List of Plants Safe for Reptiles

Decorating a reptile vivarium with living plants provides a more natural environment for the reptiles and makes it a more interesting decorative feature. In addition to making the vivarium more aesthetically pleasing, plants remove carbon dioxide from the vivarium and produce healthy oxygen needed by the reptiles. Exercise caution when choosing the plants, as some of them are not safe for reptiles.

  1. Bromeliads

    • Bromeliads look very natural in a reptile vivarium. They can be planted in the sand, treefern fiber, or coconut fiber in the vivarium. One of the most important factors for a healthy Bromeliad is proper aeration for their roots so planting them in these commonly used types of vivarium substrates is ideal. Some Bromeliads, like Tillandsia, do not require any growing medium at all and will grow happily sitting on a rock. Their moisture and nutritional needs are all absorbed directly through the leaves.

      They prefer a warm environment and do not require a lot of water. Many varieties, Neoregelia "Red Waif" for example, stay quite small, growing to a height of only 3 inches and a width of 5 inches while others grow to be 1 to 2 feet tall or more, providing a comfortable hiding place for smaller reptiles.

    Snake Plant

    • Snake plants (Sansevieria sp.) are well suited to vivarium growing. They grow best in sandy or loamy soil. Good drainage is important for these plants. They do not do well in wet soil. They grow well in warm temperatures and do not require a lot of water. They should only be watered once every two weeks during the growing season and only once per month throughout the winter when plant growth naturally slows.

      There are many types of snake plants. Some of them stay quite small, Sansevieria sp. Kenya or Spoon Leaf Dwarf for example, which grows to a height of only 4 to 6 inches. Others will grow quite tall like Sansevieria Masoniana or Mason Congo, which can reach a height of 3 to 4 feet if given the space with leaf widths up to 8 to 10 inches. Mid-sized snake plants like Sudwalla Caves grow to a height of about 15 inches.

    Schefflera

    • Dwarf Umbrella Trees (Schefflera Arboricola) are slightly taller plants that can be safely grown in a vivarium with reptiles. These plants prefer more moisture than the other two and require a growing medium mix of half shredded tree bark and half sand. They should be watered before the growing medium around their roots dries out.

      They can grow to be 12 feet tall if given the room but can be trimmed regularly to keep them small enough to fit comfortably in the vivarium. They are sometimes used as Bonsai plants and handle pruning in stride.