Plants from Petsmart

[Tatooineboy]

Greetings, all!

I noticed the plants that Pets Mart sells are kept in plastic containers, but their roots are in a clear jelly-like substance. Almost looks like a water-crystal for food.

Are these plants any good to use in a viv? They're ferns, some other variants, broms, I believe.

Is it possible to replace the water crystals with regular potting soil (without fert., of course, so it is safe for the frogs).

Also, is non-fert potting soil okay to use as a substrate mixed in with coco brick and wood barks?

Thanks!

[JoshH]

Alot of those plants are better kept in water, but you still see alot of peace lilys, draceanas, and some selaginellas. Those would definately benefit from a good potting soil mix. And I really wouldn't worry too much about the potting soil hurting frogs, mix it up with the coco brick or bark it it should be good.

[MELLOWROO421]

I have a few "sword plants" that are thriving from petsmart. I have bought a few of the salleginella but I kill them all. I have used all 4 or 5 different kinds my petsmart sells and all have done well in a viv for me except for the salleginella. I always rinse the jelly off and plant them in the substrate, and I have never had a problem with the frogs because of it.
I have never used potting soil so I can't comment on that. I would assume any type of organic substrate without chemicals would be ok.

[markbudde]

Potting soil will work fine, so long as it has no perlte in it. Perlite is that stuff that looks like little white styrofoam balls, and it is found in almost all potting soils. Assume the potting soil has perlite unless stated otherwise. Since it is so light, the perlite will come to the surface and stick to the frogs, which stresses them out. The frogs can also accidentally ingest it (or so the legend goes). It is in potting soils to provide aeration, and since your soil won't have any, you may want to add something to provide a little aeration and keep the soil from compacting. Good luck.

[Tatooineboy]

Thank you for the answers! I bought some organic potting soil, so it doesn't have any of the additives. I'll try some of these little plants from Petsmart and see what happens.

Thanks!