Plant Questions?

[Tropical Torts]

Hello all!
I have finished my RF enclosure and I need to plant it. My main concern is the pescticides in the plants that you can get from Home Depot or Lowes. Will it be ok to buy plants from those places and then plant them in my enclosure? Any responses are greatly appreciated.

Thanks
John

 

[Jacqui]

Certainly you can buy plants from them, I know I do.

It's best that you give the plants as much time as possible before letting the tortoises near them. I like to buy the plants a couple of months before I use them. That time allows the chemicals and fertilizers to get somewhat out of the plants system. Of course, removing the dirt it's currently potted in helps too, as if you look closely, you can often see those little pellet balls they use to fertilize/treat the plants.

In your case, you have made your cage and are eager to get the tortoise(s) out into it probally. You may have wanted to see exactly how the pen worked out before you bought the plants, or study the sun/shade patterns, ect. Whatever the reason, now your sitting with an empty or near to it enclosure, right? I think most of us have been in this position before.

Don't tell anybody, but you can do some cheating and normally have no bad problems. I know, I have done it before. There are just some things to think about:

Are these plants that will be high enough the tortoise(s) may not easily reach their leaves? Such as perhaps an althea (rose of sharon) bush? Tall plants with bare bottom branches and leaves above tortoise level usually won't get a heavy munching done on them.

Do you have weeds already growing in the pen for them to be munching on and drawing their eyes and noses away from new plants? That will cut down on how hard they head for your new plants.

You can block off for a short while any plant you think they may really like eating (or once they are added, you see them eating them. Might be with rocks, fencing, whatever. Especially if your dealing with a plant your shelled one really finds yummy. Of course with Russian, that's everything. Your working with RF. My RF, are more the grab a leaf or two and walk on types. They won't do a feeding frenzy until it's all gone. It helps to know how your own tortoise(s) tend to be, as they may not be like mine.

Be sure to feed the tortoise(s) well before and after you place them in the new enclosure. That will hopefully keep them from picking a lot on the plants.

It can be done, just takes a bit more care and time. Remember as your planting, to remove as much of the soil (and thus the fertilizer/chemical pellets) from the pot as you can. Especially watch for the coating of pellets they put at the top of the pots.

The risks should be low, but remember there is a risk when using freshly bought plants.

 

[DoctorCosmonaut]

Best place you can look: http://tortoiseforum.org/thread-11955.html?highlight=safe+plant

Its the plant guide I compiled. Take it with a grain of salt (i.e. I'm not responsible for anything that happens to your tort), but its the only list you will find specifically made for Redfoots and I am confident enough (researched a lot) to use it.

 

[Missy]

Best to start plants from seed or find an organic grower.