I have had my leopard gecko for about 4 months now and my terrarium looks a little boring. I was hoping that someone could help me find some plants I could put in with my leopard gecko that is safe and would look good. Right now he is on reptile carpet and I would like to put him on sand but I know that is not safe so I am thinking of putting him on excavator. I have heard that succulents are good I just don't know what types would look good. Something I could get at Home Depot or Lowes. Thanks!
Live Plants for Leopard Gecko
- Thread starter gecko_
- Start date
It's difficult because plants need light and water. Leopard geckos sometimes don't appreciate light and water increases humidity. My suggestion is to use ceramic tile as a substrate (excavator could be OK but it's heavy) and to get some small succulents (anything without sharp spikes is OK). Keep them in their little pots and, if you like, arrange some (stable) rocks around them to hide the pots. Most succulents are supposed to be dried out to an extent and then drenched, so when it's drenching time, remove the plants with pots and drench. Alternatively, you could use air plants which also need periodic drenching.
Aliza
Aliza
Solagratia500
New member
You can always use air plants, you can stick them on the walls or find a way to put them upright. they normally grow on trees(you see them a lot in florida). But they dont require soil! Just take them out and mist them once or twice a week 
Depending on your enclosure succulents could be a great choice. They do not require frequent watering (though they do require occasional deep watering) and they do not tolerate high humidity well (preferring 30-40% though some tolerate or even thrive in higher levels) and are adapted to prevent the release of moisture into the air, though, if it is a glass aquarium you are using without much side ventilation they may not appreciate the still air; that is one of the greatest challenges in a succulent (or cactus) terrarium. Also, they are also going to need a lot of light! But not direct sunlight as that would raise the temps in the tank beyond what they could tolerate (not to mention your poor gecko).... but a "grow light" or similar set 6" above the plants should prevent them from getting too "leggy".
I've had success in terrariums (as in, it's alive and growing, we're not winning any blue ribbons) with:
Echeveria runyonii
Aloes
Hen and Chicks (Sempervivums)
Sedum glaucophylum
Sedum morganianum
Sedum rupestre
...actually just about any sedum or sempervivum should work well for you, they are generally hardy and there are some hybrids out there bred to be even hardier! And easily found at Home Depot.
I'd also avoid red/reddish succulents as they tend to be a little more light-hungry and I'm not sure the fluorescent would really cut it for them.
Pot them in a mix that is roughly 30/40/20/10 of gravel/sand/compost/dirt... the mix will be mostly sand so you can "mulch" it with slate or large pebbles so your gecko can't get to it. Or you can grow them in loam which is a safe substrate for the gecko and requires less watering though growing them in pots is still probably the best place to start rather than directly in the terrarium (especially since it likely won't have sufficient drainage and succulents need that).
And pots don't have to be standard terra cotta! I've grown sedums in hollowed out driftwood.
I think that covers everything I've got on succulents.
I've had success in terrariums (as in, it's alive and growing, we're not winning any blue ribbons) with:
Echeveria runyonii
Aloes
Hen and Chicks (Sempervivums)
Sedum glaucophylum
Sedum morganianum
Sedum rupestre
...actually just about any sedum or sempervivum should work well for you, they are generally hardy and there are some hybrids out there bred to be even hardier! And easily found at Home Depot.
I'd also avoid red/reddish succulents as they tend to be a little more light-hungry and I'm not sure the fluorescent would really cut it for them.
Pot them in a mix that is roughly 30/40/20/10 of gravel/sand/compost/dirt... the mix will be mostly sand so you can "mulch" it with slate or large pebbles so your gecko can't get to it. Or you can grow them in loam which is a safe substrate for the gecko and requires less watering though growing them in pots is still probably the best place to start rather than directly in the terrarium (especially since it likely won't have sufficient drainage and succulents need that).
And pots don't have to be standard terra cotta! I've grown sedums in hollowed out driftwood.
I think that covers everything I've got on succulents.
Whether they'd boost the humidity depends on a lot of factors but I'm not sure I'd count on it. On watering day they raise the humidity about 20% (making the RH about 50-60% for me) but it doesn't take even a full day (more like a few hours) for the heat and light to bring this number back down to 30-40%... and that's one or two days out of the month. Though, I do take extra anti-humidity precautions since my area is rather damp anyhow so without those it might play out differently. You could test it out with a potted succulent.
And no, succulents couldn't do indoors without a light, relying on weak window light it took a little less than a month before my plants showed signs of light deprivation (this is when they were still in the pots they were bought in), but a sufficient grow light can be obtained at Home Depot or you can use the sort for aquarium plants; it doesn't have to be a fancy hydroponics lighting system.
I do know of other drought-tolerant heat-loving plants that might do a better job of releasing moisture into the air than succulents but I know less about how safe they are for reptiles... and they would still require light.
And no, succulents couldn't do indoors without a light, relying on weak window light it took a little less than a month before my plants showed signs of light deprivation (this is when they were still in the pots they were bought in), but a sufficient grow light can be obtained at Home Depot or you can use the sort for aquarium plants; it doesn't have to be a fancy hydroponics lighting system.
I do know of other drought-tolerant heat-loving plants that might do a better job of releasing moisture into the air than succulents but I know less about how safe they are for reptiles... and they would still require light.
I coulda sworn I answered this but I guess the post got eaten... oh well, short version- I don't think succulents will be very useful in raising your humidity levels. The plants themselves don't release much so the humidity would only be raised by the water in the soil, which, if it is correct for succulents won't retain that moisture for very long. And no, they wouldn't last without strong light. I'd give it maybe a month before they started showing signs of light deprivation (although Home Depot has some decently priced lights that would be "sufficient" if not "optimal").
There are other plants that might release more moisture but I am not sure how much or whether they're potentially harmful to reptiles, so without a comprehensive list on that subject I'm hesitant to recommend them... and they would still need a light.
There are other plants that might release more moisture but I am not sure how much or whether they're potentially harmful to reptiles, so without a comprehensive list on that subject I'm hesitant to recommend them... and they would still need a light.
Solagratia500
New member
You dot really want the entire tank humid only a humid hide. If the entire tank is humid then they're very prone to respitory infections so is avoid trying to get the humidity up. Also putting a light in there would be fine. Many people believe leopards don't need light because their nocturnal but they still née it for heir phoocycle( kind like how we need day and night) so if the tank doesn't get enough light for a succulent it doesn't get enough for a gecko either seeing as succulents aren't very picky and basic house lights work for them.
JIMI
New member
I am using a regular 60 watt incandescent set to half power by a dimmer and on a timer to establish my photoperiod. Was not aware that this was sufficient? I know nothing of grow lights. Are they just very strong lights? I think they might be a little too strong for my Leo's sensitive eyes. My bed is also located in front of my Leo's enclosure so I'd like to not be awoken by a very strong light at 7 in the morning;-)
Solagratia500
New member
Most Plants don't actually need UVB so that not a problem. They need a light spectrum and depending in what bulbs you get will effect what growth you'll get( ex. Blue promotes fruiting and red promotes flowering) that said succulents aren't as needy. You're bulb would probably be a lower intensity of the light spectrum they're use to so they won't grow much per say but most general lighting has a decent enough spectrum for them to accomplish simple metabolic processes. Think of plants in offices not near windows. They're getting their light from the office lights or desk light. So what's good enough for a leopard is good for then as well. Also plants need a photoperiod as well so having the lights off on a timer as well. So will try grow and thrive! Not really but they will live.
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Here's sources other than "I feel" and "in my experience":
G6515 Lighting Indoor Plants | University of Missouri Extension
HGIC 1450 Indoor Plants - Cleaning, Fertilizing, Containers & Light Requirements : Extension : Clemson University : South Carolina
You can read what they have to say about succulents and growing them indoors under light.
Different plants have different light requirements and succulents need a lot more than the average office/house plant which tend to require shade or only partial sun (roughly 100 foot-candles vs. the minimum 1,000 ft-c required for most succulents (exceptions being jade and aloe which can get by on as little as 500 ft-c, still a good deal more than a typical office plant)). But succulents are hardy so they will die slowly and look leggy and pale in the meantime.
G6515 Lighting Indoor Plants | University of Missouri Extension
HGIC 1450 Indoor Plants - Cleaning, Fertilizing, Containers & Light Requirements : Extension : Clemson University : South Carolina
You can read what they have to say about succulents and growing them indoors under light.
Different plants have different light requirements and succulents need a lot more than the average office/house plant which tend to require shade or only partial sun (roughly 100 foot-candles vs. the minimum 1,000 ft-c required for most succulents (exceptions being jade and aloe which can get by on as little as 500 ft-c, still a good deal more than a typical office plant)). But succulents are hardy so they will die slowly and look leggy and pale in the meantime.
Ok, I tried to reply to this with sources but I suppose posts with links need moderator approval (fair enough) in the meantime until that goes through I am going to point out that the light requirements for all plants (office plant vs. succulent) is not the same. Citations to come, I suppose.
Solagratia500
New member
I work at a nursery and we've wot succulents under artificial normal lighting for a about a year now and they do just fine. Even considering theirs fairly neglected. Succulents are very tough. Right up there with snake plants.
More or less any plant is tough since they can't walk elsewhere in less optimal conditions but something that would otherwise last decades dying slowly over 8 months or so isn't exactly what I would call "surviving" but I suppose at this point, well, all I can say it my experience with them is different and I've given data. People can do as they like.
JIMI
New member
Thanks for that information, geckoo. I'd like to see my plants thrive so I will make sure to provide adequate lighting that is also safe for my leo. I'll also try to find a plant that does not require intense light.
Found this list of non-toxic plants:
List of non-toxic plants for your terrarium
Found this list of non-toxic plants:
List of non-toxic plants for your terrarium
