Growing vegetables in vivariums?

JMorash · #1 12-14-2011, 09:29 PM

Hey,

I have been mulling over the idea of potentially growing a variety of vegetables (mostly greens, and possibly herbs) in my gecko vivariums. Over the past couple years my interest home grown food and my lack of space has pushed me to think outside the box and develop ways of producing food (usually small amounts). I have done it in bins, buckets, old pop bottles, sitting on my deck, as well as in hydroponic "window farms". I have also grown lettuces in my tortoise enclosure, but only for his person consumption.

Recently I moved, and I have even less space, literally no where to to grow vegetables. But I have terrariums, with plants growing in them, with UV and water constantly supplied to them, and they do quite well. Most of my terrariums provide more room than most of the greens and herbs I have grown in the past have. I guess the only problem I personally see is that bugs will eat my veggies, and geckos will relieve themselves on my veggies, but I eat organic anyway, and therefor I am used to critters using my food before me.

I was hoping anyone could shed some light on complications I might run into, or maybe tell experiences of trying similar things. Any comments are welcome!

Thank you,

Justin Morash

acpart · #2 12-14-2011, 09:47 PM

I think the biggest issue is whether you'll have enough light for the veggies. I have a lot of planted tanks and frequently transplant some plants that have been outside in my garden (I also have limited space, so my "garden", complete with indoor/outdoor fish pond is on my 2nd floor front porch) into the vivs. Sometimes a stray bell pepper seed gets in there and germinates. So far I haven't had much luck, mostly because of the light. Also, at least in my viv there's only about 2-3" of soil. I'm not sure the vegetable plants will do well in that; they may need more depth for a more extensive root system. It never hurts to try, though.

Aliza