 Toddlers (Justice & Trevor)