25 Beautiful Plants That Are Safe For Chameleons

Apart from your pet chameleon itself, plants are the star of the show when it comes to building a beautiful home for your new scaly friend. Veiled, Jackson and Panther chameleons are the main species kept as pets and their natural habitats are covered in lush greenery. The closer you replicate their natural habitat the happier they’ll be.

The best way to do this is by filling your chameleon’s enclosure with lots of lush live plants. I say live plants instead of artificial ones for these reasons.

• They provide lots of cover for your chameleon to hide and feel safe in. This will help reduce stress levels and prevent stress related illnesses.
• Chameleons only drink water drops from plants. Sure drops form on plastic leaves but what’s more natural than fresh water droplets forming on fresh green leaves?
• Live plants help maintain humidity in the enclosure. Living breathing plants help to keep the air from getting too dry, particularly in winter time.
• Chameleons sometimes eat plant matter. I don’t need to tell you the dangers of your chameleon mistaking a plastic plant for a real one and eating it.
• Live plants produce more oxygen. Chameleons aren’t naturally suited to stuffy apartments so what better way to offset this by using live plants to provide that extra boost of clean air and fresh oxygen to help your chameleon thrive.
• Most importantly chameleons are arboreal. This means they spend 99% of their time up in trees so they need good strong plants to climb around on in their cage.

Many of the plants on this list I have tried myself, many more are from my own research but most importantly all of them are safe for your chameleon because not all plants are equal.

You can’t just pick any old plant for your chameleon and hope for the best. Most plants in existence will cause harm to your chameleon by either irritating its skin or more serious problems if ingested. None of the ones listed here cause problems.

I have arranged the list into four categories, hanging baskets, foliage, a couple of climber plants, and filler plants which are for making the habitat look more pleasing and to break up the foliage a bit.

I have also made sure that all the plants on this list are for those of you who are at beginner or intermediate level of caring for plants.

So without further ado here’s a list of the 25 best and safest plants for your chameleon’s cage.

Hanging Baskets

Hanging baskets should feature in any good chameleon setup. They’re not a necessity but I think they not only look great but they give your chameleon the opportunity to hide high up in their enclosure. The higher up and more covered they are the happier they’ll feel.

1. Golden Pothos

I’m kicking things off with my absolute all time favourite chameleon enclosure plant, the Golden Pothos also known as Devil’s Ivy. It’s called this because it’s almost impossible to kill, believe me I had a damn good go at killing my one and it refused to submit!

Not only is it difficult to kill it’s absolutely brilliant for your chameleon because it provides great foliage for cover, your chameleon will enjoy having a nibble on it from time to time if it likes eating plant matter and they grow very quickly and easily. Not only that the vines that trail down the sides of the hanging basket make for an excellent climbing frame for your chameleon. I spent many times watching my chameleon majestically climbing up his pothos’ trailing vines.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in any type of well drained potting soil, preferably organic to ensure your chameleon’s safety.
• Watering it only when the leaves start to droop a little and only when the soil has dried out from the previous watering. Water until water starts to drain out the bottom of the pot.
• Exposing it to direct but not bright light. Another reason pothos are my favourite because they can tolerate low light conditions well and are very forgiving in general.
• Feeding it monthly with fertilizer specially formulated for house plants

Pothos are widely available at most stores like Home Depot or you can get this pack of two from Amazon which you can then repot, one into a hanging basket and one into a ground pot. Both will establish and grow quickly in your chameleon’s enclosure.

2. Grape Ivy

Another easy to grow trailing vine plant that will grow quickly with relatively little effort. It’s called grape ivy because its leaves resemble those found on grape vines.

It doesn’t have quite the thickness of vines that the pothos does but it definitely has good foliage cover. I am definitely bias in favor of the pothos but this is a good choice if you fancy something different.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in any type of well drained potting soil, preferably organic to ensure your chameleon’s safety. One formulated for African Violets is a good bet.
• Watering it only when the soil has dried out from the previous watering. Water until water starts to drain out the bottom of the pot.
• Exposing it to direct but not bright light. They can tolerate low light conditions well but will lean towards any light source so bear this in mind if you want the plant to grow in a certain direction.
• Feeding it just once during spring and summer months. Rich green leaves mean it’s well fed but give an extra feeding if they start to turn yellow.

3. Wandering Jew

This plant makes a beautiful and more colorful option for a hanging basket. It’s name came about due to it’s ability to wander from place to place due to its prolific growth and ability to adapt to almost any environment. This reminded people of Jews in biblical times so the nickname was born.

They grow quickly, regularly produce long stems and beautiful purple leaves adding a splash of color to your chameleon’s enclosure.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in any standard house plant potting mix, preferably organic for the safety of your chameleon.
• Watering it deeply allowing the soil to dry out between waterings so approximately once a week. Do not water directly into plant crown but around the edges otherwise this could cause root rot.
• Exposing it to high, bright and indirect light
• Feeding it twice a month with general liquid houseplant food.

Wandering Jew plants are ideal for chameleon enclosures as they like good humidity, warmth and will enjoy the regular mistings your chameleon receives. You can have a well established one delivered from Amazon complete with hanging basket.

4. Boston Fern

Boston Ferns offer dense foliage in hanging basket form that will allow your chameleon to hide out of sight if it needs to. It has large feather like leaves that are great for collecting water. While they don’t have the long trailing vines of the other hanging baskets mentioned they do provide that good foliage cover.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in peat moss soil combined with all purpose potting soil. Make sure the soil drains well but can also maintain some moistness.
• Watering it fairly often to enable the soil to keep moist but not soggy. Make sure it doesn’t dry out completely between waterings.
• Exposing it to indirect light. I wouldn’t recommend placing it directly beneath any heat or grow lamps.
• Feeding it a good balanced house plant fertilizer will be enough if provided every two weeks.

All ferns require decent levels of humidity making them perfect for a chameleon enclosure. Pick one up from Amazon if you like the look of the Boston Fern.

Foliage Plants

Foliage plants form the main part of your chameleon’s enclosure. These are the plants your chameleon needs to provide the most foliage. You will need two at least, probably three or four to provide decent coverage of your chameleon’s cage but you can go as wild as you want here.

Be careful not to overdo it so that you end up never seeing your chameleon because they’re so well hidden! I find a good balance to between dense foliage and plants with good woody stems for climbing work best.

5. Ficus Benjamina

Also known as the weeping fig. This probably the most popular plant used by chameleon keepers and any plant list is incomplete without them but I personally had a love/hate relationship with it.

When I first got one I thought it was amazing, really great leafy foliage, solid stems for the chameleon to climb on and it just made the enclosure look so lush and green. Then one leaf fell off… then another… and another… and another… within a week the whole things was bare and the floor of the enclosure was covered with leaves!

I got another one and the same thing happened. I admitted at the beginning I was never that great at caring for plants and this leaf drop is probably largely due to that but be warned, this leaf drop is quite common and can happen when the plant is moved around too much as well as over or under watered. Don’t let my poor plant care efforts put you off though as they are a fabulous choice for your chameleon.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in fast draining potting soil. A good organic houseplant mix will be sufficient
• Watering it very consistently and only once the soil is dried about 3 cm deep but not completely moist. Natural mistings of your chameleon should be sufficient to keep it happy but over or under watering can cause leaf drop.
• Exposing it to lots of bright light both direct and indirect. If it can get light from a near by window it will do well. They drop their leaves in low light conditions.
• Feeding it once a week with liquid house plant fertilzer. Ficus plants are heavy feeders and require this much during the growing season. Cut back to once every two weeks during the fall and winter.

Weeping figs require tropical and humid like conditions so the inside of a chameleon enclosure is perfect. They are finickidy though so do require more attention to care than other foliage plants. This well established one on Amazon is a great size for a chameleon cage.

6. Dragon Tree

Dragon trees offer good foliage cover and they usually have one or two thick trunks that are great for chameleons to perch vertically on. They look a bit like small palm trees and are fairly slow growers so it’s better to buy a more established one. They are very resilient plants and are very forgiving of any mistakes you might make.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in good organic house plant potting soil loosely packed and make sure the pot is large enough to accommodate its complex root system.
• Watering it when the top half of the soil is dry. Overwatering can occur quite easily so do it once every two to three weeks to ensure it remains healthy. Brown tipped leaves usually mean over watering and yellow means it needs more. Water with distilled water if possible but this isn’t entirely necessary.
• Exposing it to bright light but they can also do well in dim light so it’s a great choice for those of you with dimly lit apartments.
• Feeding it very lightly as they don’t require it much at all. Just one dose at the beginning of spring will fulfil their requirements for the year.

7. Parlor Palm

Parlor palms are an excellent foliage choice for chameleon cages. Their rich green leaves can cover a whole enclosure and are great for catching water droplets for your chameleon to drink from but their stems aren’t sturdy enough to climb on.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it a good organic potting mix but be careful not to let it break down too much so it becomes too soft.
• Watering it sparingly and keeping the soil evenly moist. Palms are quite susceptible to over watering and their leaves start browning if they have too much. Water evenly around the soil when the top inch of it is dry.
• Exposing it to little light as these palms are considered low light so another great choice for dimmer apartments. They do thrive on bright filtered light so near a window is best.
• Feeding it just once or twice a year during the growing season with a light fertilizer. Parlor palms have low appetites for plant food.

Parlor palms are very slow growers so I recommend buying a larger established one like this to place straight into your chameleon’s cage.

8. Areca Palm

Sticking with the palm theme the Areca Palm, also known as the Butterfly Palm is arguably an even better choice than the parlor palm. It has sturdy stems densely packed together for your chameleon to nestle into, climb on and hide. It’s leaves are similar to the parlor but because they’re more densely packed they appear larger and are better for catching water droplets at misting time.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in well draining potting mix that’s loosely packed.
• Watering it in a similar way to the parlor palm because like most most palms it is sensitive to over watering. Let the soil dry out slightly between waterings.
• Exposing it to bright light. Giving it an outing in direct sunlight a few hours a week will help too. A disadvantage of Areca palms is they don’t do well in low light conditions.
• Feeding it in the exact same way you would a parlor palm. They don’t very much fertilizer to thrive.

These palms are also slow growing so picking up a fully established one like this is best.

9. Schefflera Tree

Also known as the dwarf umbrella tree has shiny green leaves that droop of their stems in the same way an umbrella might look. They grow great in tropical climates and are therefore great inside a chameleon’s enclosure.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in a loosely packed sandy soil that drains well.
• Watering it weekly or waiting until the soil completely dries out then completely soaking the soil again. Either of these will prevent overwatering, a common killer of these plants.
• Exposing it bright but indirect light. In the summer give it an airing outside under some low shade but don’t put in direct light as it will burn the leaves.
• Feeding it twice a week with liquid houseplant fertilizer. Umbrella trees are very hungry plants and will thrive on this schedule. Don’t feed during winter.

Umbrella trees will enjoy the misting you regularly give your chameleon and well established ones can be ordered here.

10. Corn Plant

A classic house plant popular since the mid 1800s due to their thick tree like trunks, and long narrow leaves like those found in corn fields. Their popularity also stems from the fact that they can tolerate a fair amount of neglect so of you’re pretty bad at keeping plants alive this might be a good choice for you.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it In a good solid well draining potting mix used for most common houseplants.
• Watering it with distilled water if possible but don’t worry if you can. These plants like to remain moist but lean towards letting it dry out more before watering again. Brown tips on the leaves will let you know it’s too dry.
• Exposing it to indirect filtered sunlight will help tremendously. Inside a chameleon’s cage will be perfect for it.
• Feeding it very lightly, just once or twice a year will suffice as they store nutrients in their thick cane stalks.

Get this classic plant for a good price here from Amazon.

11. Rubber Plant

The rubber plant got its name because the sap it produces is used to create rubber. They grow up to 100 feet tall in the wild but house plants grow around 6 feet. This maximum height, thick green and glossy leaves make them a pleasing addition to any chameleon’s cage.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in soil that is a mixture of bark, sand and soil
• Watering it when the soil is almost dry to the touch but don’t let it dry out too much or it will start to drop its leaves.
• Exposing it to indirect light so near a window is fine. It will do well in your chameleon’s enclosure provided it’s not placed under the heat lamp.
• Feeding it every two weeks with a standard houseplant liquid fertilizer.

If you like the look of the rubber tree for your chameleon’s enclosure then you can have a growing one delivered from here.

12. Ti Plant

I probably would’ve ended up killing a Ti plant but I sure do wish I had known about these when I had my chameleon. Those beautiful leaves would make a wonderful colorful addition to any chameleon setup and wow are those leaves versatile! They are used for things like roof thatching, clothing, food wrapping and even liquor! In your chameleon’s cage they will create beautiful foliage for your chameleon to hide in and will look great contrasted with their colors.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in well draining bark organic soil will work wonders for a Ti plant.
• Watering it often enough so the soil stays moist. They also like to keep humid so are a good fit with the regular mistings your chameleon will receive.
• Exposing it to indirect light, they do like heat so it a little closer to the basking lamp is fine but make sure your chameleon’s cage is not near any drafts or cold spots. Your chameleon and your Ti plant will thank you.
• Feeding it every two weeks from spring to fall with liquid fertilizer but hold off in winter.

13. Aspidistra Plant

Also known as the cast iron plant is a plant that has long, green and tough looking leathery leaves. It’s called cast iron because it is ideal for low light conditions and can take a real beating from dust, cold, heat,being over or under watered and general neglect so they’re perfect if you’re as terrible as I am at plant care!

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in a good well draining potting mix formulated for African Violets.
• Watering it often enough to maintain moist soil. It can take drying out for a while but don’t do this too often.
• Exposing it to literally any light or dimness and it will be fine but the light in your chameleon’s enclosure will be more than enough for it.
• Feeding it every three months with liquid fertilizer. These plants have very little need for frequent nutrients.

Cast Iron plants are extremely slow growers so if you’re going to get one I recommend one that is very well established so it’s suitable for your chameleon’s cage right way. This size from Amazon is ideal.

14. Hibiscus

I added a video to highlight a hibiscus plant because it demonstrates why they’re a great choice. Some chameleons, not all, but some absolutely love to chow down on some hibiscus flower. They contain a nice dose of vitaminc C so are beneficial to chameleon health.

It’s almost a shame that such a beautiful flower gets devoured but at the same time there’s something delightful about watching a chameleon eat one.

Hibiscus are difficult to grow though so maybe reconsider if keeping plants healthy aren’t your strong point.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in any all purpose potting mix will work fine. The faster it drains the better for your hibiscus.
• Watering it thoroughly and allowing the top inch of soil to dry out before watering again. Make sure you have a good drainage system in place.
• Exposing it to bright direct light, allowing it time outside is ideal but bring back in before it gets too cold as hibiscus can’t tolerate cold weather.
• Feeding it a low phosphorous and diluted liquid fertilizer every two weeks.

15. Yucca Plant

To me the yucca plant is like a cross between the dragon tree and the corn plant mentioned earlier in this list. So if you can’t decide between those two plants then the yucca plant is a good option. It has the same cane like stem of the corn plant and leaves that are like the corn plant combined forces with the dragon plant to create a new leaf.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in standard potting soil for houseplants as yuccas aren’t fussy. As usual though make it organic where possible and well draining to avoid root rot.
• Watering it lightly once a week as yuccas are very drought resistant. Soak it liberally once a month to keep it going and hold back a bit in winter months.
• Exposing it to partial light so not directly under the heat lamp will be ok.
• Feeding it every few weeks with a good liquid houseplant fertilizer in the growing months between spring and late summer.

Yucca plants are slow growers so a more mature one like this from Amazon would be my recommendation for your chameleon enclosure.

16. Swiss Cheese Plant

Another absolute classic of house plants is the Swiss Cheese Plant, also known as the split leaf philodendron. This plant is a big, glossy leafed low maintenance tropical beauty that is perfect for chameleon cages. Native to Mexican and Indian jungles, this plant will grow quickly and easily and put out huge leaves for your chameleon to hide in and drink from.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in rich organic soil with a bit of peat moss if possible. Make sure it drains well to prevent root rot.
• Watering it until it drains out of the bottom and then again once the top third of the soil has dried out. The soil needs to be kept damp most of the time but not too wet.
• Exposing it to medium or bright lights so it will do very well in a chameleon cage under the lights.
• Feeding it with diluted and balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks

These plants grow quickly so it doesn’t matter what maturity you get them at it all depends on how long you’re willing to wait before it’s at a suitable height. A good selection of them can be found at this popular seller’s page on Amazon.

17. Japanese Aralia

When my chameleon was about four years old I fancied a change in his usual plant rotation and this plant caught my eye. The aralia looks fantastic and grows in Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

I liked the fact it was hardy, easy to grow, had big leaves and is suitable for chameleon like conditions. So I gave it a go and I wasn’t disappointed, it lasted me about three years before it started to wilt and my chameleon loved it.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in any standard potting mix as they are not particularly fussy about soil but like most plants on this list it doesn’t do well if it’s left to sit in water so make sure it can drain well.
• Watering it every time you see it starting to dry. It likes regular moisture but doesn’t like sitting in it so as long as the top layer of soil remains moist it will do well.
• Exposing it to any type of light in the enclosure. It actually does well in shady conditions anyway so the lights in the chameleon’s cage will be fine.
• Feeding it with a standard liquid house plant fertilizer about once every ten days throughout the growing season from spring to fall.

18. Bromeliad

As we’re moving onto more flowering plants next I thought what better way to round this of than with a flowering foliage plant. I give you the Bromeliad. This plant will easily grow to the four or five feet height most of the other foliage plants in the cage reach. Furthermore they give off beautiful blooms for the best of both worlds of foliage and flower.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in fast draining peat and sand based soil.
• Watering it weekly and let the plant drain through completely. Never keep it in standing water and reduce watering further in winter.
• Exposing it to indirect bright light so give it some space to have unimpeded access to the lights in the enclosure.
• Feeding it every two weeks with liquid fertilizer.

A well established one can be delivered for a reasonable price from Amazon.

Climbers

I wanted to include a couple of climbers in here because they’re fascinating and if placed correctly could cover the sides of your chameleon’s enclosure beautifully. In case you didn’t know climbers are plants that literally climb up walls, trellises and mesh screen cages! I think they make for a great jungle feel to the enclosure because what’s a jungle without a few vines?

19. Passion Flower

I just love passion flowers they are one of my favourites. Just look at thos flowers! They’re so colorful and vibrant just like chameleons themselves. When I learned they were chameleon safe I just had to try one in his enclosure.

They are unbelievably fast growers, so much so that I could actually see the vines move around trying to find a place to hook its tendrils. They need frequent pruning and attention to stop them getting too out of control.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in a very rich and fast draining soil mix.
• Watering it extremely frequently, they need to be watered daily in a chameleon cage because the warmth inside there will dry out the soil quickly. The soil needs to be kept moist at all times.
• Exposing it to bright light at all times. This is the plant that will need the grow lights the most as they don’t do well in low light, something I discovered the hard way.
• Feeding it once a week with liquid fertilzer. Passion flowers are very hungry and thirsty plants.

Passionflower are very easy to and quick to grow so it doesn’t matter what level of maturity you choose to buy at as before long you will have a p;ant ready for your chameleon to use.

20. Jasmine

Here’s a climber I wish I tried in my chameleon’s cage. They look fantastic, are prolific, have wonderful flowers and they make the enclosure smell delightful. They grow fairly easily indoors and tolerate temperatures up to 75 degrees so just about in line with the ambient temperature of the enclosure. Make sure you get common or poet’s jasmine though as these are the proper fragrant type. Star Jasmine look similar bot aren’t fragrant and may not be safe for chameleons.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in organic potting soil made up of bark and peat and, as usual, make sure it drains well.
• Watering it regularly so the soil stays moist but not soggy.
• Exposing it to indirect light which is perfect for your chameleon’s enclosure.
• Feeding it every few weeks with liquid plant fertilzer during the growing season of spring to summer.

Filler Plants

These flowering plants are not a necessary addition to your chameleon’s cage but they’re safe for your chameleon to be around and they just add a bit of extra color because when having a chameleon the more color the better! These plants should be placed around the enclosure on the floor and on the sides.

21. Gardenia

They look similar to jasmine so choose one or the other but they’re very well suited to a chameleon’s cage. They love humidity at around 50%, indirect light and a bit of cooling off so they’ll do well at the bottom of the enclosure.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in an organic, well draining potting soil that will be great for both your chameleon and the plant itself.
• Watering it so that it stays moist but not so much that the soil is squishy to touch. Don’t let it dry out between waterings.
• Exposing it to indirect bright light will work best.
• Feeding it with fertilizer especially formulated for gardenias. They also like fertilizer suited for plants that like an acidic soil.

These plants are a bit trickier than most but worth persevering with for the pure white blooms and amazing fragrance they can bring.

22. Geraniums

Another classic of the house plant world that will look wonderful in your chameleon’s cage. Geraniums are pretty easy to care for and their red flowers will go well with a white or blue flowering plant or climber.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in good well drained organic potting soil. Any houseplant soil will work well for geraniums but organic is safer for your chameleon.
• Watering it well to begin with giving it a good soak. After that you only need to water it when it dries out completely.
• Exposing it to indirect light inside your chameleon’s cage, so anywhere on the floor is fine.
• Feeding it with liquid houseplant feed every two weeks.

23. Wax Begonia

These plants are just like their name describes, they have waxy feeling leaves and bloom bright pinkish red waxy flowers. They are hardy, easy to grow and will do so up to two feet making them perfect the size to sit well at the bottom or on the sides of the enclosure.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in any light well draining potting soil.
• Watering it often enough so the soil stays moist but not soaking wet.
• Exposing it to bright filtered light so make sure there’s some space between the higher foliage plants for the begonia to get the light.
• Feeding it monthly with a diluted liquid fertilizer will do well for this plant.

24. Petunias

Petunias are pretty easy to grow plants from the nightshade family. No don’t worry they’re not poisonous they’re more related to peppers and potatoes. They’re small plants meaning you can plant a nice little carpet of them at the bottom. They give off beautiful purple flowers when they bloom.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in any good well draining and organic potting soil.
• Watering it once a day or every other day when you feel the soil is dry.
• Exposing it to bright direct light. This is a bit more challenging in chameleon cages as the light is filtered. They will still grown flowers just not as many as if they would in direct sunlight.
• Feeding it Once a month with a good dose of liquid fertilizer.

25. Easter Cactus

One of the few succulents on this list. Named so because it blooms its flower around the Easter holiday season. The leaves start out pale green and get darker with age but don’t worry they have no sharp spikes for your chameleon to hurt themselves on. These plants should work well in a chameleon’s enclosure because they need lots of darkness to grow flowers. The darkness at night for your chameleon will be sufficient, especially during winter when nights are longer.

Help it thrive by:

• Keeping it in rough organic potting soil
• Watering it often enough to keep it moist but never soggy. In the month immediately after flowering water enough only to keep the soil slightly damp as the cactus needs to rest this time in order to flower again.
• Exposing it to partial bright light so perfect to place on the ground under a thick foliage plant. Covering with a pot to give plenty of dark at night will benefit it greatly.
• Feeding it light liquid fertilizer every two weeks. Do not feed at all during the resting period for a month after flowering.

How to prepare plants for your chameleon

Most of these plants are available from Amazon and big stores like Home Depot and this means they will not be ready to use straight away in your chameleon’s cage because they would’ve been grown in soil treated with chemicals and most likely sprayed with pesticides and these can be harmful to your chameleon.

This doesn’t mean they’re unusable it just means you need to prepare them properly.

Some keepers like to soak their plants in soapy water to remove bacteria but I never did this and it seems a lot of hassle. You really only need to treat plants like you would vegetables you bought from the grocery store. Just give them a damn good soaking with water using either a hose or a shower. Do this a few times to remove any pesticide residue and you’ll be good to go.

With regards to soil I recommend repotting the plant in organic soil. This will reduce the risk of your chameleon being harmed by any chemicals in fertilizer laiden soil. As you may have read repeatedly in the list that nearly all these plants require well draining soil. There will be organic versions of all the types of soil you need readily available from store or your local plant nursery.

How to set up plants in the enclosure

My recommendation would be as follows:

• One hanging basket hung on the opposite corner the heat lamp is on as it completes the top of the cage without leaving too much bare space but at the same time it doesn’t make it too crowded.
• Two foliage plants you can have more of course but I wouldn’t recommend more than four as it can crowd things. This is down to personal taste and to how leafy the plants are but I always had two or three at the same time.
• One climber plant place this one the bottom and try and get it to spread out across the floor and up both sides of the enclosure.
• Three filler plants again this is down to personal taste and you can go wild here but two on the floor and one on the side half way up will make things look pleasing.

Run bendy vines like these between the plants to give your chameleon ample space and opportunity to climb around and feel comfortable.

General plant care tips

I’ve deliberately chosen plants that are all similar in their care needs so if you follow these general tips any of these plants should do well in the cage. Do make sure to look at the specific care tips given for the plants you end up choosing though.

• Watering most of these plants need their soil to remain moist but not soaking so make sure to check the soil every time you carry out your daily feeding and watering routine for your chameleon to enable you not to over or underwater your plants.
• Light nearly all of these plants need indirect light to thrive. Unfortunately the heat lamp and UVB bulb are insufficient for plant growth and only those plants suited to low light conditions will survive. The enclosure needs a bulb like this one to simulate the sun and produce light in the same spectrum.
• Soil you may have read on nearly every plant that the soil required is well draining. For most plants a good quality organic potting soil will work well. Some require a mixture so please look at the specifics of each plant but in general an organic mix will work fine. I say organic because it is safer for your chameleon as it will contain no harmful pesticides.

So that’s it for this guide I hope you found it useful and now have a better understanding of what plants are safe for your chameleon’s cage.