Plant Selection Guide
Welcome to the CaskAbove Chameleon safe plant shopping guide. Because plants are such an important part of your chameleons life we at CaskAbove want to help you choose the right plants for your environment.
The Trees
Schefflera plant, aka umbrella plant
Schefflera plant, aka umbrella plant
Schefflera plant, aka umbrella plant
This is another popular choice for chameleon plants. They can get large enough to be a single plant in an enclosure, but they have slightly higher light and water demands (best to allow top 2-4 in of soil to dry). This plant has a few variegated types, although the solid green leaf variety will do better under the enclosure lighting. This plant can get top heavy, a large planter is recommended.
Ficus benjamina “Weeping fig”
Schefflera plant, aka umbrella plant
Schefflera plant, aka umbrella plant
This plant is a common choice for chameleon enclosures, its indoor mature height is 3-6 ft. It has high light requirements, and moderate watering requirements (allowing top 1-2 inches of soil to dry). This plant is sensitive to any changes in lighting or watering schedules and will drop its leaves to adapt to new climates. Best if purchased at 3-3.5 ft tall or smaller plants should be mounted for direct access to enclosure lighting.
Money Tree “Pachira aquatica”
Schefflera plant, aka umbrella plant
Monstera plant “Monstera deliciosa” or “Swiss cheese plant”
This plant is usually found with braided trunks, it’s indoor mature height is 3-6 ft. It does best in bright light but will tolerate lower lighting, and has lower watering requirements (allowing top 2-4 inches of soil to dry). May be placed in areas of the cage that may not have full access to enclosure lighting, not recommended for misting or dripper runoff area.
Monstera plant “Monstera deliciosa” or “Swiss cheese plant”
Monstera plant “Monstera deliciosa” or “Swiss cheese plant”
Monstera plant “Monstera deliciosa” or “Swiss cheese plant”
This plant produces large heart shaped perforated leaves with identifying holes on long slender stems. It has low watering requirements (allowing top 2-4 inches of soil to dry) using distilled water for best results. It does best in ample light, although will tolerate low lighting. Not recommended for mister or dripper runoff area. Best placed in area with minimally obscured or full access to enclosure lighting.
Dragon tree “Dracaena marginata”
Monstera plant “Monstera deliciosa” or “Swiss cheese plant”
Parlor palm “Chamaedorea elegans”
This plant has long slender leaves branching from straight vertical stalks. The leaves may not support the full weight of an adult chameleon, the plants stalks are adequate for climbing. It is tolerant of lower lighting and has moderate watering requirements (allowing top 1-2 inches of soil to dry). Can grow 6-8ft tall and will eventually require pruning to maintain size. Best used in areas of the cage where vertical access to horizontal branches is desired.
Parlor palm “Chamaedorea elegans”
Monstera plant “Monstera deliciosa” or “Swiss cheese plant”
Parlor palm “Chamaedorea elegans”
Nearly identical in appearance to the golden cane palm, this plant can grow 2-6 ft tall, has slender leaves branching from long thin stems, which may not support the full weight of a large adult chameleon but provides decent coverage for privacy. This palm may tolerate lower lighting and has moderate watering requirements (allowing top 1-2 inches of soil to dry). Best if purchased at least 2-3 ft tall and will survive if lighting is partially obscured by another plant.
The Vines
Pothos “Epipremnum aureum”
Wandering Jew “Tradescantia zebrina” or “spiderwort”
Wandering Jew “Tradescantia zebrina” or “spiderwort”
The ever popular Pothos. These come in a variety of leaf variations, are very hardy, and do not have high light or water requirements. Considered to be one of the hardest plants to kill and great for beginners. They are the most popular of chameleon safe plants. Best hung/mounted to cascade into the enclosure or trained onto a trellis for vertical growth.
Wandering Jew “Tradescantia zebrina” or “spiderwort”
Wandering Jew “Tradescantia zebrina” or “spiderwort”
Wandering Jew “Tradescantia zebrina” or “spiderwort”
This leafy vine has a striped leaf top with a purple underside, it is a hardy decorative plant that can grow up to 6ft. In length. This plant will have high light requirements to keep its coloration and has moderate watering needs (allowing top 1-2 inches of soil to dry). Pruning will help the plant thicken or it can be left to grow long “legs”. Not recommended for mister or dripper runoff area. Best placed in a mounted planter for direct access to enclosure lighting, vines will trail down for additional coverage.
Spider plant “Chlorophytum comosum”
Wandering Jew “Tradescantia zebrina” or “spiderwort”
Ficus pumila “Ficus repens” or “Creeping fig”
This plant starts off as an ornamental cluster of long slender leaves, but will grow vines with plantlets or “spiderettes” as it matures. It is tolerant of lower lighting and has moderate watering requirements (allowing top 1-2 inches of soil to dry/distilled or filtered water is recommended). Best if placed in a mounted planter (with plantlets trailing for additional coverage) and will survive if lighting is partially obscured by another plant.
Ficus pumila “Ficus repens” or “Creeping fig”
Heart leaf philodendron “Cordatum, scandens, bipinnatifidum”
Ficus pumila “Ficus repens” or “Creeping fig”
This vine has small leaves and can climb or cascade from planter. It is known to be hardy and will tolerate partially obscured lighting. It has moderate to low watering requirements (allowing top 1-2 inches of soil to dry/except during winter allow top 2-4 inches of soil to dry without soaking the soil when watering). Not recommended for mister or dripper runoff area. Best placed in direct access to enclosure lighting but will tolerate lower light, however this will slow its growth and may cause leaf drop.
Heart leaf philodendron “Cordatum, scandens, bipinnatifidum”
Heart leaf philodendron “Cordatum, scandens, bipinnatifidum”
Heart leaf philodendron “Cordatum, scandens, bipinnatifidum”
This vine produces heart shaped leaves and is similar in appearance to the pothos. It can tolerate low lighting and has moderate to low watering requirements (allowing top 1 inch of soil to dry/except during fall and winter allow top 2-4 inches of soil to dry). May be trained up a trellis or cascade from a mounted/hanging planter, preferably away from the heat lamp. Yellow leaves = overwatering, brown leaves = under-watering/over-fertilizing.
Monstera adansonii “Swiss cheese plant” (vine)
Heart leaf philodendron “Cordatum, scandens, bipinnatifidum”
Heart leaf philodendron “Cordatum, scandens, bipinnatifidum”
This plant is a vine with very similar leaf holes as the Monstera deliciosa. Low light tolerant, however, will slow its growth. Moderate watering requirements (allowing top 1-2 inches of peat based soil to dry). May be placed in lower areas and in the fogger output/humidity pockets of the enclosure.
Ornamentals
Prayer plant “Maranta leuconeura”
Polka dot begonia “Hypoestes phyllostachya”
Polka dot begonia “Hypoestes phyllostachya”
This plant has distinctive leaf patterns and will fold its leaves at night. Although best in direct light this plant is tolerant of low lighting and has moderate watering requirements (allowing top 1 inch of the soil to dry). Best to use room temperature water. Not recommended for mister or dripper runoff area. May be placed in lower parts of the enclosure with partially obscured lighting.
Polka dot begonia “Hypoestes phyllostachya”
Polka dot begonia “Hypoestes phyllostachya”
Polka dot begonia “Hypoestes phyllostachya”
This leafy plant produces speckled leaves in a variety of colors and may grow 1-2 ft tall. This plant has high watering requirements (allowing ½ inch of soil to dry). Best kept in at least 50% humidity, in a humidity pocket of the enclosure or in the path of the mister or fogger. Lighting requirements may vary depending on the plant variety, loss of coloration=needs more light/scorched leaves=too much light.
Hibiscus “Hibiscus rosa-sinensis”
Polka dot begonia “Hypoestes phyllostachya”
Hibiscus “Hibiscus rosa-sinensis”
This leafy bush is known for its large flowers, although will require access to sunlight for flowering. This plant has high lighting requirements and moderate watering needs (allowing top 1 inch of soil to dry, except during winter allow top 2-4 inches of soil to dry). Best placed in a large planter (1 gallon min) and purchased at 3-3.5 ft tall or smaller plants should be mounted for direct access to enclosure lighting (be sure your mounting hardware can support its weight).
Nerve plant “Fittonia albivenis”
Lipstick plant “Aeschynanthus radicans”
Hibiscus “Hibiscus rosa-sinensis”
This leafy plant will grow 6-24” tall depending on the variety of fattonia selected. The different species will produce different colored leaf veins. This plant has high humidity requirements, best placed in a humidity pocket of the enclosure or in the path of the mister or fogger. It has moderate watering needs (allowing top 1 inch of soil to dry). May be mounted or placed on the floor of your enclosure with full access or minimally obscured lighting.
Peacock plant “Calathea makoyama”
Lipstick plant “Aeschynanthus radicans”
Lipstick plant “Aeschynanthus radicans”
This plant produces patterned leaf tops with purple underside and can grow up to 2 ft in height. It does best in high humidity (60%). Brown leaf edges are a sign of low humidity. Distilled or rainwater is recommended. It has high lighting and watering requirements (allowing top ½ inch of soil to dry). Best purchased at 1.5-2 ft tall and placed in a humidity pocket or in the path of the mister or fogger and in an area of the enclosure with full access or minimally obscured lighting.
Lipstick plant “Aeschynanthus radicans”
Lipstick plant “Aeschynanthus radicans”
Lipstick plant “Aeschynanthus radicans”
This leafy vine produces flowers in a variety of different colors and may grow 2-3ft long. This plant has high lighting requirements for flower growth and does best in temperatures between 75-80 degrees. It has moderate to low watering requirements (allowing top 1-2 inches of soil to dry/except during fall and winter allow top 2-4 inches of soil to dry). This plant also does best in higher humidity with fast draining soil. Best mounted in direct access to enclosure lighting and near a mist head or in a humidity pocket.