Filling your enclosure with ample foliage transforms your chameleons “empty lot” into a garden oasis, allowing you to become their personal interior designer. The plants in your enclosure will serve many purposes, all of which will be beneficial to your chameleons health. They provide shelter and security, create humidity pockets, release oxygen and CO2, filter toxins from the air, and offer drinking surfaces. It is imperative that we select plants that are safe and functional to provide a comfortable place for them to call home.
Most plants are safe for your chameleon, however there are a few things to avoid in your plant selection; plants with thorns, hairs, serrated leaves, sap, or smooth slippery branches (bamboo). Some known toxic/irritant plants are; poison ivy, dumb cane, red ivy, milkweed, stinging nettle, and dead nettle. Avoid fibrous plants that may cause impaction in substantial quantities, such as Spanish moss. Be aware of the plants capability to hold the weight of your chameleon and your plants positioning so as to avoid blocking the UVB rays at the basking spot.
Focus first on providing appropriate climbing and coverage for your chameleon. These plants will likely be the largest of your collection. Decorative and ornamental plants can be added to fill in the gaps and personalize the space. Have fun with it and get creative, then you will be able to enjoy the beauty of the enclosure, even when your chameleon is not visible.
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.
As always all of our suggested plants are on the
Chameleon Academy Safe Plant List and the Chameleon.info Safe and Unsafe Plant List
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Copyright © 2021 CaskAbove - All Rights Reserved.
Affiliate Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associated company we earn from qualifying purchases. We do not list only Amazon items, the affiliate program is how we maintain our site here at CaskAbove.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.